ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>AK&#256L M&#362RATI</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="AKL,MjRATI"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279AK&#256L M&#362RATI, a composite term comprising <i>ak&#257l</i> (non-temporal) and <i>m&#363rati</i> (image or form), occuring in the M&#363l-Mantra, the root formula or fundamental creed of the Sikh faith as recorded at the beginning of the <i>Japu</i>, composition with which the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib opens, literally means 'timeless image'. Elsewhere, in the compositions of Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s (GG, 78), and Gur&#363 Arjan (GG, 99, 609, 916 and 1082), the expression Ak&#257l M&#363rati reinforces the original meaning of Divine Reality that is beyond the process of time, and yet permeates the cosmic forms. The non-temporal Being transcends the space-time framework and, as such, is Formless. However, in its manifest aspect, the same Being assumes the cosmic Form. The Sikh vision of God combines the Formless and its expression in natural forms, the transcendent and the immanent, the essence (spirit) and existence (creation).</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The expression 'Ak&#257l M&#363rati' lends itself to interpretation in two ways. The exegetes, who treat it as one term, take <i>ak&#257l</i> in the adjectival form that qualifies the substantive<i> m&#363rati</i>, the whole expression implying Everlasting Form equivalent to the Supreme Being. Those approaching the pair <i>ak&#257l</i> and <i>m&#363rati</i> severally, treat both the units independently, each expressing an attribute of the Divine Reality, believed to transcend time and space, yet manifest in spacio-temporal forms. But, despite the divergence of approach, both interpretations agree in substance, i. e. the featureless eternal Reality assumes features and modes of empirical existence. To put it differently, Ak&#257l M&#363rati presents a synthesis of <i>nirgu&#7751</i> and <i>sagu&#7751</i> facets of the Absolute-God of Gur&#363 N&#257nak's vision. It however does not embrace the notion of incarnation. Non-incarnation is a basic theological postulate of Sikhism.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<i>See</i> AK&#256L</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Talib, Gurbachan Singh, <i>Japuji -The Immortal Sikh Prayer-chant</i>. Delhi, 1977<BR> <li class="C1"> Trilochan Singh, "Theological Concepts of Sikhism, in <i>Sikhism</i>. Patiala, 1969<BR> <li class="C1"> Sher Singh, <i>The Philosophy of Sikhism</i>. Lahore, 1944<BR> <li class="C1"> Jodh Si&#7749gh, <i>Gurmati Nir&#7751aya</i>. Ludhiana, 1932<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Wazir Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>