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Concept

Ik Oṅkār

The oneness of God, the first words of the Sikh scripture.
Punjabi, Sikhism
ik oṅkār ੴ

Definition

Ik Oṅkār stands at the head of the Mūl Mantar, the “root formula” with which the Guru Granth Sahib begins, and is written as a single symbol, ੴ, made of the numeral one and the letters of oṅkār. Ik means “one”; oṅkār is related to the sacred syllable om, and is variously understood as the one creative being, or the one who is manifest in all. It is often rendered “there is one God” or “One Being, manifest”.

The Mūl Mantar continues by describing God as true in name, the creator, without fear and without enmity, timeless in form, unborn, self-existent, known by the Guru’s grace. God is both nirguṇ, without qualities and beyond all form, and sargun, present in all things.

For Sikhs, Ik Oṅkār affirms that there is one God for all people, beyond the names given by different religions. The symbol appears on gurdwaras, in homes and on the opening page of every copy of the scripture.

In the traditions

Sikhism

The one God, creator and present in all, proclaimed at the opening of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Vedānta

The element oṅkār recalls the sacred syllable om, which the Upaniṣads treat as a name of Brahman.

Islam

Often compared with tawḥīd, the oneness of God, though Sikhism has its own scripture and teaching.

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Cite this entry
Chicago (bibliography)

“Ik Oṅkār.” Concept. The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society. Last modified November 7, 2026. https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/library/concepts/ik-onkar.

Chicago (note)

“Ik Oṅkār,” concept, The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, last modified November 7, 2026, https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/library/concepts/ik-onkar.

MLA

“Ik Oṅkār.” The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, 7 Nov. 2026, www.unitiveknowledge.org/library/concepts/ik-onkar.

BibTeX
@misc{concepts-ik-onkar,
  title = {{Ik Oṅkār}},
  howpublished = {The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society},
  note = {Concept. Last modified November 7, 2026},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/library/concepts/ik-onkar}
}

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