The mantra OM is significant in Vedic culture in many ways.  It is the most sacred symbol there is, representing the Universal, the All, the One.  The sound OM, or Aum, contains all of the vowel sounds.  Om is pronounced as if it rhymes with “home." In Sanskrit, OM is written with 3 strokes, one semi-circle and a dot.  The 3 curved strokes represent the waking state, the sleeping state and the dreaming state.  The dot represents the Absolute, or the Truth, which illuminates the other three states.  The semi-circle separates the dot from the other three curves, it represents Maya, or illusion.  It is illusion that keeps us from seeing the Truth.  The semi-circle is open on the top, illustrating that the Truth is not affected by illusion.  If you'd like to see the OM symbol written out in Sanskrit, check out the drawing we have up in The Sanskrit Store.