Sikhism · Japji Sahib · Ang 1

The Mool Mantar

The first words of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: the root statement of Sikh belief about the One Creator.

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ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ; ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

ੴ सति नामु करता पुरखु निरभउ निरवैरु अकाल मूरति अजूनी सैभं गुर प्रसादि ॥

ik oankār sati nāmu karatā purakhu nirabhau niravairu akāl mūrati ajūnī saibhaṃ gur prasādi ||

The Mool Mantar, the root formula, opens Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. It states that there is One Creator, whose Name is Truth, the Creator and Being present in all, without fear and without enmity, timeless in form, beyond birth, self-existent. It ends by saying that this One is known through the Guru's grace.

Word by word

ੴIk OnkarOne Creator, present throughout creation
ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁSat NaamWhose Name is Truth
ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁKarta PurakhThe Creator, the Being present in all
ਨਿਰਭਉNirbhauWithout fear
ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁNirvairWithout enmity
ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿAkaal MooratTimeless in form, beyond death
ਅਜੂਨੀAjooniBeyond birth, not born into any form
ਸੈਭੰSaibhangSelf-existent, light of itself
ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿGur PrasadKnown by the Guru's grace

Most Sikhs, following the Sikh Rehat Maryada, take the Mool Mantar to end at 'Gur Prasad'. Some traditions recite on through the opening salok, ending at 'Hosi bhi sach'. Both are practised with devotion.

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