You Are the Universe

Antarmukha samaaradhya bahirmukha sudurlabha

(One who looks inward and meditates will realize the spirit of goddess, whereas one who searches for the divine spirit externally, even though he performs several prayers, finds it very difficult.)

The above verse from the 162nd shloka in ‘Lalitha Sahasranama’ is very meaningful. To look inward, one has to practice meditation.

During the primary stage of meditation it is said that one has to close the eyes and practice observance of silence. This will shift the attention from external material things to concentrate on one’s soul. The darkness caused by closing of the eyes makes the wandering thoughts to become stable and static and in due course they get dissolved in the vacuum of the darkness.

At this stage one will feel the sound of his/her own breath. Breathing is a combination of inhalation and exhalation of the air surrounding us, and if one observes he/she will notice it creates the sound ‘Sohum’. (Inhalation and exhalation create the sounds SO and HUM respectively). In Sanskrit the word SOHUM means I am not only a part of the universe but I am the universe. By practicing deep meditation one will discover the sound OM that is disguised in SOHUM.

Our ancient saints and scriptures say AUM is the origin of sound. The sound of AUM contains three parts Aa, Woo, Mmm. When one opens the mouth and makes different sounds one will realize it is not possible to make any sound without using any one of these three parts –i.e., Aa, Woo, Mmm. If one observes while uttering the sound Aa our mouth opens widely, while uttering Woo the mouth moves forward and while uttering Mmm our mouth becomes tight lipped. Any language in the world, while speaking, invariably, one has to use at least one of the above lip movements (phonetic sounds) when pronouncing any word in that language. Therefore, no wonder it is said that AUM is the origin of sound and the human languages.

A person who keeps meditating will realize the entire universe is filled by vibrations and these vibrations carry the three parts of the sound- Aa, Woo, Mmm which collectively make AUM- the origin of sound. In Shakthi Beejakshara AUM is very significant and powerful. Therefore, when one starts looking inward and meditates in silence, he/she observes the sound AUM in their own breath.

Goddess Shakthi is a symbol of power and AUM signifies that power or energy. Hence the meaning of the verse mentioned above- Antarmukha Samaraadhya’ – can be realized and experienced when one sits with closed eyes, observes silence and goes into deep meditation.

The universe is nothing but energy that vibrates at different frequencies. AUM is the energy that is disguised in one’s breath. This breath or prana is the common force behind the kinetic energy or movements of all the things that exist in the universe (including the living beings). Therefore, AUM is the force or energy behind the universe.

The cycle of inhalation and exhalation of breath is known as frequency. The level of intensity of breathing denotes vibrations. Therefore, if one observes their own breath by meditation he/she will realise that they are not only part of the universe but are the universe.

Dr.Nikola Tesla rightly says, “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.”

About the Author

B.N.V. Parthasarathi