“It is through Praṇavo Japam
that the true nature of the Jīva is realised.”
– T Krishnamacharya’s commentary to
Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 29

“I think once you know how to recite the Praṇava
orally you will be able to do it silently.
And perhaps each time you can add a little meaning
to it as well as find a little more meaning in it.
The best way is to begin orally and
then transfer it to a mental recitation.
Then you can easily use it in your Yoga practice.”
– TKV Desikachar Religiousness in Yoga
‘Various Approaches to Yoga’
Chapter Seventeen Page 238

“The number of times you say OM on inhalation, holding the breath,
and exhalation is influenced by the length of the breath.
We cannot fix the number of recitations on the basis of the Praṇava itself.
We can only fix it on the basis of a person’s capacity of breath.
If you are simply using OM, it can go with almost any ratio.
If you are using something more complex, say Gāyatrī Mantra,
it is very long and has different structures so there are regulations on
how many times you say it when you inhale, hold the breath, and exhale,
and in what part of the Mantra you can break, etc.”
– TKV Desikachar Religiousness in Yoga
‘Various Approaches to Yoga’
Chapter Seventeen Page 238-239

“There are many texts on Yoga and Yoga is found in one form or another in the Upaniṣat. Yoga for them is the means to realise God and OM is the key to that process. So many Upaniṣad mention OM because most Upaniṣat are involved with Vedānta or the movement towards God.”
– TKV Desikachar “The use and abuse of OM”, Lecture on September 5th 1983 in Zinal, Switzerland

“The Mantra especially Praṇava were chanted,
meditated upon and referred to with
considerable devotion and respect in the olden days.
Contemporary use of ‘OM‘ on tea shirts, vests and other
casual wares is sometimes difficult to put up with.”
Extract from S Ramaswami’s January 2012 Newsletter

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