On International Yoga Day, Let’s Ask Whose Om is it Anyway?

In the lead-up to International Yoga Day on June 21, the Modi Government has decided to drop all references to Om, in an effort to keep the initiative free from any religious controversy.

And so, Om is being ominously dropped, even from the half-hour long yoga documentary that the department of AYUSH is preparing for International Yoga Day.

But is the government’s decision of brushing Om under the carpet – rather, the yoga mat – the right one?

For a sarkaar often accused of religious ballyhoo, it seems like a safe move. But could it be over-cautionary?

Om, My God?

That Om is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva has been repeated to a Hindu since childhood. But Om is open to interpretation and is not a Hindu hijack.

To Jains, Om is the collective sound of the five parmeshthis.

Om is also in the om mani padme hum mantra of the Buddhists.

Even the Sikhs’ Ik Onkar is traceable to Om.

Still, at a time when religious voltages are running high, maybe the government doesn’t want to give the secularists a chance to blow a fuse. Setting aside the religious connotations and politics, maybe it’s time to look at the science behind Om.

The Science of Om

Stephen Hawking is a proponent of the Superstring Theory. The theory states that at the sub-atomic level of every living thing lie incredibly small vibrating strings. It is believed that these vibrations can also be achieved by the chanting of Om.

The vibration of Om is also said to resemble the original vibration that occurred at the time of creation. Science says these vibrations reach the bones of the rib cage and stimulate the endocrine glands.

The chant of Om also produces a pain killer, interleukin-2.

Note to those with an attention deficit: by focusing our brain while chanting Om, our concentration improves and the chanting calms the nerves. Now that is something that all of us – even politicians and religious gurus – badly need.

Om!