Mool Mantar or Root Mantra is the very first verse of Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikhism’s Holy Scripture. It was composed by the Nanak Dev, the First Guru and founder of Sikhism, and is the heading of Japji Sahib, the morning Nitnem Prayer.
Mool Mantar is said to have at least two distinct parts. The first twelve words (that is, the words preceding Jap) is referred to as Beej Mantar or ‘Seed Mantra’, while the two lines following Jap, is referred to as Sach Mantar or ‘Truth Mantra’.
Mool Mantar has at least twelve known abbreviated modifications, appear interspersed as headings, to various sections of the Gurbani all throughout scriptures such as “Ik Onkar Sat Gur Prasad”. It can be recited by the followers of Sikhism as a part of their morning and evening worship at any time of the day. It can also be recited while using a prayerbead Mala so you can keep count of the number of times that you have recited it, for a specific time period or as the spirit moves the one who recites the Mool Mantar. You can also recite it silently while working or audibly during your bibek langar, Karah Prasad or Naam Ladoo preparation.
Mool Mantar is also recited by the Amrit administrators during the final phase of the initiation ceremony and is being repeated by the initiates. Instructions of reciting Mool Mantra everyday throughout their lives are being given also to initiates in order for them to become enlightened by the Gurbani. It is considered to be the most important verse of all Gurbani Scripture and the underlying foundation of all the teachings of Sikh.