Mul Mantra

Ek Onkar Satnaam Karta Purukh Nirbhau Nirvair Akal Murat Ajuni Saibhung Gur Prasad is the opening verse of the Guru Granth Sahib the holy book and the Ultimate Guru of the followers of Sikhism. The truth is that this foundation doctrine of Guru Nanak Devji is not only for Sikhs but for whole of the human race. The basis of this doctrine is explained in the form of teachings, examples, adulation and praises of God, the differentiation between evil and good and to become perfect are explained in Guru Granth Sahibji. The teachings, philosophy and how truth is revealed about the Creator are beautifully compiled and documented in this holy book. All those who learn and believe in this doctrine are disciples or Sikhs. This invocation or opening verse is called Mulmantra or root verse and it expresses the concept or character of an entity that the modern world calls God or Almighty. We shall not take any comparative study at this level to explain the character of God in various religions. The emphasis here will be given to the belief of Guru Nanak Dev ji alone. Guru Nanak Dev ji’s belief is based on Oneness of God and he characterizes him with digit 1 and this digit is absolute one. Digit 1 cannot be divided, from it all things begin and it is greater than zero or void. It denies the belief that before this world existed there was null or void. Nothing can start from null or zero or void but from digit 1 the existence of any number begins. Guru ji have called it Saibhung or self existing. This foundation doctrine revolves around Oneness of God who is absolute One Being, His Name is the absolute Truth, He is the Creator Person, He is without fear, He is without rancor or ill will, He is eternal or timeless, He is not subject to birth or death, He is self existing in other words He can manifest Himself, He can be realized with the grace or favour of Guru. This doctrine is based around this essence or concept of the Absolute One. All other beliefs that need a medium to unite with God by making it narrow by laws and conditions, borders for His limitations and force or tyranny to indoctrinate this narrowness are rejected by Guru Nanak. This absolute Being is Perfect and One only is the first principle of Guru Nanak’s doctrine. For full understanding of this divine reality that this perfect One Lord is the Creator, Immanent, Ineffable, all Pervasive and the ultimate ground for all that exists the understanding of this Mulmantra becomes very important and it will also provide us with insights to understand Guru Nanak Devji and Guru Granth Sahibji.

1 or Ek                                  

The first word of this holy Granth or book begins with digit 1.

1 is pronounced as Ek in Punjabi and one in English that shows that it is constituted with more than one letter. So if one is taken as digit it remains as one digit which is indivisible in letters or otherwise. That emphasizes the importance of digit 1 and why it is used as an attribute of God.  

Let us see how this beautiful doctrine unfolds the character of God or Almighty. 1 has been placed as first letter of this Granth that denotes Oneness of God meaning God is the only Supreme Being and there is absolutely none other than Him. This simple one digit also denies all existing theories about the origin of this world and wayward growth of multiplicity of Gods and Goddesses and sectarian tendencies of other doctrines. Guru Nanak’s belief is that life sprang up from this Absolute One. Before this God was wrapped within Himself in absolute trance and that means the world was not lifeless. He alone was there and then he breathed his life into the universe and the worlds sprang up from His Being. He created this world and thus became Creator or Karta Purukh. Before this creation He was Nirgun or without any attributes and unmanifest and when He expressed Himself, He not only became manifest but with attributes and in Punjabi He came to be known as Sargun or Sagun. His being Sargun is expressed in His own creation. It was His Will or Hukam that prevailed even before He became Sargun. In rag maru from pages 1023 to 1038 Guru Nanak has expressed the Oneness of God and denied the theories of His origin by other doctrines. God is light and that light is He Himself and he passes that light in His own Creation so that the darkness of the ages is dispelled. The world is illuminated through His light. He pervades all His creation yet he remains formless and detached. He is not incarnated nor can any image contain Him. He is Infinite, limitless without boundaries so He cannot be limited to a particular race, caste or creed. This unit or numerical 1 signifies that for Lord the entire creation is equal though for His own amusement he has created diversity.