124. Humming our way to Ishwara.

In today's My Daily Thread Podcast episode, we review these Sanskrit concepts and weave them into clear, understandable explanations and discuss Yoga Sutra 1:27.

'Ishwara Pranidhana' combines two significant words. 'Ishwara' represents the supreme consciousness or the divine in Yogic philosophy, while 'Pranidhana' signifies surrender or devotion. 'Ishwara Pranidhana' refers to surrendering oneself to the sacred, an essential practice in yoga for attaining spiritual liberation.
This sutra translates to, "His (Ishwara's) expression is the Pranava (Om)." This simple yet profound statement reveals a core principle in yoga philosophy. It states that the sacred syllable 'Om' is the very sound representation of Ishwara, the supreme consciousness.

In essence, Ishwara isn't just an abstract concept; it's also manifested in a tangible form through the sound of Om. This concept connects deeply with the idea found in the Gospel of St. John: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." A similar sentiment echoes in the Rig Veda: "In the beginning was Brahman, with whom was the Word, and the Word was truly the supreme Brahman."
Vivekananda, a renowned Indian philosopher, beautifully describes how the Sanskrit word 'Om' engages the entire vocal apparatus, starting from the back of the throat and resonating. When chanting Om, the 'O' sound is shorter, while the 'MM' sound is prolonged, creating a humming vibration that is said to connect us with the divine. In a way, we are 'humming our way to Ishwara.'

Ishwara Pranidhana, or surrender to the divine, is central to yoga. Sutra 1:27 deepens this understanding by linking Ishwara to the sacred sound of Om. Through chanting Om, we acknowledge Ishwara as the ultimate source of knowledge and the first guru and establish a vibrational connection with this supreme consciousness, furthering our spiritual journey.