Om Aim Hreem Shreem

What Does Om Aim Hreem Shreem Mean?

Om Aim Hreem Shreem (Sanskrit: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं) is a mantra composed of four bija (seed) mantras that represent divine energy. This mantra is used to invoke the blessings and powers of great Hindu Goddesses; Saraswati, Parvati, Shakti and Lakshmi.

As such, recitation of this mantra can be used to enhance spiritual devotion, deepen a sense of connection with the divine and cultivate wisdom and knowledge of the true self.

As a combination of bija mantras, Om Aim Hreem Shreem is a particularly powerful mantra. Each of the seed sounds are believed to have a unique vibrational energy which resonates throughout all layers of the physical and subtle body. Although there is no direct translation, one interpretation is: “Oh merciful Lord. Please bestow wealth, health and prosperity. I seek asylum from you.”

Yogapedia Explains Om Aim Hreem Shreem

Mantras are used across religious and spiritual traditions as a meditative “tool of thought,” helping to prepare the practitioner for deeper states of meditation and to enter higher levels of consciousness.

In general, mantras are made up of sacred words or short phrases, whereas bija mantras consist of single-syllable sounds.

These bija sounds tend to have no specific meaning, but are chanted for the transformative power of their sound vibrations and symbolic significance. Otherwise known as ‘cosmic vibrations’, the sounds are believed to enhance and improve the flow of prana (life-force energy) throughout the subtle body.

The significance of each syllable in the Om Aim Hreem Shreem mantra is as follows:

• Om: the primordial sound associated with the creation of the universe, the Divine, Brahman and the higher Self. It is the most commonly used and widely recognised bija mantra. Om opens, clears and focuses the mind for meditation, and so is typically chanted at the beginning of a mantra.

• Aim: the feminine counterpart of om. Aim is the bija mantra associated with Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and speech. It is believed to open the practitioner's consciousness to higher knowledge and wisdom.

• Hreem: the sound of the Great Goddess representing her powers of creation, preservation and destruction. Hreem is often associated with her form as Parvati or Shakti, symbolizing divine feminine energy.

• Shreem: a sound to evoke the power of love, devotion and abundance, on both a physical and spiritual level. It is associated with Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and divine grace.

Om Aim Hreem Shreem should be recited with undivided attention in order to receive maximum benefits. It can be practiced in any stable seated posture, and mudras such as Gyan mudra or Dhyana mudra can help to improve concentration and encourage greater insight.