________________
THE MANTRA : OM : WORD AND WISDOM. 67
Therefore the sphota is called the NadaBrahma ( FICAH ) or the Sound-Brahman. And as the sphota, being the finer side of the manifested universe, is nearer to God, and is indeed the first manifestation of Divine Wisdom, this Om is truly symbolic of God. Again, just as the "one only” Brahman, the Akhanda-Sachchidananda, the Undivided Existence-Knowledge-Bliss, can be conceived by imperfect human souls from particular and limited standpoints of view only and will always be associated with particular qualities, so the universe in its entirety, the body of the Lord will also be thought of in the same manner by them. Now the particular view of God and universe of a particular worshipper's mind, will always be determined by its prevailing elements or tattvas. And thus the result is that the same God will be seen by various worshippers as the possessor of different and not unoften contradictory qualities, in His various manifestations ; and the
