Japji Sahib
Japji Sahib , is the first chapter of the Guru Granth Sahib, composed by Guru Nanak, the first guru and the saintly founder of the Sikh religion. The Japji Sahib is considered to be the essence of the Guru Granth Sahib and of Sikh thought. It is of eternal importance because it deals with the perennial philosophy, preaches love, brotherhood and compassion. The Japji Sahib comprises of the mool mantar (the basic sacred teaching) and two slokas as prologue and epilogue; the Japji Sahib also consists of 38 pauris (poems).
The Mool Mantar
Ik-onkaar sat Naam karta purakh, nirbha-o nirvair akaal moorat, ajoonee saibhan gur parsaad,
Jap, Aad sach, Jugaad sach, Hai bhee sach, Naanak hosee bhee sach
Ik-Onkaar : There is but one God
Sat Naam : True in His Name
Karta Purakh : He is the creative power personified
Nirbha-o Nirvair : He is without fear; without enmity
A-Kaal Moorat : He is timeless, without form; beyond birth and death
Ajoonee Saibhan : He is unborn, self existent, self illuminated and self sustaining
Gur Parsaad : He is realized through the Guru’s divine grace
Jap : Recite, reflect and meditate.
Aad sach, Jugaad sach,
Hai bhee sach, Naanak hosee bhee sach
He was true in the primal beginning before the ages began. True through all the ages, He is still the truth here and now; and O Nanak, true shall He ever remain.
Many regard this last ‘Jap’ part as the sloka following the mool mantar.
Ik Onkaar is the seed of the Sikh faith. The Mool Mantar is its root. Japji Sahib is the trunk of the Sikh faith. The rest of the Guru Granth Sahib are the branches, leaves and flowers.
There is no religion higher than the truth, said Guru Nanak. God is the ultimate truth, and this truth shall prevail. Let us therefore resolve: to seek God, the truth of all truths. Speak the truth, worship the truth, and bear witness to the truth in deeds of daily living.
Happy Guru Purab