Page 10 - Gurmat Book 7

Lesson 4: What Does Naam Japo Mean?

“Naam Japo” is one of the Three Golden Rules of Sikhism. “Naam Japna” can take
many forms. The renowned Sikh Scholar Dr. Jaswant Singh Neki gave a beautiful

explanation of what “Naam Japna” or “Naam Japo” means. He said the word ਜਪਨਾ
(Japna) comes from the word “ਜਾਪਦਾ”; which means to “feel” or “experience”. Like

a person may say, mYnUM jwpdw hY ik Aj mINh pvygw[ He further added; “Naam” refers

to Waheguru. So “Naam Japna” is to feel or experience the presence of
Waheguru.

He gave another example. Imagine a mother whose child has gone away from

home to a college. She misses her child. Whenever she sees anything belonging to
her child, the toys, the games, the foods or anything the child used to like, she

remembers her child. Her child’s memories are attached to everything in her

house. So she feels her child’s presence all around her.

“Naam Japna” is to feel the presence of Waheguru around us. Waheguru has

given us everything we have, our family, relatives, friends, toys, games, and the

beautiful surroundings. We should forever be grateful to Waheguru.

There is so much to admire. Just imagine an apple tree. It grows out of a seed

planted in the soil. The seed converts the energy from the soil, air and sun into a

tree full of leaves, flowers and apples. We eat the apple, and it gets transformed
into our muscles and tissues. This is the power of the nature, of Waheguru. Since

the whole nature is created by Waheguru, by observing it and feeling the

presence of Waheguru in everything that happens, we are doing “Naam Japna”.

Most of the Gurbani in Guru Granth Sahib is poetry in praise of Waheguru.
Reading the Gurbani with love is a form of Naam Japna. An example is the Jaap

Sahib Bani written by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In Jaap Sahib, Guru Ji uses
hundreds of names for Waheguru. See the table.

Stepping Stones PSL Gurmat Sikhia Book 7G 2023 Edition Page 8