Answer:
AUM stands for the holy trinity according to Hinduism, wherein A = Brahma, U = Vishnu, and M = Shiva. AUM depicts the God, collectively as Trimurti (literally indicating three forms or trinity), while Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva each represent one of the three primary aspects. In the Trimurti system, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva is the destroyer or transformer.
"Aum" is also called "Om" or "Ohm". It is a sacred sound important to various religions. The Christian "amen" is considered equivalent. Aum is a syllable either spoken or sung, often in meditation and mantras, or in association with prayer or other religious ritual.
In Indian music, Aum corresponds to the frequencies 136.1 Hz, 204.15 Hz, and 272.2 Hz (sa, pa, and sa of the next octave).
These frequencies are found in nature when measuring the energy from the Sun. Exposure to this sound has been shown to restructure water into beautiful crystal forms, seemingly transforming disfigured, damaged water molecules into near perfection. To learn more about Aum, the Sun, and water, see:
* http://tinyurl.com/watertgm
* http://tinyurl.com/waterc2c
* http://tinyurl.com/watercd
Aum is said to be the primordial sound that was present at the creation of the universe. It is said to be the original sound that contains all other sounds, all words, all languages and all mantras. In this sense, Aum may be "the word". "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
This concept of Aum and "the word" creating our universe is supported by the vibrational resonance waveform metaphysical view of the nature of reality. This view is spoken of both in philosophical and scientific contexts. String theory for example suggests that subatomic "strings" oscillate to take on vibrational modes, therein forming matter. In other contexts, the waveform view of reality may be found in ancient teachings such as Hermeticism, which claims to draw its knowledge from ancient Egypt and the messanger god Hermes (also called Thoth). According to the Kybalion, The Principle of Vibration is a major part of the Hermetic Philosophy.
To learn more, spend some time searching the Internet. This information was taken from an Apple iPod/iPhone Application available for download through iTunes. It is a binaural beats program called Brainwave Entrainment, from the company Red Five Development, which utilizes sounds (including Aum) to facilitate desired effects on the mind. More info at http://www.red5dev.com