What religion is represented by the 'Om' symbol (ॐ and bigger below)?
Om Om Aum/Om (, IAST: "Oṃ", Devanagari: , Tamil: ௐ) is a sacred sound and a spiritual symbol in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and other spiritual traditions, that signifies the essence of the ultimate reality, consciousness or Atman. It is a syllable that is chanted either independently or before a mantra. Om is part of the iconography found in ancient and medieval era manuscripts, temples, monasteries and spiritual retreats in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The symbol has a spiritual meaning in all Indian dharmas, but the meaning and connotations of "Om" vary between the diverse schools within and across the various traditions.
Om The world is Om, its light is Sun, and the Sun is also the light of the syllable "Om", asserts the Upanishad. Meditating on Om, is acknowledging and meditating on the Brahman-Atman (Soul, Self). The Mundaka Upanishad in the second "Mundakam" (part), suggests the means to knowing the Self and the Brahman to be meditation, self-reflection and introspection, that can be aided by the symbol "Om". Adi Shankara, in his review of the Mundaka Upanishad, states "Om" as a symbolism for Atman (soul, self). The Mandukya Upanishad opens by declaring, "Om!, this syllable is this whole world". Thereafter it presents