Japa ( Sanskrit: जप) means the recitation of a mantra. Related to Japji Sahib is the Jaap Sahib ( Punjabi: ਜਾਪੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ), the latter is found at the start of Dasam Granth and was composed by Guru Gobind Singh. It is also chanted in the Sikh tradition at the Khalsa initiation ceremony and during the cremation ceremony. It is a chant found in the morning and evening prayers in Sikh gurdwaras. According to Christopher Shackle, it is designed for 'individual meditative recitation' and as the first item of daily devotional prayer for the devout. Notable is Nanak's discourse on 'what is true worship' and what is the nature of God'. Expansion and elaboration of Japji Sahib is the entire Guru Granth Sahib. Japji Sahib is the first composition of Guru Nanak, and is considered the comprehensive essence of Sikhism. The 38 stanzas are in different poetic meters. It begins with Mool Mantra and then follow 38 paudis (stanzas) and completed with a final Salok by Guru Angad at the end of this composition. It was composed by Guru Angad, and is mostly the writings of Guru Nanak. ( Punjabi: ਜਪੁਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ, pronunciation: ) is the Sikh thesis, that appears at the beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib – the scripture of the Sikhs.
