Pronunciation And Meaning Of The Very First Symbol In Gurbani

The very first symbol in Gurbani consists of three distinct references -

1. numerical no: 1

2. word OM

3. a curved line indication for the waves

therefore this symbol is represented as:

ੴ

It is very important to know the correct pronunciation and meaning of this symbol. As a matter of fact the whole understanding of Gurbani is related to the correct knowledge of reference meaning of this symbol. Generally we find that this symbol is pronounced as IK-ONKAAR or EK-ONKAAR. We have never tried to verify its pronunciation from within Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In pronouncing this symbol we treat numerical no: 1 as separate IK or EK and we combine the word OM with KAAR seperately pronounced as ONKAAR and therefore we get the pronunciation as IK or EK ONKAAR

From Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji we find that there is no such pronunciation as IK or EK ONKAAR. However we do come across a word EKANKAAR in several verses of Gurbani, we must therefore deliberate this pronunciation for the symbol. If we analyse this word EKANKAAR we would find that numerical no: 1 and the word OM are together as EKOM and KAAR is to be referred as EKOM-KAAR.

Meaning Of The Symbol:

From above it is clear that the meaning of the symbol is related to EKOM and KAAR. EKOM is referred as SHABADU and this SHABADU has also been referred as Guroo. So EKOM is Shabadu Guroo and since KAAR is the indication of the waves therefore the meaning of symbol is the waves of the word Guroo or Shabadu Guroo Joti.

Grammar Pattern Used In Gurbani

For better and correct understanding of Gurbani it is important to understand the pattern of grammar of language. It has been observed that for adjective and noun words the pattern is based on Sanskrit grammar. In Sanskrit pattern of grammar the words have been classified as -

1. singular (dual no:)

2. singular (single no:)

3. plural

Once we understand the reference meaning of the words as per above pattern we can get more clear understanding of Gurbani. For example we come across certain words like Saadh Saadhu and Saadhoo, Prabh Prabhu and Prabhoo, Gur Guru and Guroo. Let us take into consideration Saadh Saadhu and Sadhoo, here Saadhoo is singular (dual no:), Saadhu is singular (single no:) and Saadh is plural.

Since reference meanings are different for all the three forms therefore this understanding is important to know the true message of Gurbani. It has been observed that nearly 70% of the Gurbani words appear in the above pattern of grammar. Therefore most of the understanding of Gurbani is obviously related to the knowing of the reference meaning of words in this pattern.