Ek Onkar

Ek Onkar: One Reality Is

This fundamental teaching of Sikhism that there is only one Essence that sustains all.

Bhai Gurdas Ji says of Ek-Onkar:

"By writing 1 (One) in the beginning, it has been shown that Ekankar, God, who subsumes all forms in Him is only one (and not two or three).

Ura, the first Gurmukhi letter, in the form of Oankar shows the world controlling power of that one Lord..."

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According to Swami Vivekanand, "Onkar is the most holy word of the Vedas". A symbolic word meaning the Supreme Being, the Ocean of Knowledge and Bliss Absolute". (Raja Yoga)

Another definition of the word is given in Mandukopanishad: "That which was, is, will be, is all Onkar. And that which triple time transcends is Onkar too. (Verse 1)

The figure 'one' appended to Onkar does not merely signify God's unity as against trinity, but also affirms His being a personality and not merely a Shunya or void. "Transcendent (O-an) - Immanent (-kar)", suggests Kapur Singh.

References

• Singh, Dr.Gopal (1965). Guru-Granth Sahib Vol.1. Taplinger Publishing Co.. ISBN.