Jaap Sahib
ਜਾਪੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ
by Guru Gobind Singh
The first page with the opening stanza of Jaap Sahib in the hand of Guru Gobind Singh
Original titleJaap (ਜਾਪੁ)
First published inDasam Granth
CountryMughal Empire (Modern India)
LanguageSant Bhasha (predominantly influenced by Hindi-languages [such as Braj, Kauravi], Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic)[1]
Subject(s)Eulogy of Almighty
Genre(s)Religion
MeterChantt
Lines10 stanzas comprising 199 verses in total[2][3]
PagesPage 1-10 of Dasam Granth
Followed byAkaal Ustat
Part of a series on the
Dasam Granth
ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ
Main compositions
Apocryphal compositions (Asfottak Banis)
  • Asfotak Kabits
  • Nishan E Sikhi
  • Bhagauti Astotar
  • Lakhi Jungle Khalsa
  • Sahansar Sukhmana
  • Ugardanti
  • Rubai P. 10
  • Brahm Kavach
  • Indra Kavach
  • 34th Savaiya
  • 325th Charitar
  • Raag Sorath P. 10
  • Raag Asa P. 10
  • Vaar Malkauns Ki
  • Fatehnama
Various aspects
Poetical metres, modes, measures, and rhythms
Part of a series on
Sikh scriptures
From a 17th-century copy of the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Dasam Granth
Sarbloh Granth
Varan Bhai Gurdas

Jaap Sahib (or Japu Sahib; Punjabi: ਜਾਪੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ, pronunciation: [d͡ʒaːpʊ saːɦɪb]) is the morning prayer of the Sikhs. The beaded prayers were composed by the Tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh and is found at the start of the Sikh scripture Dasam Granth.[4] This Bani is an important Sikh prayer, and is recited by the Panj Pyare while preparing Amrit on the occasion of Amrit Sanchar (initiation), a ceremony held to Amrit initiates into the Khalsa and it is a part of a Sikh's Nitnem (daily meditation). The Jaap Sahib is reminiscent of Japji Sahib composed by Guru Nanak, and both praise God.[4]

Meaning of jaap

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Following are some accepted meanings of jaap:

Jaap is a Sanskrit word meaning "to utter in a low voice, whisper, mutter (especially prayers or incantations); to invoke or call upon in a low voice".[citation needed] Jaap Sahib is a rhythmic hymn composed like a necklace of pearls and gems, beauteously (beautifully) arranged around a string: the string is the Supreme God; the pearls and gems are His attributes, excellences, and glories. It basically helps reader do a daily Greetings to Waheguru in 199 verses, just like we do hello to each other. The glories sung by Guru Sahib revolve around the following attributes of God:

Content

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This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2015)

The Jaap Sahib is a recitation and praise of God. It includes various names of God in various languages. Understand the fact that god has no name but is called by various names by devotees based on their experience and the blessings they have obtained from him. There is only one sole religion of humans - humanity, and the worldly path that we choose to understand the natural power, our source, source of creation - is called faith only.

All faiths are rivers and are destined to merge into one great "Ocean - the lord, the light"; whatever you may call, think, believe or perceive.[4][7]

Form

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Jaap Sahib is made up of 199 verses and is the first Bani of the Dasam Granth (p. 1-10).

The Jaap Sahib begins with the words:

ਸ੍ਰੀ

Sri

ਮੁਖਵਾਕ

Mukhwakh

ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੀ

Patshahi

੧੦ ॥

Dasvee

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੁਖਵਾਕ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੀ {੧੦ ॥}

Sri Mukhwakh Patshahi Dasvee

"By the holy mouth of the Tenth Emperor,"

This line is clearly intended to authenticate Guru Gobind Singh Ji as the Author of the Dasam Granth.

Jaap is a Sanskrit word which means "to utter in a low voice, whisper, mutter (especially prayers or incantations); to invoke or call upon in a low voice." The form of the word here is Japu, which makes it a noun, meaning "meditation on nothing but the Truth; ('God') (or The True God).

Language

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The language of Jaap, is close to classical with words and compounds drawn from Sanskrit, Brij Bhasha, Arabic and Urdu. The contents of Jaap Sahib, are divided into various Chhands bearing the name of the related meter according to the then prevalent system of prosody in India.

Japji Sahib and Jaap Sahib

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The Guru Granth Sahib starts with Japji Sahib, while Dasam Granth starts with Jaap Sahib also called Japu Sahib.[4] Guru Nanak is credited with the former, while Guru Gobind Singh is credited with the latter.[4] The Jaap Sahib, unlike Japji Sahib, is composed in Braj bhasha, Sanskrit and Arabic, and with 199 stanzas, is longer than Japji Sahib. The Jaap Sahib is, like Japji Sahib, a praise of God as the unchanging, loving, unborn, ultimate power.

References

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  1. ^ Sukhbir Singh Kapoor; Mohinder Kaur Kapoor. Dasam Granth: An Introductory Study. Hemkunt Press. p. 39. ISBN 9788170103257.
  2. ^ 'Makin', Gursharan Singh. Zafarnama: The Epistle of Victory (1st ed.). Lahore Book Shop. p. 13. ISBN 8176471798.
  3. ^ Singha, H.S. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (Over 1000 Entries). Hemkunt Press. p. 54. ISBN 9788170103011.
  4. ^ a b c d e HS Singha (2009), The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Hemkunt Press, ISBN 978-8170103011, page 110
  5. ^ S Deol (1998), Japji: The Path of Devotional Meditation, ISBN 978-0966102703, page 11
  6. ^ Nihang, Dharam Singh. Naad Ved Vichar (in Punjabi). India. p. 20. ਐਸਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ।। ਹੋਵਹੁ ਚਾਕਰ ਸਾਚੇ ਕੇਰੇ (ਪੰਨਾ ੭੨੮)
  7. ^ Amarjit Singh (1985), Concept of God in Jaap Sahib: An analytic study, Studies in Sikhism and Comparative Religion, Vol. 4, Issue 1, pages 85–92

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