Soham (Sanskrit)

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Soham or Sohum (सो ऽहम् so'ham[1]) is a Hindu mantra, meaning "I am" in Sanskrit.[2][3]

In Vedic philosophy it means identifying Brahman with the universe or ultimate Brahman.[2]

The mantra is also inverted from so 'ham (the sandhi of saḥ + aham) to ham + sa. The combination of so 'haṃ haṃsaḥ has also been interpreted as "I am Swan", where the swan symbolizes the Atman.[4]

  1. ^ In English language literature also printed as So’ham, So Ham, So-aham, Sohum, So Hum, Saham, Sa'ham, Sau-ha, Sah-karena/Sahkara = the sound of Sa
  2. ^ a b Olivelle 1992, pp. 80–81, 210 with footnotes.
  3. ^ Mariasusai Dhavamony (1999), Hindu Spirituality, GB Press, ISBN 978-8876528187, page 129
  4. ^ Alper, Harvey P. (1991). Understanding Mantras. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 104. ISBN 978-81-208-0746-4.