Introduction to Japji Sahib ji
Japji Sahib ji is the start of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.
- Considered to be the summary of Guru Granth Sahib ji
- Mool Manter is considered to be the summary of Japji Sahib ji
- Ek is considered to be the summary of Mool Manter
Ek -> Mool Manter -> Japji Sahib -> SGGS
Structure
There are 38 stanzas, excluding the Mool manter and slok at the end. - It makes extensive use of combinations of prose, poetry and linguistic devices - It is the only bani in SGGS that is not written in or set to Raag. The rest of SGGS is divided up by Raag or ‘musical chapters’, and is set to Raag. This is unique as every other scripture is set by subject matter chapters.
Language
- Entirely Gurmukhi script,
- Several
languages
– Punjabi, hindi, farsi…
Linguistic Devices
These are a relatively modern development. The Gurus made extensive use of these before these were fully understood.
- Rhetorical devices – statements and questions
- Metaphors
- Similes
- Alliterations
- Onomatopoeia
- Personification
- Statements and facts
- Observations
- Analogies
- Questions & answers
Primary focus Ek, the process of merging with the one and overcoming Ego. This is achieved by
- Causing a paradigm shift in your thinking of how you view your current reality
- Encouraging you to experience God first hand
- To make your own efforts to do this, by providing you with simple and the most efficient tools and processes – Nitnem, Naam Japna/simran, kirtan, discipline, nishkam sewa, sangat, 5 Kakar, amrit …
- Discussion/analysis or vichaar should aid one to find out for yourself, but still need to make your own effort.
Further Resources