Mool Mantar is the opening composition of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and forms the spiritual foundation of Sikh belief. Revealed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, it articulates the nature of the Divine as Ik Onkar; one universal reality that is eternal, fearless, without enmity, beyond birth and death.
The Mool Mantar establishes that the Divine is not distant or confined to form but all-pervading and accessible through awareness and grace.
Beyond being a statement of faith, the Mool Mantar offers a way of living. Each attribute guides the seeker toward inner transformation, cultivating fearlessness, dissolving ego, and living truthfully in the world. It encourages a life rooted in integrity, compassion, and responsibility while remaining inwardly connected to the Divine presence.
Together the words "Mool Mantar" mean the "Main chant" or "root verse". It’s importance is emphasised by the fact that it is the first composition to appear in the holy Granth of the Sikhs and that it appears before the commencement of the main section which comprises of 31 Raags or chapters. It encapsulates the entire theology of Sikhism. When a person begins to learn Gurbani, this is the first verse that most would learn. It is a most brief composition encompassing the entire universally complex theology of the Sikh faith.
It has religious, social, political, logical, martial and eternal implication for human existence; a truly humanitarian and global concepts of the Supreme power for all to understand and appreciate. This Mantar encompasses concepts which have been evaluated and proven over many eras (or yugs) and known to be flawless beyond any ambiguity what so ever. The rest of Japji sahib that follows this mantar is said to be a elaboration of the main mantar and that the rest of the Guru Granth Sahib totalling 1430 pages, is a detailed amplification of the Mool Mantar.
Contemplation of the Mool Mantar invites individuals to move from intellectual understanding to lived experience. Through reflection, remembrance, and ethical action, it becomes a daily compass that aligns thought, word, and deed with divine wisdom, leading toward inner peace, clarity, and spiritual freedom.