मूल मंत्र — Word-by-Word Meaning
मूल मंत्र
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
इक ओंकार
Ik Onkar
There is One God, the universal creator
सतिनामु
Sat Naam
His name is Truth, Eternal Truth
करता पुरखु
Karta Purakh
He is the Creator of all
निरभउ
Nirbhau
Without fear
निरवैरु
Nirvair
Without hatred or enmity
अकाल मूरति
Akal Murat
Timeless form, beyond death
अजूनी
Ajooni
Beyond birth and death, unborn
सैभं
Saibhang
Self-existent, self-illuminated
गुर प्रसादि
Gur Prasad
Realized through the Guru's grace
Complete Translation
There is One Universal Creator God. His Name is Truth. He is the Creator of all. He is without fear. He is without hatred. He is timeless and formless. He is beyond birth and death, self-existent. He is realized through the grace of the Guru.
Om. One God. Eternal Truth is His Name. He is the Creator of all. Without fear. Without enmity. Timeless form. Beyond birth and death. Self-illuminated. Known by the Guru's grace.
Origin & History
Source: Guru Granth Sahib (opening verse)
Author: Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Period: 1469-1539 CE
Guru Nanak composed the Mool Mantar after his transformative experience at the Bein river in Sultanpur Lodhi. At age 30, Nanak went to bathe in the river and disappeared for three days. His family feared he had drowned. When he emerged, he was silent for a day, then spoke his first words: 'There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim. So whose path shall I follow? I shall follow God's path.' The Mool Mantar was the first revelation he shared — a description of the One God beyond all human divisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mool Mantar?▼
The Mool Mantar is the opening verse of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism. Written by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, it is considered the root (mool) mantra that contains the complete essence of Sikh belief about the nature of God.
Who wrote the Mool Mantar?▼
Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539), the founder of Sikhism, composed the Mool Mantar. It was the first composition he wrote after his enlightenment experience at the Bein river, where he disappeared for three days and returned with the declaration: 'There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim.'
Can non-Sikhs chant the Mool Mantar?▼
Yes. The Mool Mantar's message is universal — it describes the One God who is beyond all religions, fears, and hatreds. Guru Nanak's teachings emphasize that God belongs to all of humanity.
What does Ik Onkar mean?▼
Ik means One. Onkar means God/Creator (derived from Om). Together, Ik Onkar means 'There is One God' — the foundational belief of Sikhism that there is one universal creative force.
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