The Mool Mantar

The Mool Mantar, "the root verse", is the short statement of belief with which Japji Sahib and the Guru Granth Sahib begin. It is also repeated at the start of many other banis. In the Sikh tradition it is attributed to Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

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

ikOankaar sat naam karataa purakh nirabhau niravair akaal moorat ajoonee saibha(n) gur prasaadh

Gurmukhi and transliteration from BaniDB (see About).

The words, one by one

The following is our own plain-language explanation of each word; it is not an authoritative translation. Please ask a Sikh teacher to confirm the finer points.

• ੴ (Ik Oankaar): the number one, joined to the sign of the syllable Om. It expresses that there is one reality, one source of all.
• ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ (Sat Naam): the name (naam) is truth (sat). The Divine is real and lasting.
• ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ (Kartaa Purakh): the creator, the one who acts.
• ਨਿਰਭਉ (Nirbhau): without fear.
• ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ (Nirvair): without hatred or enmity.
• ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ (Akaal Moorat): a form that is beyond time; not subject to death.
• ਅਜੂਨੀ (Ajoonee): not born, not passing through births and deaths.
• ਸੈਭੰ (Saibhang): self-existent, that comes of itself.
• ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ (Gur Prasaad): known by the grace of the Guru.

Why it matters

Sikhs say the Mool Mantar is the seed from which the whole Guru Granth Sahib grows. Many children learn it first, and it is a good first thing to read in Gurmukhi: it is short and every word is common in the rest of Gurbani.

Questions people ask

This page gives general information in plain words. For how to practise, ask your granthi or a teacher at your gurdwara.