Maunam

 The power of maunam.

maun and nishabd, two significant words indicating silence.

the English word ‘silence’ doesn’t really say much. In the Sanskrit language, there are many words for silence. ‘Maun’ and ‘nishabd’ are two such significant words for the same. While maun means silence as we generally know it, when one does not speak, it is an attempt to create nishabd. Nishabd thus means “that which is not sound” – beyond body, mind and all creation. At the same time, beyond sound does not refer to the absence of sound, but to transcending sound.

It is a scientific fact that existence is a reverberation of energy. All vibrations in human experience translate into sound. Every form in the creation has a corresponding sound. This complex amalgamation of sounds is what we are experiencing as creation. The basis of all sound is nishabd. Maun is an attempt to transit from being a piece of creation to the source of creation. This attribute-less, dimension-less and boundless state of existence and experience is the aspiration of Yoga- union. Nishabd would suggest nothingness. Although the word “nothing” has a negative connotation, a small hyphen between ‘no’ and ‘thing’ would make the understanding positive. Hence, it is No-thing.

In our daily living, practicing silence even at the realm of a gross body, which means abstaining from verbal exchange, brings about many significant changes.  keeping quiet and concentrating on the ‘Silence’, helps to polish and sharpen one’s senses to a large extent. With an inner desire and consistent efforts, the verbal silence permeates to silence of the mind and further to the silence of the intellect. It is at this juncture that words spoken carry their own fragrance and thoughts carry potent vibes to altar any event or any activity. This is commonly noted in the life of many saints, in what we call as miracle.  This coming together of Sun with Moon every month in amavasya makes it a potent time to reach within and ‘Become Silence’.

सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वम् निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम् ।

निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलत्वम् निश्चलत्वे जीवन्मुक्ति: ॥

Sat-sangatve nissangatvam, nissangatve nirmohatvam;

Nirmohatve nischala tattvam, nischala tattve jeevan muktih.

When we associate ourselves with the Sat, the identification of the “I” with this human frame will cease, and the “I” in each of us will get identified ultimately with the Brahmam. The “I” feeling will persist only so long as we regard ourselves as something separate from “He”; it will get itself obliterated with the dawn of the consciousness of the Oneness of God.

Word	Meaning	Reference
maunam	silence	BG 10.38
maunam	silence	BG 17.16