Language
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.
In most of the verses God is described in negative terms. As all these verses are in the form of rhymed couplets, the vocabularly and ingenuity of the poet are superb. The opening verse is typical:
"Thou hast no form or feature, No caste or lineage; None can describe Thy appearance, Color, mark or garb."
There is an all inclusiveness and universalism that keeps coming to the surface. "All" seems to be the key word as the poet breaks through to more positive description:
"Thou art the source of all light, And the object of all praise; Thou art the supreme Lord of all, And the moon of the Universe." -Verse 119
"Perfect is Thy discernment. All turn to Thee for refuge. Thou art the Great Companion; Thou art the sure Providence." -Verse 123
The fervour of the true Bhakta comes out in hailing the immortal as man's companion. Something of the devoutness of the Guru's nature comes to a climax in the concluding verse:
"Thou fillest and feedest the whole universe, Thyself self-existent, auspicious and united with all. Thou art the embodiment of mercy; Thou art the deliverer from birth and death. Thou art man's constant Companion. Everlasting is Thy glory!"
Among the thousand names there are seventy-five Muslim names. Only a few of these, such as Rahim and Karim, Razakai (Nourisher), Aruv (Pardoner), and Salamai (Peaceful) are among the Muslim's ninety-nine names of Allah: but all the names used would be familiar to Punjabi Muslims. The Muslim tongue and ear would surely delight in Allah and Nirsharik; Karimur Rahim; Husnul Chirag, Garibun Niwaz; Kamal Karim; Rajak Rahim; Bahistun Niwas; and many such others.
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Famous quotes containing the word language:
“...I ... believe that words can help us move or keep us paralyzed, and that our choices of language and verbal tone have something—a great deal—to do with how we live our lives and whom we end up speaking with and hearing; and that we can deflect words, by trivialization, of course, but also by ritualized respect, or we can let them enter our souls and mix with the juices of our minds.”
—Adrienne Rich (b. 1929)
“Please stop using the word “Negro.”... We are the only human beings in the world with fifty-seven variety of complexions who are classed together as a single racial unit. Therefore, we are really truly colored people, and that is the only name in the English language which accurately describes us.”
—Mary Church Terrell (1863–1954)
“Denotation by means of sounds and markings is a remarkable abstraction. Three letters designate God for me; several lines a million things. How easy becomes the manipulation of the universe here, how evident the concentration of the intellectual world! Language is the dynamics of the spiritual realm. One word of command moves armies; the word liberty entire nations.”
—Novalis [Friedrich Von Hardenberg] (1772–1801)