(BY: Gurdeep Singh Kahlon)

Guru Nanak (14691539), the founder of Sikhism, settled at Kartarpur in 1518 during the later years of his life. There he com posed one of the most remark able spiritually inspired poetry, JAPIL It is a prelude to the Guru Granth Sahib. The essence of Sikh faith is enshrined’ in the JAPIJI.

At the head of JAPJI, stands the following Mul Mantra: EK OANKAR, SATNAM, KARTAPURAKH, NIRBHAU,

NIRVAIR, AKALMURAT, AJUNISAIBHANG, GUR PARSAD. ONE GOD; SUPREME TRUTH; CREATOR; WITH OUT FEAR; WITHOUTENMITY; IMMOR TAL, UNBORN; SELFEXIS TENT;

REALISED BY DIVINE Mantra is not a part of JAPJI. It is chanted to invoke the Lord for His blessings and to keep off evil from one’s mind. Mul Mantra is recorded in Guru Granth Sahib, in a number of places at the openings of various sections, in full or in condensed forms. It is meant for all human it and is open to any seeker who wished to meditate. It bears similarity to the Islamic invoking, Bismillah a rRahmanar Rahim. Some other Mantras, to invoke the Diving blessing, also occur in Guru Granth Sahib. In the opening of Sukhmani, the following salutation occurs:

ADI GURUEY NAMAH; JUGADI GURUEYNAMAH; SAT GURUEY NAMAH; SRI GURUDEVEY NAMAH JAPJI consists of three things: a) Heading, JAP

  1. b) Short Slok ADI SACH, JUGADI SACH, HAI BHI SACH, NANAK HOS! BHI SACH.
  2. c) 38 stanzas or pauris (the steps of the ladder for spiritual ascent). The title of this beautiful poem as given in the beginning is JAP and not JAPJI, as it is com See page 6: Japji.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 30, 1996