Pillaiyar Suḻi

It is dedicated to the Hindu deity Pillaiyar (Ganesha), who is ritually worshiped first with prayers for success and is used to symbolize an auspicious beginning.

[1] The symbol consists of a circle and a curve similar to the fifth vowel of the Tamil script உ(u) accompanied by two straight horizontal lines and a dot below.

[3] Aum is considered a fusion of five forms, the letters signifying Akhara symbolizing lord Shiva, Ukhara symbolizing Shakti and Makhara representing Malam (taints that adhere to the soul) to go with the fourth and fifth letters in sound form representing Maya (reality and existence) and Ātman (the soul).

[2][4] Ganesha as the son of Shiva and Shakthi is denoted by the Pillayar Suli, which combines the first two forms namely Akhara and Ukhara.

The symbol similar to the Tamil letter உ(u) may be derived from Umayaval or Uma, a name of Parvati who is considered as a sister of Vishnu.

[1] The practice is similar to writing Shri (Tamil:ஸ்ரீ, Sanskrit:श्री) prevalent in North India where the word is used to denote lord Ganesh.