| Japji Sahib | |
|---|---|
| by Guru Nanak | |
 Japji Sahib composition of the Kartarpur Bir written by Bhai Gurdas under the supervision of Guru Arjan, ca.1604 | |
| Original title | ਜਪੁਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ or ਜਪੁ ਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ |
| Written | 16th century |
| First published in | Adi Granth, 1604 |
| Language | Gurmukhi |
| Subject(s) | Spirituality |
| Genre(s) | Religion |
| Lines | 38 Stanzas |
| Followed by | So Dar Aasa (ਸੋ ਦਰੁ ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੧) |
| Part of a series on the |
| Guru Granth Sahib ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ |
|---|
_beautifully_decorated_with_gold_and_floral_arabesques_01.jpg) |
| Popular compositions |
| Other compositions |
| Various aspects |
| Poetical metres, modes, measures, and rhythms |
Japji Sahib (Punjabi: ਜਪੁਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ, pronunciation: [d͡ʒəpʊd͡ʒiː sɛː́b]) is the Sikh thesis, that appears at the beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib – the scripture of the Sikhs. Jap is the original name of the prayer and to show respect, it is called Jap-ji Sahib. It was composed by Guru Angad, and is mostly the writings of Guru Nanak. It begins with Mool Mantra and then follow 38 paudis (stanzas) and completed with a final Salok by Guru Angad at the end of this composition.[1] The 38 stanzas are in different poetic meters.[2]
Japji Sahib is the first composition of Guru Nanak, and is considered the comprehensive essence of Sikhism.[1] Expansion and elaboration of Japji Sahib is the entire Guru Granth Sahib. It is first Bani in Nitnem. Notable is Nanak's discourse on 'what is true worship' and what is the nature of God'.[3][4] According to Christopher Shackle, it is designed for "individual meditative recitation" and as the first item of daily devotional prayer for the devout.[2] It is a chant found in the morning and evening prayers in Sikh gurdwaras.[5] It is also chanted in the Sikh tradition at the Khalsa initiation ceremony and during the cremation ceremony.[1]
Related to Japji Sahib is the Jaap Sahib (Punjabi: ਜਾਪੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ), the latter is found at the start of Dasam Granth and was composed by Guru Gobind Singh.[1][6]
- ^ a b c d HS Singha (2009), The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Hemkunt Press, ISBN 978-8170103011, page 110
- ^ a b Christopher Shackle (2014). Pashaura Singh and Louis Fenech (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford University Press. pp. 111–112. ISBN 978-0-19-969930-8.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
deol11was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ B Singh and GP Singh (2007), Japji, Hemkunt Press, ISBN 81-7010-182-4, pages 17–42
- ^ W.O. Cole; Piara Singh Sambhi (2016). Sikhism and Christianity: A Comparative Study. Springer. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-349-23049-5.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
asingh84was invoked but never defined (see the help page).