Japji Sahib
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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 Shabad or ‘Message of the Gurus’ is unique in the religion.
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English Translation
The Mool Mantar
- There is Only One God
- Truth is His Name
- He is the Creator, Protector, Without Fear, No Enmity, The First 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 thinking and thinking again a hundred thousand times one cannot find a solution.
- By being quiet, peace cannot be found even if one stays poised deep in meditation forever.
- The Hunger of the Hungry cannot be quenched if they carry the food as baggage.
- One may possess a hundred thousand of clever ideas, but even one will not accompany him/her.
- Then, How can one be purified? How can one throw away the falsehood? Says Nanak, By Abiding by the Command of God, which is written along with everyone! |1|
Hymn 2.
- By Your Command entities are formed. Your Command cannot be predicted.
- With your Command one obtains respect and is honoured.
- By Your Command Ups & Downs occur. With Your Command is written suffering and happiness.
- Without Your Command no one is blessed. With your Command one lives in perpetual migrations.
- Everyone in Within Your Command, None is outside His Order.
- Says Nanak, “Whosoever realizes Your Command, Never speaks in ego.” ||2||
Hymn 3.
- Many sing of His power, who has that power. Many sing of the Gift, who knows the Sign.
- Many sing of Virtues, Praises and Greatness. Many Sing of knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
- Many sing about how He creates and destroys. Many sing about how He takes life and then restores it.
- Many Sing, chant and see far. Many sing that He watches, is ever-present one-on-one.
- There is no shortage of those who preach and teach.
- Millions upon millions offer millions of sermons and stories.
- The Great Giver keeps on giving, the receivers grow weary of receiving.
- Throughout the ages, consumers consume.
- The Commander, by His Command, leads us to walk on the Path.
- O Nanak, only He blossoms forth, carefree and untroubled. ||3||
Hymn 4:
- True Master, True is His Name - Meditate it with deep love.
- They ask and beg, "Give, give" - The Giver gives in abundance.
- What can we place before Him, by which the Darbaar can be seen?
- What words can we utter, listening to which His Love is gained?
- In the Ambrosial period, dwell upon His True Name and praises.
- With good past karmas, this robe is obtained, By His Grace, the Gate of Liberation is found.
- O Nanak, know this well: Everything is in the Righteous Lord!
Hymn 5:
- He cannot be established; By doing it cannot be done.
- He Himself is Immaculate and Pure. Those who serve Him receive honored.
- O Nanak sing - Only Lord has endless Virtues. Sing, listen, and keep your mind humble.
- For your every pain, take home peace. The Guru’s Word is the Sound-current, wisdom of the Vedas and the ultimate protector.
- The Guru is Shiva, Gorak and Brahma; the Guru is Paarvati and Lakhshmi.
- Even knowing Him, I cannot describe Him; He is beyond description in words.
- The Guru has extinguished this thirst: All creatures have only the one God – May I never forget this!
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Hymn 38
Salok
- Air is the Guru, Water is the Father, and Earth is the Great Mother of all.
- Day and night are the two nurses, in whose lap the entire world is at play.
- Good deeds and bad are announced in the Presence of Lord Dharma.
- According to their own actions, some are drawn closer, and some are driven farther away.
- Those who have meditated on the Naam have departed after having worked by the sweat of their brows
- O Nanak, their faces are radiant in the Lord’s Court, and many are saved along with them! ||1||
- In Punjabi no gender qualities are assigned to God!
Audio sample
- JapjiSahib.mp3 - Download 1.826M or Play 15.34 min
- Audio of Japji Sahib (http://www.sikhnet.com/Sikhnet/Music.nsf/0/3d08ba69786458498725695b007bc843?OpenDocument)
External links
- Contemporary Translations of Japji Sahib (http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikhphilosophy/forumdisplay.php?f=44)
- 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)