This book presents interpretation of Jap-u, reverently called Japji Sahib, the first composition in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It is in two parts, the first containing short essays on the main themes and the second stanza-wise interpretation with original Punjabi and English transliteration. The book brings out the principles of a spirituality based practical life. It brings out need for ethical living with faith in God.
Japji Sahib, the first Bani in Sri Guru Grant Sahib, holds the key to the entire Sikh philosophy. It has been translated by many scholars into various languages, especially in English. Each translation has contributed towards spreading the message of Gurbani beyond the lingual bounds. The uniqueness of the present translation is that the verse composition is translated using English and French meters, observing rhyme. The footnotes have been provided at various places by the editor to make the readers understand the relation between the signifier and the signified as translation has its own limitations.
There are three primary purposes of a religious prayer. 1. To refresh your remembrance and awareness of God. 2. To bring your wandering mind into the present moment. 3. To understand the meaning of the prayer and imbibe its teachings into your life in order to further your spiritual progress. By God's grace, presented to you here is the translation of the JAPJI SAHIB(composed in Gurumukhi script by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the First Guru and founder of the Sikh Religion) into English. At the end of the translation, I have also offered to you the Transliteration of JAPJI SAHIB, for those who may wish to recite as a prayer in the original Gurumukhi language. JAPJI SAHIB is a universal sacred hymn(prayer) about God and creation, composed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh faith. The Japji Sahib consists of the Mool Mantra(Root Mantra) as the beginning followed by 38 hymns and a final Salok at the end of this composition. The Japji appears at the very beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs. It is regarded as the most important Bani or 'set of verses' by the Sikhs and is recited every morning by all practicing this faith. The word ‘Jap’ means to ‘recite’ or ‘to ‘chant’. ‘Ji’ is a word that is used to show respect as is the word ‘Sahib’. You are encouraged to read the translation several times, and the beauty of this glorious script will manifest in your mind. Harmony will come to your life as you begin to understand God and his attributes(as can be comprehended by a human), as revealed to us by God through Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
This is an English translation of Guru Nanak's beautiful Sri Japji Sahib. Designed and formatted with an exquisite background for the reader's enjoyment.
"Japji Sahib", the most celebrated composition of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, has not yet reached the common man, because the gurmukhi language used in the scred text is very different from the present day punjabi. A humble effort has been made to present the guru's message in as simple a manner as possible for the common man to understand the sikh way to divine.
In this classic, Khushwant Singh presents a concise history of the followers of one of the world's youngest religions. Beginning with the life and times of the founder, Guru Nanak (1469-1539), he moves on to describe the vital contribution made by the following nine gurus in shaping and developing the Sikh religion; and the significance of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, and its centrality to the religion. He examines the setting up of the Singh Sabha and the accompanying social reform, the impact of the Ghadr rebellion and the Akali agitation for control of various Sikh shrines. The new Afterword by his son, journalist Rahul Singh, brings the story of the Sikhs up to date. Authoritative yet accessible, this is one of the most concise and readable accounts of the Sikhs and their faith.
Sikhism is the youngest of the major world religions and the most modern and egalitarian in its practice. The scriptural authority for its followers is the 'Gurbani' in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Japji Sahib is the quintessential 'bani' and the key to the philosophy expounded by the Gurus. Guru Nanak's Japji Sahib: Way to God in Sikhism by Maneshwar S. Chahal is a unique presentation in that, before offering well-reasoned conclusions, it puts forth many a point of view and not just any single interpretation of the verses. It will help the lay reader to easily understand the Guru's message and offer the scholar ready material for deeper study of this vast subject. At the beginning of the book has been added the text of the verses of Japji in Roman script, as also in 'Gurmukhi' for those who would want to also experience the joy of chanting the 'bani
Contrary to popular opinion, there is more to Sikhism than the distinctive dress. First of all, there is the emergence of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and the long line of his successors. There are the precepts, many related to liberation through the divine name or nam. There is a particularly turbulent history in which the Sikhs have fought to affirm their beliefs and resist external domination that continues to this day. There is also, more recently, the dispersion from the Punjab throughout the rest of India and on to Europe and the Americas. With this emigration Sikhism has become considerably less exotic, but hardly better known to outsiders. This reference is an excellent place to learn more about the religion. It provides a chronology of events, a brief introduction that gives a general overview of the religion, and a dictionary with several hundred entries, which present the gurus and other leaders, trace the rather complex history, expound some of the precepts and concepts, describe many of the rites and rituals, and explain the meaning of numerous related expressions. All this, along with a bibliography, provides readers with an informative and accessible guide toward understanding Sikhism.
