“God is without any mark, quoit, colour, caste or creed.
No one can give any explanation of His form, dress, outline and complexion.
God’s form is stable, He is self-illuminated with innumerable power.
God is the king of millions of kings, and the king of kings of gods.
Lord is the Lord of three worlds... none is equal and alike God”.
Guru Gobind Singh, in his composition Jaap Sahib, introduces the all-powerful Creator, who is above any attributes and comprehension. We, the human beings, are not in a position to define Him. “No one can utter all of your names. Wise men who realise your virtues, call you in the same way”, says Guru Gobind Singh.
Jaap Sahib is one of the five morning prayers to be recited by a devout Sikh. Jaap means recitation or a slow meditation. Jaap Sahib, comprising 199 pauris or verses, is also to be recited at the time of the preparation of the amrit during the initiation ceremony.
Jaap Sahib is a way to remember God by innumerable names. There are almost 1,000 names of the absolute to meditate upon. The Supreme Being may reveal Himself in many forms, shapes, colours, qualities, quantities but He is one. He is all pervading and is the essence of all spiritual experience.
Jaap Sahib presents and salutes the nirgun as well as sargun nature of the God. In an unmatched way, Guru Gobind Singh emphasises the contradictory yet integrating forms of the Creator. Hence salutation to Him — Namustvun, Namustvun, Namustvun. “Salutation to the destroyer of all, salutation to the sustainer of all. Salutation to the creator of all, salutation to the killer of all”. “Salutation to God who is in all colours... Salutation to the colourless”.
The Creator is formless, unrivalled, immovable and uncreated — aroop hain, anoop hain, ajoo hain, abhoo hain. He pervades all the three worlds of earth, water and sky. He is everywhere and in every particle of nature. Everything represents His manifestation — He is infinite, He is infinite, He is infinite seems to the only reality.
The Supreme Being is above all religions and rituals, says the Guru. “Salutation to the God who is beyond caste, salutation to the Lord. Salutation to the God who is beyond religion, salutation to the marvellous — Namustvun Ajatai, Namustvun Apatai, Namustvun Amujbai, Namustvun Ajabai”. But how can we, the mortal ones, realise Him? It is to accept His will or hukam. We can only marvel and praise His glory. The path of salvation lies in Nam-simran and surrender.
Kulbir Kaur teaches sociology at Shyama Prasad Mukherji College, Delhi University
