Dharma Wheel (Dharmachakra)
Buddhist symbol representing the Noble Eightfold Path and the teachings of the Buddha.
Buddhist · c. 250 BCE – present
Om (Aum)
Sacred syllable and symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
Description
Om (also written as Aum, ॐ) is a sacred sound and a spiritual symbol in Indian religions. In Hinduism, it is considered the sound of the universe and is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts. The written symbol ॐ represents the syllable 'aum' in Devanagari script. In Vedanta philosophy, the three phonemes A, U, and M represent the three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. The symbol is also widely used in Buddhism and Jainism.
Origin & Cultural Context
The syllable Om first appears in the Rigveda (c. 1500–1200 BCE) and is elaborated upon extensively in the Upanishads.