The Mulmantra

Guru Nanak begins with the numerical 1. In a world fragmented by adherents of different faiths who believe that only their God is the One, Guru Nanak says what is One can’t be yours or mine but is One for everyone. What then is the essence of God? Sat Nam, or the Truth. There are many names for God, but the fact that Guru Nanak has chosen to emphasise ‘Truth’ as the defining characteristic is significant. In an age dominated by lies and deceit, what is more essential is truth. The pursuit of Truth is the pursuit of God and thus philosophical enquiry and spiritual quest converge towards one goal, the Creator, Karta Purakh, independent of His creation.

The Guru sees boundless love flowing from the Creator. He uses the terms Nirbhau and Nirvair to describe Him. With negative prefixes, these are words with a positive connotation — God is without fear, He has no enmity. Only one who is without fear and has no enmity can give boundless love.

God, as Guru Nanak describes Him, does not get annoyed, nor does He get angry. Someone who is angry can be appeased through gifts. But God never gets angry, so we don’t need to appease Him. In any case, how can we even think of giving something to the One who has created everything? In fact, ‘giving’ is an assertion of identity, which feeds the ego, or ‘haumai’.

Thus, you do not appease God; you should attempt to merely live a life in which you follow His will at all times. Guru Nanak’s followers must try to live without fear and bear no rancour against anyone. He wants them to maintain equilibrium between the mundane and spiritual in their daily lives.

God is Akal, beyond the pale of time. He is timeless. He existed before time and will continue to exist after time. Here the earlier strand of God being different from His creation again comes forth. Creation is not eternal, the Creator is, who is Saibhang, self created.

Extracted from the ‘Guru Nanak His Life & Teachings’ (Rupa, 2004)