Japji Sahib - Definition and Overview

Japji Sahib consists of the Mool Mantra, a set of 38 hymns and a final Salok which appear at the very beginning of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Book of the Sikhs. It is regarded as the most important Bani or 'set of verses' by the Sikhs and is recited every morning by all practising faithful of this religion. The word ‘Jap’ means to ‘recite’ or ‘to ‘chant’. ‘Ji’ is a word that is used to show respect as is the word ‘Sahib’.

This Bani was composed by the founder of the faith, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji who was the first of ten human Gurus of this faith. The Ten Gurus of Sikhism were responsible for the creation of this faith which was took place over period 1469 to 1708 - a period of about 239 years. At the point when the last of these Gurus departed this Earth, the Guruship was passed to the Sikh Holy Book, the SGGS. The Sikh treat the SGGS as a living Guru and the respect shown for the Shabhad or ‘Message of the Gurus’ is unique in the religion.

English Translation

The Mool Mantra

• There is Only One God
• Truth is Your Name
• the Creator, Perfect Keeper, Fearless, Without Enmity, The primary Entity, Without Incarnations, Self-perpetuating; With the Guru’s grace: Recite!
• True in the beginning, True Through the Ages, True even now and says Nanak will be True in the future |1|

Hymn 1

• By constantly thinking, a resolution cannot be found even if one thinks a thousands times.
• By being silent, peace cannot be found even if one stays poised deep in meditation forever.
• The hunger of the hungry cannot be satisfied if the food is carried as baggage.
• One may possess millions of clever ideas, but even one will not go with you.
• How can one be purified? How can falsehood be thrown away? "By following the Command of God", Says Nanak, “is written along with everyone!” |1|

Hymn 2

• Your Command forms entities. Your Command cannot be predicted.
• With your Command one obtains respect. With Your Command one is honoured.
• By Your Command Ups & Downs occur. With Your Command is written suffering and happiness.
• Not one without Your Command is blessed. One with your Command lives in perpetual migrations.
• Everyone in Within Your Command, Outside His Order there is no one.
• Says Nanak, “Whosoever realizes Your Command, is acknowledged as without arrogance by all.” |2||

….

Hymn 38

Salok

• In Punjabi no gender qualities are assigned to God!

Audio sample

• JapjiSahib.mp3 - Download 1.826M or Play 15.34 min

External links

• Audio of Japji Sahib (http://www.sikhnet.com/Sikhnet/Music.nsf/0/3d08ba69786458498725695b007bc843?OpenDocument)
• Japji Sahib Original, English Transliteration, Punjabi & English Translation (http://www.punjabonline.com/sikhism/japtr_fr.html)
• Japji Sahib Original, English Translation and Transliteration (http://www.sikhs.org/japji/japji.htm)

Example Usage of Japji