The meaning of Om Mani Padme Hum

When we travel to Spiti or Ladakh, we see Mani Stones along monasteries, rivers and roads. Ever wondered what the mantra actually means, and why are these stones kept there?

Let’s start with what ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ means.

OM (or A U M) means ‘Hail’ and symbolises practitioner’s impure body, speech, and mind; it also symbolizes the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha.

MANI means jewel or bead and symbolises the selfless intention to practice compassion and love.

PADME means lotus and symbolises wisdom.

HUM stands for the embodiment of enlightenment.

Together the syllables literally mean ‘Hail, jewel in the lotus’, where lotus-jewel is one of the many names of Avalokiteswara, the Bodhisattva of compassion.

It is believed that Chanting the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum cleanses and purifies the mental body, emotional body, energy body and the physical body. This makes your mind and energy clear and gives you the clarity you need as to how you’ll achieve your targets.

People place the ‘Mani Stones’ along roads, walls, roadsides, rivers as an offering to the spirits of the place.

Photo of The meaning of 'Om Mani Padme Hum; 2/3 by S S (Saurabh Sabikhi)

It is also believed that the Mantra is a powerful protection against any kind of negativity around us.

And that is the reason why people place Mani stones (and flags) around their homes to protect themselves from any kind of negativity. The purifying effects of the mantra are so high that it purifies the air molecules. When this pure air meets the human form, its soothing and calming effect releases them of the negativity or any kind of suffering within.