Mool Mantar

Learning Gurbani

This is the verse that all beginners to Sikhism have to learn and repeat over and over again until it becomes an automatic process. After learning this short verse and its full meaning, it is common for beginners to awake early in the morning, wash and sit and mediate on the Mantar for 10 to 20 minutes focussing on the sound and meaning of each word.

It is said that the rest of the Guru Granth Sahib is an elaboration of the Mool Mantar and that this Mantar itself is an explanation and amplification of the single phrase – Ek Oankaar, which is the first entry in the holy Granth.

"The Mul Mantra, the Root Mantra, is the only cure for the mind; I have installed faith in God in my mind" - SGGS page 675

Original Gurmukhi Text:

     Play Audio

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

Meaning:

• Ik- THAT ONE(Ik) reality, the origin and the source of everything.
• Onkaar- On refers to OM. When THAT ONE(Ik) OM(On) becomes the creative principal it becomes Onkaar. Onkaar manifests as visible and invisible phenomenon. The creative principle is not separated from the created, it is present throughout the creation in an unbroken form, 'kaar'.
• Satnaam- That OM is the True Name.
• Kartaa Purakh- That OM is Creator and Doer (Kartaa) of everything, all the seen and unseen phenomenon. It is not just a law or a system, it is a Purakh, a Person.
• Nirbhau- That OM is devoid of any fear, because there is nothing but itself.
• Nirvair- That OM is devoid of any enmity because there is nothing but itself.
• Akaal Moorat- That OM is beyond Time (Akaal) and yet it is existing. Its a Form(Moorat) which does not exist in Time.
• Ajooni- That OM does not condense and come into any birth. All the phenomenon of birth and death of forms are within it.
• Saibhang- That OM exists on its own, by its own. It is not caused by anything before it or beyond it.
• Gurprasaad- That OM is a blessing received through Guru and it is only its own Grace and Mercy (Prasaad) that this happens.
• Jap- That OM is to be chanted
• Aad Sach- That OM was True
• Jugaad Sach- That OM has been true through the Yugas
• Hai Bhi Sach- That OM is still true
• Nanak Hosi Bhi Sach- That OM Nanak says will always be True.

Other Links:

• See also Learn Japji to read, play the audio and recite the Japji Sahib
• Watch and listen the Mool Mantar by Harshdeep Kaur
• See also Mool Mantar Gallery....Thanks to www.SriGranth.org