." The reason why we have
tried to explain the doctrine of the "life-atoms" at such length, is
precisely in connection with this last question, and with the object of
throwing out one more fertile hint. We do not feel at liberty at
present, however, to give any further details.

--H.P. Blavatsky

"OM," And Its Practical Significance

I shall begin with a definition of Om, as given by the late Professor
Theodore Goldstucker:--

"Om is a Sanskrit word which, on account of the mystical notions that
even at an early date of Hindu civilization were connected with it,
acquired much importance in the development of Hindu religion. Its
original sense is that of emphatic or solemn affirmation or assent.
Thus, when in the White Yajur Veda the sacrificer invites the gods to
rejoice in his sacrifice, the goddess Savitri assents to his summons by
saying, 'Om' (i.e., be it so); proceed!"

Or, when in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Prajapati, the father of gods,
men and demons, asks the gods whether they have understood his
instructions, he expresses his satisfaction with their affirmative reply
in these words, "Om, you have fully comprehended it;" and in the same
Upanishad, Pravahana answers the question of Swetaketu, as to whether
his father has instructed him, by uttering the word "Om"--i.e.,
"forsooth (I am)."

A portion of the Rig Veda called the Aitareya Brahmana, where,
describing a religious ceremony at which verses from the Rig Veda, as
well as songs called Gathas, were recited by the priest called Hotri,
and responses given by another priest, the Adhwaryu, says: Om is the
response of the Adhwaryu to the Rig Veda verses (recited by the Hotri),
and likewise tatha (i.e., thus) his response to the Gathas, for Om is
(the term of assent) used by the gods, whereas tatha is (the term of
assent) used by men (the Rig Veda verses being, to the orthodox Hindu,
of divine and the Gathas of human authorship).

In this, the original sense of the word, it is little doubtful that Om
is but an older and contracted form of the common Sanskrit word evam
("thus"), which, coming from the pronominal base "a," in some
derivations changed to "e," may have at one time occurred in the form
avam, when, by the elision of the vowel following a, for which there are
numerous analogies in Sanskrit, vum would become aum, and hence,
according to the ordinary phonetic laws of the language, Om. This
etymology of the word, however, seems to