1. Mool Mantra & Mangalaacharan

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Shri Guru Nanakji's IK ONKAAR

Meditation on The One Indivisible Truth

by Swami Swaroopananda

Courtesy & Copyright Chinmaya Mission

 

The piece is divided into ten chapters namely -

 

1. Mool Mantra.

2. Ik Onkaar.

3. Satnaam.

4. Kartaa Purakh.

5. Nirbhau Nirvair.

6. Akaal Moorat.

7. Ajuni.

8. Saibangh.

9. Gurparsaad.

10. Jap.

 

 

1. Mool Mantra & Mangalaacharan

Fundamental Meanings and Philosophical Implications

 

Mantras are those mystical sound symbols, or words of deep

significance, which serve to protect the person who chants them and

reflects upon their meaning. In fact, they are minute " word-capsules "

or " phrase-capsules " filled with immense knowledge.

 

In the term mool mantra, mool means 'root'. Every tree has roots

without which it cannot exist. The tree is sustained and nourished

through these roots. They constitute the very foundation of the tree

from which it grows and expands. In the same way, mool mantra

means 'that mantra in which lies the very essence of the Scripture',

the entire Scripture being an elaboration, expansion or explanation

of that mantra.

 

Just as Om is considered to be the mool mantra of the Vedas and the

name Shri Ram the essence of the " Ramayan " , so too Ik-Onkaar Sat-Naam

Kartaa-Purakh Nirbhau Nirvair Akaal-Moorat Ajuni Saibangh Gurparsaad

is considered to be the mool mantra of the " Granth Sahib " . Revealing

and expounding on the Truth enshrined in this mantra is the

entire " Japji Sahib " , and the elaboration of the " Japji Sahib " is the

entire " Granth Sahib " .

 

From time immemorial it has been the tradition of all the great

Rishis of the Holy Land of Bharat to first invoke the Higher to

bestow auspiciousness upon Them before They commence writing or

composing any sacred textbook. All such prayers, invocations, and

praises are called mangalaacharan.

 

Through these invocations the Rishis surrendered Their ego, Their

sense of limited individuality, so that it would not " contaminate " or

influence the sacred task They were about to embark on. All the same

time They sought the blessings of the Higher, by whose Grace alone

can anything be successfully achieved.

 

Shri Guru Nanak Devji is the Rishi who is the mantra dhrashtaa

or 'seer' of the 'Ik-Onkaar….' mool mantra, which means that this

mantra was revealed to Him in His meditation. It was with this mool

mantra as well that He performed mangalaacharan, praising the lord

before starting on the " Japji Sahib " .

 

Mool Mantra & Mangalaacharan

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