Mul Mantar

The text

The formula begins with the numeral one followed by the syllable representing the divine, written together as Ik Onkar — one being. It continues that this being is truth by name, the creator, without fear, without enmity, timeless in form, unborn, self-existent, and known by grace.

Each term does work. Without fear and without enmity exclude the wrathful or partisan deity; timeless in form excludes an image; unborn excludes incarnation, and so sets Sikh theology against the avatar doctrine of Vaishnava tradition; self-existent excludes dependence on anything else; known by grace excludes the claim that ritual or intellect can compel knowledge of the divine.

Position and use

The Mul Mantar stands at the head of the Guru Granth Sahib, at the head of the Japji, and is repeated at the opening of major sections throughout the scripture. It is the first text taught to children and is recited at the beginning of most Sikh observances.

Its compression is deliberate: the whole theology of the tradition is stated in a single sentence that can be memorised by anyone, in the vernacular, without a priest to expound it. Where the formula ends — whether at the phrase meaning "by the Guru's grace" or after the following line — is a minor point of difference between Sikh groups.