Reading section 17

[Sidenote: 25. The 3 Merits.]

Of the meditation of the three letters of _Om_ described at length in the Upanishads.

XII. THE TETRADS OR QUADRUPLES OF OM.

[Sidenote: I. Tetrads of Om.]

We have next to consider the tetrads or quadruple divinities in the quadrants or four fold divisions of the circle of _Om_ consisting of its four letters a, u, or crescent of _Om_, and the circlet of entire Om styled Chandravindu as given by Professor Monier Williams from the Nirukta of yaska. (Indian Wisdom p. 169).

[Sidenote: II. In sciences.]

1. The Om of orthographers consisting of the four stages of speech; namely, ध्वनि पश्यन्ती मध्यमा and बैस्वरी ।

2. Of Grammarians; the four parts of speech, nouns, verbs, prepositions and particles.

3. Of Ritualists; The hymns, liturgical precepts, Bráhmanas and ordinary language.

4. Of philologers or Sábdikas; the speech of serpents, beasts, birds and vernaculars.

5. Of Etymologists; The Rik, Yajur and Sáma Vedas and current language.

6. Of Spiritualists; The language of beasts, wild animals, musical instruments and soul.

7. Of Manu (IV. 126). The Pranava and the three Vyahrtis. (ॐ भूर्भ्रुवः स्वर्).

8. Of Manu (IV. 124). The Rik sacred to the gods, the Yajur relating to mankind and the Sáma concerning the manes, and its sound.

9. Of _Smártas_; The four stages;—of students, householders, mendicants and ascetics.

10. Of Puránas. The four Ages;—_Satya_, _Tretá_, _Dwápara_ and _Kali_. The four castes &c.

[Sidenote: III. In Divinity]

_A_ for _ápta_ or _Vyápta_—pervading all worlds, represents the divine hypostasis of Viswa.

[Sidenote: 1. The 4 Conditions of Brahma.]

_U_—for _Utkarshat_, _i. e._, more elevated than _A_; as the _Taijas_ than _Visva_. (तैजस).

M—for _mána_ or measure, as the _prajná_ like a _prastha_ measures the above two. (प्रज्ञा).

_Om_—_i. e._, the entire and without parts, is the fourth and perfect condition of Brahma. (ब्रह्म).

[Sidenote: 2. The 4 states of the Soul.]

_Á_ for the waking (Jágrat) state, when the soul is subject to gross senses.

_U_—for the _swapna_ or dreaming state, when the soul is withdrawn from visible objects.

M—the _susupta_ or sound sleeping state, in which the soul is unconscious of itself.

_Om_—the absolute and perfect state of the soul viewing all in itself.

[Sidenote: 3. The 4 Manifestations of God.]

A—is external manifestation of the Universal soul in objects.

_U_—Internal manifestation perceived in the operations of the soul in dream.

M—unmanifested existence; or the self consciousness of the soul.

Om—Unmanifest state of the soul, unmodified and inactive state.

[Sidenote: 4. The 4 Titles of the soul.]

A—_Viswa_ or _Vaiswánara_ who abides manifest in the waking state.

U—_Taijasa_; abiding in dreams and knowing all without objects.

M—_Prajná_, the perfect wise abiding in deep sleep.

_Om_—Absolute Brahma called _Turíya_ which is perfect and all knowing.

[Sidenote: The Four fold Tetrads:]

I.

A—_Áptah_, pervading. U—_Utkarsha_, Exalted. M—_Mána_, Measure. Om—_Brahma_, Absolute.

II.

_Jágrat_, Waking. _Swapna_, Dreaming. _Susupti_, Sleeping. _Sthira_, Calm.

III.

A—_Vyakta_, external state. U—_Antar_, internal state. M—_Avyakta_, unmanifested. _Om Ananta_, Infinity.

IV.

_Viswa_, the visible world. _Taijasa_, the thinking soul. _Pragná_, Consciousness. _Turíya_, Omniscience.

XIII. THE PENTADS &C., OF _Om_.

[Sidenote: The Pentads of Om.]

The quintuples of om are composed of five letters or divisions of the symbolical circle, standing for so many different things each of which forms a part of the whole, and is called an _Om_. The five parts are, A, U, M, O and the _náda_—the nasal half circle above.

[Sidenote: 1. The Five Vital Airs. पञ्च प्राणाः ।]

Respiration, flatulence, circulation, pulsation and assimilation, commonly known by the names of _Prána_, _Apána_, _Vyána_, _Udána_ and _Samána_.

[Sidenote: 2. The Five Caverns. पञ्च कोषाः ।]

_Pancha koshas_ or sheaths of the soul, folding one over the other “like the coats of an onion”. 1. The sheath of the intellect. 2. The sheath of the mind. 3. The sheath of breathing. 4. The subtle and corporeal bodies. 5. The sheath of Supreme bliss, not admitted by all. (बिज्ञानमय, मनोमय, प्राणमय, अन्नमय, आनन्दमय कोषाः ।)

[Sidenote: 3. The Five Internal organs, senses and their objects. पञ्च ज्ञानेन्द्रियाणि ।]

The ear, eye, skin, nose and tongue, of hearing, sight, feeling, smell and taste. Their five objects—sound, colour, touch, savour and smell. (श्रोत्रत्वक् चक्षु जिह्व घ्राणानि तथा शब्द स्पर्षरूप रसगन्धानि ।)

[Sidenote: 4. The Five external Do. पञ्च कर्म्मेन्द्रियानि ।]

The voice, hands, feet, the organs of generation and secretion are organs of action. बाक्पाणि पाद पायूपस्थानि बहिरिन्द्रियाणि । पूर्ब्बोक्तानि अन्तर बा बुद्धीन्द्रियाणि ।

[Sidenote: 5. The Five Elements. पञ्च भूतानि ।]

Earth, air, fire, water and ether. क्षित्यप् तेजो मरुद्व्योम पञ्च महाभूतानि ।

[Sidenote: 6. The Five classes of Ignorance.]