Om chanting: meaning, benefits and how to chant Om (AUM)
How to chant Om step by step: the three sounds A-U-M, the hum and the silence, how long to chant, Om 108 times, and the benefits people traditionally describe.
Om chanting is the repetition of the sacred syllable Om (also written AUM) aloud or in the mind, usually on a long, slow out-breath. You sound a short A, a fuller U and a long humming M, then rest in the silence before the next breath. Most people chant it 3, 11, 21 or 108 times, and many say it leaves them calmer, more focused and breathing more steadily.
What Om (AUM) is
Om is the most sacred sound in Hindu tradition, and it is honoured in Buddhist, Jain and Sikh practice too. It opens most Vedic mantras and closes many prayers. It is not a word with a dictionary meaning; it is treated as the sound of the whole of reality, which the Upanishads call Brahman.
The Mandukya Upanishad, one of the shortest Upanishads, is devoted entirely to Om. It says that Om is all that was, is and will be, and it explains the syllable in four parts:
- A stands for the waking state, when we know the outer world.
- U stands for the dreaming state, when the mind knows its own inner world.
- M stands for deep, dreamless sleep, when everything is resting.
- The silence after the M stands for the fourth state, turiya: pure awareness, present behind the other three.
This is why teachers ask you to pay as much attention to the silence after Om as to the sound itself. The chant is three sounds and a stillness.
Om
ॐ Om
Om is the primordial sound of the universe and, in Hindu thought, the ultimate reality, Brahman; it is considered the first vibration of creation. Traditionally chanted for balance and a deep sense of connection. Listen on Mahakatha.
How to chant Om, step by step
- Sit comfortably somewhere quiet. Early morning is traditional, but any undisturbed time works. Sit cross-legged on a cushion or upright on a chair. Keep the spine tall but not stiff, the shoulders soft, the hands resting on your knees or in your lap.
- Close your eyes and breathe. Take a few slow breaths through the nose. Let the out-breath grow a little longer than the in-breath.
- Breathe in fully, into the belly first, then the chest.
- Sound A (aah). Open the mouth and let a relaxed "aah" begin low, from the belly.
- Move to U (ooh). Round the lips; the sound rises into the chest and throat.
- Close into M (mmm). Bring the lips gently together and hum. This is usually the longest part. Many people feel the hum in the face, the head and the crown.
- Rest in the silence. When the breath runs out, stop. Do not rush the next breath. Sit in the quiet for a moment.
- Repeat. Breathe in again and begin the next Om.
A simple guide for timing is roughly one part A, one part U and two parts M, but there is no strict rule. Never push the breath until you strain: a short, easy Om is better than a long, forced one.
If you cannot chant aloud, chant Om silently in the mind on each out-breath. This is called manasika japa, and it is a respected practice in its own right.
Universal Beeja Mantra
ॐ - ॐ - ॐ Aum - Aum - Aum
Aum is the seed sound, or bija mantra, of the cosmos, and chanting it brings a sense of oneness. Three Oms are a common way to open or close yoga and meditation. Traditionally chanted for focus and clarity. Listen on Mahakatha.
How long should you chant Om?
Start small and stay regular. Daily practice matters more than a long session once a week.
- 3 Oms to begin or end a yoga class, a meal or a working day.
- 11 or 21 Oms, about two to five minutes, as a short daily practice.
- 108 Oms, about 15 to 20 minutes at an unhurried pace, as a full round.
Afterwards, sit for a minute or two in silence before you get up.
Chanting Om 108 times
108 is a sacred number in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain practice, and a japa mala has 108 beads so that you can count a full round by touch. Hold the mala in the right hand, move one bead with the thumb for each Om, and stop when you reach the larger guru bead. For the traditional reasons behind the number, read why mantras are chanted 108 times.
No mala? Use the counter below, or open the japa counter on your phone.
Benefits of Om chanting
Here is what tradition holds, and what people commonly say they notice. These are not medical claims.
What tradition holds. In the yoga and Vedanta traditions, Om is chanted to turn the mind inward, to steady it, and to feel connected to something larger than oneself. Because Om sits at the start of most mantras, it is also seen as a way to prepare for any prayer or practice.
What people commonly report:
- Calm. The long out-breath and steady hum give many people a sense of settling down.
- Focus. Following the A, the U, the M and the silence leaves less room for wandering thoughts.
- A steadier breath. Each Om lengthens the exhale, and over a few minutes the breathing often becomes slower and more even.
- A gentle start or end to the day, and an easier way into meditation.
Some small studies suggest that Om chanting may help people feel more relaxed, but the research is limited and early. Om chanting supports calm; it is not a replacement for a doctor or therapist when you need one.
Who should be gentle
Om chanting is safe for most people, but go softly if:
- you have a sore throat, a cold or a strained voice: chant quietly or in the mind until it heals;
- you have asthma or another breathing condition: keep each Om short and comfortable, and never hold the breath;
- you are pregnant, unwell or recovering from illness: chant only as long as it feels easy;
- you feel dizzy or light-headed: stop, breathe normally, and rest.
Another Om mantra to try
Om Tat Sat
ॐ तत् सत् Om Tat Sat
"Om is the Supreme Truth." Three words from the Bhagavad Gita that name the absolute, often said to offer an action or a practice to the divine. Traditionally chanted for calm and fulfilment. Listen on Mahakatha.
To chant along with others, listen to Om chanting live on Mahakatha Radio, a free 24-hour mantra station. If you would rather have Om as quiet background music while you sit, see Om meditation music.
Questions people ask
How do you chant Om correctly?
Sit upright, breathe in fully, and on one slow out-breath sound A, then U, then a long humming M. Rest in the silence before the next breath. There is no single correct pitch; what matters is an easy, unforced breath.
What happens when you chant Om 108 times?
A round of 108 takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Over that time the breath usually slows and the mind settles, and many people say they feel calm and clear afterwards. A mala or counter keeps track so you do not have to count in your head.
Can I chant Om in my mind?
Yes. Silent chanting, called manasika japa, is traditional, and many teachers consider it the deepest form. It is useful when you have a sore throat or are somewhere you cannot chant aloud.
Can a normal person chant Om?
Yes. You do not need initiation, a teacher or any special status to chant Om. People of every background chant it at home, in yoga classes and in temples. If your family or tradition has its own custom, follow it.
How often should you chant Om?
Daily is best, even if only for a few minutes. Many people chant 11 or 21 Oms each morning, and a full round of 108 when they have more time.
Why is the Om mantra considered so powerful?
In Hindu thought Om is the sound of all reality, and it stands at the start of most mantras. The Mandukya Upanishad describes it as containing waking, dreaming, deep sleep and the awareness beyond them, so chanting it is seen as touching the whole of experience.