The “Mool Mantar” is the prime and foremost revelation and edict pronounced by the first Sikh
Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, after due enlightenment at Sultanpur Lodhi. This “Mool Mantar”
forms the basic conceptualisation and being of the Almighty, a step above the prevailing mortal
concepts of that time. This marks the special stature of the Sikh Divine philosophy, which was
the most modern at that time, and still is and will be in the future too. This is a fundamental
doctrine that forms the spiritual foundation of Sikhism.
The “Mool Mantar” revelation by Guru Nanak Dev Ji began to take shape after he moved from
Rai Bhoi di Talwandi to Sultanpur Lodhi at the request of his sister Bebe Nanaki’s husband, Jai
Ram, a Palti Khatri, in 1485, at the age of 16. Within months of his arrival in Sultanpur Lodhi,
Jai Ram Ji managed to get him a job in the Modi Khana (Govt. Food Supplies Store) under the
control of Nawab Daulat Khan. He worked there for 14 long years, during which he faced many
hardships and upheavals, including allegations of misappropriation. The officials and other
people blamed him for overweighing and unnecessary extra distribution of grain stocks to the
people. Nawab Daulat Khan ordered an audit of the accounts and the stocks, which were found
to be more than correct in every aspect. This happened in early August 1499. Guru Ji was
offended by these happenings at the Modi Khana, and he decided to stop working for Nawab
Daulat Khan thereafter.
During this period, following the Modi Khana episode, Fakir Udho/Ugho happened to visit
Sultanpur Lodhi, looking for Guru Ji and seeking his blessings. They met one day on the banks
of the Bein Nadi and had a long interaction, after which both were not seen for days. The search
began in the river and beyond, but with no results. Some people reported that Guru Ji was last
seen bathing in the river and Fakir Udho/Ugho sitting on the riverbank.
Guru Ji appeared on the third day near the riverbank, adjacent to the place where the present-day
Gurdwara Sant Ghat Sahib is located. While sitting under the old tree nearby, he pronounced the
“Mool Mantar” many times over. The people gathered around him and heaved a sigh of relief
upon seeing him. The “Mool Mantar” came into being here and formed the first part of Japji
Sahib, with 38 Pauris, the first Bani enshrined in the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Coincidentally
and decisively, it begins with the first letter of the Gurmukhi script (35 Akhari by Guru Angad
Dev Ji), “ੴ”, which became the first letter of the “Mool Mantar”, with the add-on figure of one
making Ik Oankar, a primal Divine Concept of the ONLY ONE. This concept was the epitome of
Divine philosophy, which gave Sikhism the foremost pedestal of Divine realization of the
Almighty.
The day this “Mool Mantar” was pronounced by Guru Nanak Dev Ji happened to be a full-moon
day, with positivity prevailing in full swing all around. This is a very important day for the Sikhs
and the world because of the final conceptualization of the Almighty. As per various historical
records, the day was Bhadon Sudi 15, which corresponds to August 30, 1499, as per the Sikh
calendar. Hence, this day, August 30, needs to be celebrated as Mool Mantar Diwas every year.
After this revelation of ONE GOD and enlightenment, Guru Ji decided to set off on the Udasis
after distributing his belongings to the needy, covering nearly 40,000 kilometres across many
countries of the world. During his travels, he preached the revelation and interacted with various
sects, groups, ascetics, religiously oriented people, and commoners, explaining and professing
the Sikh Divine concepts of the Almighty. Guru Nanak Dev Ji travelled nearly half the world in
four different Udasis (travelogues), spanning more than 20 years in total.
After interacting with different people and assessing the ground realities across the countries, he
finally came back to settle in Kartarpur (Pakistan), where he not only resorted to Kirat (work) by
practising sustainable agriculture himself for nearly 12 years, but also continued his spiritual
mission. Here, he created the remaining 38 Pauris of Japji Sahib, describing the various steps to
be taken to connect with the Almighty and also other Baanis. During this very period, he
appointed Bhai Lehna Ji as his successor and gave him the new name “Angad Dev” at Khadur
Sahib in 1539. Guru Angad Dev Ji got the Mool Mantar and other Baanis inscribed in Gurmukhi
Script with the help of Bhai Bala Ji at Khadur Sahib after creating the Gurmukhi Script (35
Akhari) in consultation with Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
– Writer – Gurjinder S. Brar,
Sri Muktsar Sahib
Mob: +91-94173-72454