In it are wave after wave of praises of the one God who pervades everywhere, from whom all religions have sprung, but who is formless, beyond our comprehension, beyond all sectarian doctrines. This great scripture is universal, transcending all religious boundaries. Jaap Sahib is made up of 199 verses and is the first Bani of the Dasam Granth. The Jaap Sahib begins with "Sri Mukhwakh Patshahi Dasvee," "By the holy mouth of the Tenth King." This appears to be a specific saying to authenticate the writings of Guru Gobind Singh himself. J*p is a Sanskrit word which means "to utter in a low voice, whisper, mutter (especially prayers or incantations); to invoke or call upon in a low voice.; ." The form of the word here is J*pu, which makes it a noun, "meditation." The language of Jaap, is close to classical with words and compounds drawn from Sanskrit, Brij Bhasha, Arabic and Urdu. The contents of Jaap Sahib, are divided into various Chhands bearing the name of the related meter according to the then prevalent system of prosody in India. Jaap Sahib is a total and complete introduction to a non-individual Creator, or Nature itself, or the Forces of Universe, or the Laws of Nature.
