The Mool Mantra, the foundational creed of Sikhism, speaks profoundly about God (Waheguru). Here's a breakdown of what it conveys:
* ੴ (Ik Onkar): This is the most fundamental statement.
* Ik (One): God is One, emphasizing the singularity and unity of the divine. Sikhism is strictly monotheistic.
* Onkar (The Primal Sound, the Creator): God is the source of all creation, the primordial sound from which everything emanates. This signifies God's creative power and existence before anything else.
* ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ (Sat Naam):
* Sat (Truth): God is Truth itself. Reality, permanence, and ultimate righteousness reside in God.
* Naam (Name, Identity): God's name *is* truth. Remembering and meditating on God's name allows one to connect with this truth.
* ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ (Karta Purkh):
* Karta (Creator): God is the creator of the universe.
* Purkh (Being, Person): While God is beyond human comprehension, this suggests a personal aspect, a divine being who actively creates and sustains.
* ਨਿਰਭਉ (Nirbhau): God is without fear. Being the ultimate power, God has nothing to fear. This also implies that those who connect with God are liberated from fear.
* ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ (Nirvair): God is without enmity. God harbors no hatred or ill-will towards anyone. This speaks to the divine's unbiased and loving nature.
* ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ (Akal Moorat):
* Akal (Timeless, Immortal): God is beyond time, not subject to birth, death, or the limitations of temporality.
* Moorat (Form, Image): God is a timeless entity.
* ਅਜੂਨੀ (Ajooni): God is unborn, not subject to the cycle of birth and death. God is self-existent and eternal.
* ਸੈਭੰ (Saibhang): God is self-existent, self-illuminated, and not created by anyone. God exists by His own light and power.
* ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ (Gur Prasad): God is realized through the Guru's grace. Divine realization comes through the Guru's teachings and blessings. It's not achieved through intellect alone but through devotion and guidance.
In Summary:
The Mool Mantra paints a picture of God as:
* One and Unique: The sole creator and sustainer.
* Truth: The embodiment of reality and righteousness.
* Creator: The active force behind the universe.
* Fearless and Without Enmity: A source of love and peace.
* Timeless and Unborn: Eternal and beyond the limitations of time.
* Self-Existent: Independent and not reliant on anything else.
* Accessible through Grace: Realizable through the guidance and blessings of the Guru.
The Mool Mantra is not just a definition but an invitation to contemplate and connect with this Divine Reality.