Om Symbol on a Headstone: Meaning

Om (also written Aum) is the most sacred sound and symbol in Hinduism. On a memorial, it expresses faith and the soul's connection to the divine.

What it means

Om is said to be the primordial sound of the universe. Its parts are often explained as waking, dreaming and deep sleep, with the silence after representing a fourth, transcendent state. It's chanted at the start of prayers and rituals, including funeral rites.

On memorials

Because most Hindus are cremated, Om often appears on:

• Memorial plaques in columbaria or gardens.
• Family memorial stones at a cemetery or home.
• Cenotaphs for those whose ashes were immersed in a river.

See Hindu memorial plaques.

Design ideas

• Om centred at the top of the plaque.
• Saffron or gold colour fill — see gold leaf lettering.
• Om with a lotus — see lotus meaning.
• Devanagari script for names or prayers.

Wording to pair

• Om Shanti Shanti Shanti — peace, peace, peace.
• Hari Om.
• The person's name in English and Devanagari.

Ask your priest or family elders for the correct spelling.

Getting the Om right

The Om symbol has a precise shape in Devanagari, and versions found online are sometimes distorted or mirrored. Ask your priest or a family elder to confirm the artwork before engraving. If you're also including Sanskrit or Hindi text, have it typed by a fluent writer rather than copied from an image. For families from South India, the Om may be written in Tamil, Telugu or another script — use the one the family recognises.

Key Takeaways

• Om is Hinduism's most sacred sound and symbol.
• It often appears on plaques and memorial stones.
• Gold or saffron colour fill is popular.
• Pair with "Om Shanti" and Devanagari script.

Next Step

See multilingual inscriptions.