YS 104 | The Story of OṂ: Sacred Sound and the Vedic Roots of Yoga
A 12-hour online course
with Dr. Finnian M.M. Gerety
Yogī at Vedic sacrifice, Kerala, India, 2012. Photo by Derin Thorpe.
What does OṂ mean? Where does it come from? How has it shaped doctrines and practices of Yoga over the centuries? Is it pronounced OM or AUM?
Join renowned scholar of Indian religions, Dr. Finnian M.M. Gerety (PhD, Harvard University), and a global cohort of students, for this exciting and unprecedented opportunity to study and explore the fascinating history and often misunderstood world of OṂ—and uncover the sacred symbol's powerful relationship to Yoga.
The Story of OṂ
This online course explores the rich history of the sacred syllable in Indian religions, highlighting the significance of mantra meditation in the development of classical Yoga. We will examine the ideologies of sound, speech, and silence found in the oldest Sanskrit texts, the Vedas; learn about dozens of ways to chant OṂ in Vedic sacrifice; discover the oldest known interpretations of the syllable as A-U-M; and understand OṂ’s connection to the gāyatrī mantra. We will also trace OṂ’s transformations in the Upaniṣads and foundational Yoga texts, where the syllable cements its reputation as a cosmic vibration and password to liberation.
Drawing on primary sources and cutting-edge scholarship, this course provides students with a thorough grounding in Vedic traditions and appreciation for the pivotal place of these texts and rituals in the formation of early Yoga. By carefully reconstructing embodied practices of chanting and meditation based on ancient paradigms, we will reimagine the history of Yoga in terms of sacred sound and deep listening. The course will also take stock of more recent developments in the story of OṂ, including representations of the syllable in manuscripts, visual culture, and social media.
Distance Learning
Study the history and philosophy of yoga, at your own pace, from the comfort of your own home.
Digital Svādhyāya
Engage in the traditional practice of "Self-Study," using the latest in modern online learning technologies.
Online Community
Join a thriving online community of yoga teachers, practitioners, and students from around the world.
Course Modules
Module 1 — Intro to Vedic Traditions: Mantras and Sacrifice
The first module provides an introduction to the oldest Sanskrit texts, the Vedas, which were composed orally, memorized, and passed on by word of mouth. We will discuss the mythology of the goddess of Speech (vāc), who inspires poets and creates the cosmos through sound, and learn about sacrifice (yajña), in which Brahmin priests chant mantras, make offerings, and drink a psychoactive beverage called soma. This module will also consider the different kinds of Vedic mantras (poetic verses, melodic chants, and prose formulas), focusing on how these elements come together in performance.
Module 2 — Chanting OṂ: the Emergence of the Sacred Syllable in the Vedas
This module explores the early history of OṂ in the Vedas, with attention to the many different ways the syllable is chanted in sacrifice and how Vedic thinkers interpret its significance. We will trace OṂ’s first appearance in Vedic mantra collections (ca. 1000 BCE) and subsequent emergence as the quintessential sacred syllable (praṇava) of the Brāhmaṇas and Upaniṣads. We will also conduct a case study on the division of OṂ into its constituent phonemes (A-U-M) and ponder the enduring influence of this sonic analysis.
Module 3 — Meditating on OṂ: Between Sound and Silence in Early Yoga
The next module excavates the Vedic roots of early Yoga by examining OṂ’s importance as an instrument of liberation. Drawing on the later Upaniṣads and the Bhagavad Gītā, students will learn about meditation on OṂ at the moment of death, a mantra-based practice that permits the practitioner to ascend to the sun and attain immortality. We will also discuss various forms of personal recitation (svādhyāya) and mantra meditation (japa) with OṂ, taking stock of their influence on Patañjali’s Yogasūtra and other canonical Yoga texts.
Module 4 — Visualizing OṂ: Subtle Sound and Script in Yoga and Tantra
The final module engages the dynamic development of OṂ in Yoga and Tantra, where subtle sound levels and the use of script become central. In these early medieval contexts, OṂ comes into its own as a seed syllable (bīja); it is also incorporated into elaborate practices of breath control (prāṇāyāma) and visualization. By examining Tantric innovations in the A-U-M analysis, we will appreciate how the syllable relates to emerging discourses about kuṇḍalinī energy and the practitioner’s embodiment of deities like Śiva. We conclude by considering the possible origins of OṂ’s distinctive glyph (ॐ) and surveying representations of the sacred syllable in the modern world, from yoga studios to social media.
Students enrolled in this course will receive:
- 4 pre-recorded video lectures (90 min)
- 4 pre-recorded Q&A sessions (90 min)
- 12 Hours of CE credit
- Course Syllabus with Recommended Readings (PDF)
- 4 Multiple Choice Quizzes (for fun)
- 4 Weekly Handouts (PDF)
- Yogic Studies Certificate upon completion (PDF)
- Access to the private Yogic Studies Online Community Forum
Your Instructor
Dr. Finnian M.M. Gerety is a historian of Indian religions focusing on sound and mantra. After earning a PhD. in South Asian Studies from Harvard University, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music. Finn is currently Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, the Contemplative Studies Program, and the Center for Contemporary South Asia at Brown University, where he teaches courses on mantra, yoga, ritual, and the senses.
Integrating the study of premodern texts with insights from fieldwork in contemporary south India, Finn’s research explores how sound has shaped religious doctrines and practices on the subcontinent from the late Bronze Age up through today. His current book project for Oxford University Press, This Whole World is OM: A History of the Sacred Syllable in India, is the first-ever monograph on OM, the preeminent mantra and ubiquitous sacred syllable of Indian religions.
Enrollment is OPEN
This course is set up for self-study. Sign up today to begin moving through the modules at your own pace.
This course is eligible for 12 hours of Continued Education (CE) credits with Yoga Alliance
"Dr. Gerety's 4-class course on the sacred sound of OM was a nourishing and scholarly introduction to this mantra. Dr. Gerety's style is warm and authentic. He has the knack of weaving many complex streams of knowledge into an accessible transmission of this particular aspect of the yogic path. Many thanks."
Nancy Reder
Alexandria, Virginia
"YS 104 is a really interesting course, rich with deep content and material, and Dr. Gerety is a wonderful teacher who easily takes you through even difficult subjects. Thank you again for this enlightening course."
Maria Camilla Bedotti
Italy
"I truly appreciated Dr. Gerety's organization and thoughtful preparedness. The material was thought-provoking and intriguing. It is obvious that he respects and thoroughly enjoys his subject matter. I look forward to his continued success. Thank you!"
Christine Kerber
Miami, Florida
"Really intriguing, engaging and inspiring course! I am grateful to Dr. Gerety for unveiling 'sacred' and 'secret' knowledges from his academic research and for offering interesting and original scholarly perspectives on the study of OM and of yogic traditions. Grateful to Yogic Studies for offering this course to the public! Heartily recommended!"
YS 104 Student
"I liked not only Dr. Gerety’s teaching and knowledge, but also his kindness and closeness. I strongly recommend."
Pedro Cormenzana
San Sebastian, Spain
"I really enjoyed the course; in my opinion it was very thorough, based on in-depth research of many ancient texts. I liked very much Dr. Gerety's generosity in sharing his research. I really liked his open-mindedness in receiving other information, suppositions or interpretations from the participants interacting with him. "
