# Can anyone identify this symbol? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 17, 2005, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-symbol/299758 "2005-04-17T11:22:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-symbol/299758/1 "2005-04-17T11:22:03Z")
I have a symbol hung around my neck on a black cord and I have no idea what it means. I think it is either Japanese or Chinese, I don’t have a digital camera so the best I can give in terms of a description is something like: ``` 3-o ``` There is a straight(ish) line above the symbol aswell that I can’t figure out how to draw using text. So, does anybody know what it means? ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-symbol/299758/2 "2005-04-17T12:07:34Z")
> [@mittu](#): > > I have a symbol hung around my neck on a black cord and I have no idea what it means. I think it is either Japanese or Chinese, I don’t have a digital camera so the best I can give in terms of a description is something like: > > ``` > 3-o > > ``` > > There is a straight(ish) line above the symbol aswell that I can’t figure out how to draw using text. So, does anybody know what it means? It is the Aum/Om symbol used in Hingu/Buddhist religion. From hindunet: > [@](#): > > The most sacred symbol in Hindu dharma. Aum (OM) is the sound of the infinite. > > Aum is said to be the essence of all mantras, the highest of all matras or divine word (shabda), brahman (ultimate reality) itself. Aum is said to be the essence of the Vedas. > > By sound and form, AUM symbolizes the infinite Brahman (ultimate reality) and the entire universe. > > A stands for Creation > > U stands for Preservation > > M stands for Destruction or dissolution > > This is representative of the Trinity of God in Hindu dharma (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) > > The three portions of AUM relate to the states of waking, dream and deep sleep and the three gunas (rajas, satva, tamas) > > The three letters also indicates three planes of existence, heaven (swarga), earth (martya) and netherworld (patala) > > All the words produced by the human vocal organ can be represented by AUM. A is produced by the throat, U & M by the lips > > In the Vedas, AUM is the sound of the Sun, the sound of Light. It is the sound of assent (affirmation) and ascent (it has an upwards movement and uplifts the soul, as the sound of the divine eagle or falcon. > **[Om](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum)** > > Ōṁ (or Aum) (listen (help·info); Sanskrit: ॐ, ओम्, romanized: Ōṁ; Tamil: ௐ, ஓம்) is the sound of a sacred spiritual symbol in Indian religions, mainly in Hinduism, wherein it signifies the essence of the Ultimate Reality (parabrahman) which is consciousness (paramatman). More broadly, it is a syllable that is chanted either independently or before a spiritual recitation in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The meaning and connotations of Om vary between the diverse schools within an In Hinduism... ---
**Author:** ![klintypooh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@klintypooh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/klintypooh)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-symbol/299758/3 "2005-04-17T12:29:15Z")
I hope it isn’t as that was going to be my guess and I’d hate to think I was beaten to it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-symbol/299758/4 "2005-04-17T13:36:26Z")
Yep, that’s the fella, thanks 🙂