What is the Difference Between HAM and HUM...

[Lhug-Pa]

...Seed-Syllables?

Tried the Tibetan Text Converter but I doubt that it gave me a complete answer, at least not one with the detail that I'm looking for.

I know what HUM looks like, but am not sure what HAM looks like.


Thanks.

[Blue Garuda]

This is a good source with part of the answer:

http://www.visiblemantra.org/bija.html

Another explanation in a specific context:

kalachakranet.org/teachings/KTR_graz_tenfold_powerfulr.rtf

The same sound may represent different things in different mantras. We mustn't forget that these are sounds rather than spending too much time focusing on scripts, and that these sounds and meanings need correct transmission from guru to disciple.

For appearance of Ham in Devanagari script, Google 'Devanagari Ham' and go to 'Images'.

[Lhug-Pa]

Thanks Blue Garuda

I've looked over the first link you posted.

Am mainly trying to get a clear picture of what the Seed-Syllable HAM looks like in Tibetan.

Found a clue:



http://www.gasamling.ca/gsl-logo.htm

It says there that HUM and HI combine to form HAM, and that HAM is contained in the logo.

Although I don't see a letter HI here:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_alphabet

Perhaps if knowing how to put Tibetan letters together to form syllables, and how diacritics or modifiers work, we could figure it out.

[gregkavarnos]

Well ham looks something like this:

ham.jpg (36.58 KiB) Viewed 366 times

But seriously, HAM is like HUM but without the diacritical at the bottom (which is the "U")

ham2.jpg (2.68 KiB) Viewed 369 times

[Lhug-Pa]

Hey! This thread is Halal. Get that first picture out of my sight!

Thanks Gregkavarnos!

I was actually coming close to concluding that HAM is what you posted (your second pic of course) but without the very bottom part, the latter of which seems to be a modifier.

[gregkavarnos]

Basic rule of thumb: The letters of the Tibetan alphabet end in the phonetic "a" for example:

a ra pa tsa na.jpg (6.84 KiB) Viewed 337 times

The diactritical markings are used for the rest of the vowel sounds:

ta te ti to tu.jpg (8.03 KiB) Viewed 334 times

and for the "m" sound and long and short syllables:

ba bam a aaaaaa.jpg (6.88 KiB) Viewed 333 times

[dakini_boi]

Hey! This thread is Halal. Get that first picture out of my sight!

Thanks Gregkavarnos!

I was actually coming close to concluding that HAM is what you posted (your second pic of course) but without the very bottom part, the latter of which seems to be a modifier.

The pic Greg posted is Hām (long A sound). Without the mark at the bottom, you would have Ham (short a).

[Lhug-Pa]

Perfect.

This all helps out a lot!

Much thanks.