The author has mostly relied on Japji itself for his interpretation. Yet, the author’s research and presentation offer much more than his modest claim, “It is one more English interpretation of Japji but with a different format giving meanings of most individual words in parentheses.” His introductory essays leading up to “ Paurri-wise Interpretation of Japji” are of great value in clarifying Guru Nanak’s niralaPanth (unique path). There is no shortage of exegeses of Japji by erudite Sikh scholars. The extent to which the author has succeeded in establishing the sovereignty of Sikh theology and confirming Guru Nanak Sahib’s Japji as its root-source, has been used as the benchmark for this review of his book, Understanding Japji Sahib.
religious controversy when the independent existence of one established religion is challenged by another, it becomes vital that the uniqueness of its ideology is explained with clarity. Therefore, exposition of the unique and sovereign theology of Guru Nanak depends on the correct understanding of the main themes of Japji. It would lead to many diverse conclusions, thereby, giving rise to many sects, cults, gurudoms and derawadi traditions, all claiming Sikhi centre-ground! Otherwise, inevitably, the interpretation would be misleading. It is not possible to interpret the Bani (the Shabad or Word-Guru) in Guru Granth Sahib without continually cross-referencing back to the Source Bani, Japji. Sri Guru Granth Sahib is an exposition of Japji. The second part is an interpretation of each Paurri or stanza of Japji in the same format as the author’s magnum opus, the full translation of the Sikh holy Scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The first part comprises short essays which expound the main themes of Japji. The book, Understanding Japji Sahib, is in two parts. It provides the road-map and directions for travel for the Sikh who follows the Guru’s path to the main objective of human life which is union with the Creator Being by aspiring to Sach Khand, the realm of Truth, the Ultimate Reality. It is the first Bani in the Sikh holy Scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Japji of Guru Nanak Sahib, the Founder of Sikhi (Sikhism), is the essence of Sikh theology. General ret’d)Į-book link: here By Gurmukh Singh | BOOK REVIEW