View source for Ik Onkar

{{Short description|Religious phrase in Sikhism}}{{Distinguish|text=[[Eckankar]], the American [[new religious movement]]}}
[[File:Ek onkar.svg|thumb|''Ik Onkār'',<ref name=rose/> a Sikh symbol (encoded as a single character in [[Unicode]] at U+0A74, {{script|Guru|ੴ}})]]{{Guru Granth Sahib sidebar}}
'''Ik Onkar''', also spelled '''Ek Onkar''' or '''Ik Oankaar''' ([[Gurmukhi]]: {{script|Guru|ੴ}} or {{lang|pa|ਇੱਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ}}; {{IPA|pa|ɪkː oːəŋkaːɾᵊ}}); literally, "one ''[[God]]''",<ref>{{Cite book|last=Girardot|first=Norman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZP_f9icf2roC&pg=PA500|title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions|year=1999 |pages=500|isbn=9780877790440 |quote=Oankar corresponds to the Sanskrit term Om.....Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh tradition, wrote a long composition entitled "Oankar", in which he attributed the origin and sense of speech to the Divinity, who is thus the "Om Maker"}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism (2nd ed.)|pages=97|quote='Oankar' is actually a cognate of “Om” and can carry the same mystical meaning}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Oxtoby |first=Willard G. |url=https://archive.org/details/worldreligionsea0000unse/page/190/mode/2up |title=World Religions: Eastern Traditions |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=191 |quote=On the other hand, Nanak refers to God as Onkar, 'the expression of Om', that is, of the sacred syllable of the Hindus, a conception that actively continues as Ik Onkar, 'the one om expression'.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hawley |first=John Stratton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cj6iHwAACAAJ |title=Songs of the Saints of India |date=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-569420-8 |pages=65 |language=en |quote=It is the diagram that emerges when the first two words of the Adi Granth-words attributed to Nanak-are written together in Punjabi script. The words are ek omkar- "1 Omkar" or simply "1 OM"- and they are almost always interpreted as meaning that God, who is signified by the mysterious syllable OM, is one.}}</ref> hence interpreted as "There is only one God<ref>{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Jagraj |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rFm9_Jc1ykcC&pg=PA204 |title=A Complete Guide to Sikhism |date=2009 |publisher=Unistar Books |isbn=9788171427543 |page=204}} </ref> or one Creator"<ref> {{cite book |last=Nayar |first=Dr Kamala Elizabeth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4lbPDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA129 |title=The Sikh View on Happiness Guru Arjan's Sukhmani |date=16 April 2020 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=9781350139893 |page=129}} </ref>) is a phrase in [[Sikhism]] that denotes the one supreme reality.<ref>{{cite web|title=Basic Articles|url=http://sgpc.net/sikhism/sikhism1.asp|publisher=SGPC|access-date=12 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725085727/http://www.sgpc.net/sikhism/sikhism1.asp|archive-date=25 July 2012}}</ref> It is a central tenet of [[Sikh religious philosophy]].<ref name="rose">{{cite book| first = David| last = Rose| title = Sikhism photopack| publisher = Fu Ltd.| year = 2012| isbn = 978-1-85276-769-3| page = 10}}</ref>

{{lang|pa|Ik Onkar}} are the first words of the [[Mul Mantar]] and also the opening words of the Sikh holy scripture [[Guru Granth Sahib]].<ref name="M-W Ik Onkar" />  The first symbol "ik" is actually not a word but the Punjabi symbol for the number 1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://omniglot.com/language/numbers/punjabi.htm |title=Numbers in Punjabi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eeVa-PY9ws |title=Mool Mantar Part 1 Ik|website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>

{{lang|pa|Ik}} ({{Langx|pa|ਇੱਕ|label=none}}) is interpreted as "one and only one, who cannot be compared or contrasted with any other",<ref>{{cite web|title=ਇੱਕ - meaning in English|url=http://www.shabdkosh.com/pa/translate?e=%E0%A8%87%E0%A9%B1%E0%A8%95&l=pa|work=Shabdkosh|access-date=20 September 2013|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230501/http://www.shabdkosh.com/pa/translate?e=%E0%A8%87%E0%A9%B1%E0%A8%95&l=pa|url-status=dead}}</ref> the "unmanifest, Lord in power, the holy word, the primal manifestation of the Godhead by which and in which all live, move and have their being and by which all find a way back to Absolute God, the Supreme Reality."<ref>Dogra, Ramesh Chander, and Gobind Singh Mansukhani. ''Encyclopaedia of Sikh Religion and Culture''. pp 138–39:

"Ek-Omkār / Ik-Omkār / Ekankār It is from the Sanskrit word Omkar. The mystic name of God. It is used at the beginning of prayers and holy recitations, and also at the beginning of writing respectful salutations. The unmanifest, God in power, the holy word, the primal manifestation of Godhead by which and in which all live, move and have their being and by which all find a way back to Absolute God. God is the Supreme Reality. His other name is 'Sat Nām'. The Sikhs meditate on God as Ek-Omkar, and not in any other way like worship of idols “Rām Nām Jap Ek-Omkar". (GGS, p. 185) Ek Omkar is the Transcendent Lord of entire creation, who existed before the creation and who alone will survive the creation. (GGS, pp. 296 and 930, and Bhai Gurdas Var, 4011.)"</ref>

{{lang|pa|Ik Onkar}} has a distinct spelling in the [[Gurmukhi]] script<ref>{{cite book|last=David Rose|first=Gill Rose|title=Sacred Texts photopack|publisher=Folens Limited|year=2003|isbn=1-84303-443-3|page=12}}</ref> and the phrase is found in many Sikh religious scriptures and inscribed in places of worship such as [[gurdwara]]s.<ref>''Signs and Symbols''. London: [[DK (publisher)|Dorling Kindersley]], 2019. {{ISBN|978 0 2413 8704 7}}. p. 185.

"Ek Onkar Meaning 'God is one', these first two words in the Guru Granth Sahib are the ones most repeated by Sikhs. They are one of the cornerstones of Sikhism, and in their written form make up one of the most famous symbols of the Sikh religion."</ref><ref>''Britannica Encyclopedia of World Religions''. 2006. {{ISBN|978-1-59339-491-2}}. p. 500:

"IK OANKAR (Punjabi: 'God is One'), expression or invocation that opens the ADI GRANTH, the primary SCRIPTURE of SIKHISM. The expression is a compound of the numeral 1 and the letter that represents the sound “o” in Gurmukhi, the writing system developed
by the Sikhs for their sacred literature. Referring to the Sikh understanding of the absolute monotheistic unity of God, the expression is the central symbol of Sikhism."</ref><ref>[[W. H. McLeod|McLeod, W. H.]] 2005. ''Historical Dictionary of Sikhism'' (2nd ed.), Lanham, MD: Scarecrow. p. 97:

"IK-OANKAR. A popular emblem used by Sikhs, a combination of the Gurmukhi figure 1 and the letter O, taken from the Adi Granth, where it is employed as the first part of various invocations. It represents the unity of God ('One Oankar' or One Being). The emblem is a common feature of Sikh logos and frequently appears on buildings, clothing, books, letterheads, and so on. 'Oankar' is actually a cognate of “Om” and can carry the same mystical meaning. Many Sikhs, however, object to any suggestion that they are the same word. For them 'Om' is Hindu whereas 'Oankar' is Sikh."</ref>

== In Mul Mantar ==
[[File:Guru Har Rai - Mool Mantar.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Mul Mantar]] written by [[Guru Har Rai]], showing the Ik Onkar at top.]]
{{Main|Mul Mantar}}
{{lang|pa|Ik Onkar}} is also the opening phrase of the [[Mul Mantar]], present as opening phrase in the [[Guru Granth Sahib]], and the first composition of [[Guru Nanak]] and the final salok is by [[Guru Angad]]. Further, the Mul Mantar is also at the beginning of the [[Japji Sahib]], followed by 38 hymns and a final [[Salok]] by [[Guru Angad]] at the end of this composition.<ref>Arvind Mandair (2008), ''Shared Idioms, Sacred Symbols, and the Articulation of Identities in South Asia'' (Editor: Kelly Pemberton), Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0415958288}}, page 61</ref>

{{Verse translation|{{langx|pa|label=none|ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਜਪੁ।। ਆਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਹੈ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ।। ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਸੀ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ।।}}
<br/>(''Ik Oankaar Sati nāmu karatā purakhu nirabha'u niravairu akāla mūrati ajūnī saibha gura prasādi. Japu.. Ādi sacu jugādi sacu hai bhī sacu.. Nānaka hōsī bhī sacu..''.)|This Being is one, truth by name, creator, fearless, without hatred, of timeless form, unborn, self-existent, and known by the Guru's grace.<ref>{{citation | last=Nesbitt | first=Eleanor | title=The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology| chapter=Sikhism | publisher=Wiley Blackwell  | location=Oxford, UK | year=2018 | isbn=978-0-470-65722-5 | doi=10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea2186 | pages=1–12}}</ref>|italicsoff=off}}

== Description ==
{{Sikhism sidebar|}}
[[File:300-year-old Guru Granth Sahib manuscripts found in a village of Maharashtra.jpg|thumb|300-year-old [[Guru Granth Sahib]] manuscript found in a village of [[Maharashtra]]. The Ik Onkar (ੴ) written [[Calligraphy|calligraphically]] is notable]]
{{lang|pa|Ik Onkar}} is the statement of oneness in [[Sikhism]], that is 'there is one God'.<ref name=wazirsingh>{{cite book|title=Aspects of Guru Nanak's philosophy | first=Wazir | last=Singh | year=1969 | publisher=Lahore Book Shop | page=20 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWM9AAAAIAAJ&q=substitute+ekankar | access-date=2015-09-17 | quote="the 'a,' 'u,' and 'm' of aum have also been explained as signifying the three principles of creation, sustenance and annihilation. ... aumkār in relation to existence implies plurality, ... but its substitute Ekonkar definitely implies singularity in spite of the seeming multiplicity of existence. ..."}}</ref><ref name = Sikhism>{{cite book |author = Singh, Khushwant| author-link = Khushwant Singh| chapter=The Sikhs| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5LSvkQvvmAMC&pg=PA114 |editor=Kitagawa, Joseph Mitsuo |title=The Religious Traditions of Asia: religion, history, and culture |publisher=RoutledgeCurzon |location=London |year=2002 |page=114 |isbn=0-7007-1762-5 |editor-link= Joseph Kitagawa}}</ref>

According to [[Wendy Doniger]], the phrase is a compound of {{lang|pa|ik}} ("one" in Punjabi) and {{lang|pa|onkar}}, canonically understood in Sikhism to refer to the "absolute monotheistic unity of God".<ref name="M-W Ik Onkar">{{cite book | title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions | last=Doniger | first=Wendy | year=1999 | publisher=Merriam-Webster | page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/500 500] | url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440 | url-access=registration | access-date=2015-09-23 | isbn=978-0-87779-044-0}}</ref> Etymologically, the word {{lang|pa|onkar}} denotes the sacred sound "[[om]]" or the [[absolute (philosophy)|absolute]] in a number of Indian religions.<ref name="M-W Ik Onkar" /> Nevertheless, Sikhs give it an entirely different meaning.<ref name="M-W Ik Onkar" /><ref name="pashaura">[[Pashaura Singh (Sikh scholar)|Singh, Pashaura]]. 2014. ''The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies'', editors by P. Singh and L. E. Fenech. [[Oxford University Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0199699308}}. p. 227.</ref><ref>"It should be however, be emphasized that the meaning of {{lang|pa|oankar}} in the Sikh tradition is quite different in certain respects from the various interpretations of this word in the Indian philosophical traditions." (Pashaura Singh 2006: 247)</ref> Pashaura Singh writes that "the meaning of Oankar in the Sikh tradition is quite different in certain respects from the various interpretations of this word in the Indian philosophical traditions",<ref name="pashaura" /> and the Sikhs "rather view Oankar as pointing to the distinctively Sikh theological emphasis on the ineffable quality of God, who is described as 'the Person beyond time,' the Eternal One, or 'the One without form'."<ref name="M-W Ik Onkar" /> {{lang|pa|Onkar}} is, according to Wazir Singh, a "variation of Om (Aum) of the ancient Indian scriptures (with a slight change in its orthography), implying the seed-force that evolves as the universe."<ref>Wazir Singh (1969), Guru Nanak's philosophy, ''Journal of Religious Studies'', Vol. 1, Issue 1, page 56</ref> [[Guru Nanak]] wrote a poem entitled Oankar in which, states Doniger, he "attributed the origin and sense of speech to the Divinity, who is thus the Om-maker".<ref name="M-W Ik Onkar" />

{{Quote|
<poem>
{{lang|pa|Oankar}} ('One, whose expression emerges as the primal sound') created [[Brahma]]. {{lang|pa|Oankar}} fashioned the consciousness. From {{lang|pa|oankar}} came mountains and ages. {{lang|pa|Oankar}} produced the [[Vedas]]. By the grace of {{lang|pa|oankar}}, people were saved through the divine word. By the grace of {{lang|pa|oankar}}, they were liberated through the teachings of the Guru.
</poem>
|Ramakali Dakkhani|Adi Granth 929&ndash;930, Translated by Pashaura Singh<ref name=pashaura227>Pashaura Singh (2014), in ''The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies'' (Editors: Pashaura Singh, Louis E. Fenech), Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0199699308}}, page 227</ref>}}
[[File:Artwork from a folio of a Janamsakhi manuscript explaining the meaning of Ik Onkar using a traditional theory, involving symbolism from Indic deities.jpg|thumb|Artwork from a folio of a [[Janamsakhis|Janamsakhi]] manuscript explaining the meaning of Ik Onkar using a traditional theory, involving symbolism from [[Hindu deities|Indic deities]]]]
Pashaura Singh goes on to state,
 
{{Quote|"By beginning with 'One,' Guru Nanak emphasizes the singularity of the Divine. That is, the numeral '1' affirms that the Supreme Being is one without a second, the source as well as the goal of all that exists. That is quite evident from the following statement: 'My Master (''Sahib'') is the One. He is the One, brother, and He alone exists' (AG 350). In a particularly striking instance, Guru Arjan employs the cognates of the Punjabi word {{lang|pa|ikk}} ('One') five time in a single line of his Asa hymn to make an emphatic statement of oneness of the Supreme Being: 'By itself the One is just One, One and only One, and the One is the source of all creation.'<ref name=pashaura/>}}

He also considers the process of [[Reification (knowledge representation)|reification]] of the concept of {{lang|pa|Ik Oankar}} as having begun with the writings of [[Guru Nanak]] and [[Guru Arjan]] themselves,<ref name="Singh2000p257">{{cite book|author=Pashaura Singh|title=The Guru Granth Sahib: Canon, Meaning and Authority |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=HMvXAAAAMAAJ |year=2000|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-564894-2|page=257}}</ref> with the numeral ੧ (one) as emphasizing the unity of [[Akal Purakh]] in [[monotheistic]] terms.<ref name="Singh2000p257"/>

Other common terms for the one supreme reality alongside {{lang|pa|Ik Oankar}}, dating from the Gurus' time include the most commonly used term,<ref name=pashaura/> ''[[Akal Purakh]]'', "Eternal One," in the sense of ''[[Nirankar]]'', "the One without form," and ''[[Waheguru]]'' ("Wonderful Sovereign").<ref name=pashaura/>

==Depictions==
In 2019, [[Air India]] launched a direct flight from [[London]] to [[Amritsar]]  with the phrase {{lang|pa|Ik Onkar}} printed in golden colour with a red background, on the tail of a [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]]. The plane was launched ahead of and in honour of the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak’s birth.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite news |title=Air India Paints Sikh Symbol On Aircraft In Tribute To Guru Nanak |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-india-paints-sikh-symbol-on-aircraft-in-tribute-to-guru-nanak-2123647 |access-date=28 October 2019 |work=NDTV.com}}</ref>

The [[Gurmukhi (Unicode block)|Gurmukhi]] symbol ੴ is registered under just three [[Top-level domain|TLDs]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Xn--2cc.com [Whois Lookup & Whois History] |url=https://www.whoxy.com/xn--2cc.com |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=www.whoxy.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Xn--2cc.net [Whois Lookup & Whois History] |url=https://www.whoxy.com/xn--2cc.net |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=www.whoxy.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Xn--2cc.cc [Whois Lookup & Whois History] |url=https://www.whoxy.com/xn--2cc.cc |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=www.whoxy.com}}</ref> as [[verisign]] supports gurmukhi letters in these TLDs:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freshworks |first=Faye for |title=Internationalized domain name registrations |url=https://support.opensrs.com/support/solutions/articles/201000063443-internationalized-domain-name-registrations |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=OpenSRS Customer Support |language=en}}</ref>  [http://ੴ.com ੴ.com],  [http://ੴ.net ੴ.net] and  [http://ੴ.cc ੴ.cc].   

==See also==
*[[Tawhid]]
*[[Waheguru]]
*[[Om]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat|Ik Onkar}}
*[http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/discourses-in-english/8203-ek-onkar-translation.html Discussion On Ek Onkar Translation]
*[http://www.religionfacts.com/sikhism/fastfacts.htm Fast facts on sikhism and Ik Onkar]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080602181659/http://www.woodford.redbridge.sch.uk/RS/year9/ikonkar1.html Religious Studies Ik Onkar] (archived)

{{Sikhism}}
{{Names of God}}

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[[Category:Sikh symbols]]
[[Category:Singular God]]
[[Category:Names of God in Sikhism]]