Brahman

==Brahman in Sikhism==
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 | footer = [[Ik Onkar]] (left) is part of the [[Mul Mantar]] in Sikhism, where it means "Onkar [God, Reality] is one".<ref name=eleanor>Eleanor Nesbitt (2005), ''Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction'', Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0192806017}}, Chapter 4</ref> The Onkar of Sikhism is related to Om—also called ''Omkāra''<ref>Jean Holm and John Bowker, ''Worship'', Bloomsbury, ISBN, page 67</ref>—in Hinduism.<ref name=eleanor/><ref>Wendy Doniger (2000), Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions, Merriam Webster, {{ISBN|978-0877790440}}, page 500</ref> The ancient texts of Hinduism state Om to be a symbolism for the Highest Reality, Brahman.<ref>Rangaswami Sudhakshina (2012), ''Roots of Vendanta'', Penguin, {{ISBN|978-0143064459}}, page 405</ref><ref>David Leeming (2005), ''The Oxford Companion to World Mythology'', Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0195156690}}, page 54</ref>
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The metaphysical concept of Brahman, particularly as ''nirguni Brahman''—attributeless, formless, eternal Highest Reality—is at the foundation of [[Sikhism]].<ref name=sskohli39>S. S. Kohli (1993), ''The Sikh and Sikhism'', Atlantic, {{ISBN|81-71563368}}, page 39</ref> This belief is observed through ''nirguni Bhakti'' by the Sikhs.<ref>Hardip Syan (2014), in ''The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies'' (Editors: Pashaura Singh, Louis E. Fenech), Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0199699308}}, page 178</ref><ref>A. Mandair (2011), Time and religion-making in modern Sikhism, in ''Time, History and the Religious Imaginary in South Asia'' (Editor: Anne Murphy), Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0415595971}}, pages 188–190</ref>

In Gauri, which is part of the [[Guru Granth Sahib]], Brahman is declared as "One without a second", in Sri Rag "everything is born of Him, and is finally absorbed in Him", in Var Asa "whatever we see or hear is the manifestation of Brahman".<ref>S. S. Kohli (1993), ''The Sikh and Sikhism'', Atlantic, {{ISBN|81-71563368}}, page 38</ref> Nesbitt states that the first two words, ''Ik Onkar'', in the twelve-word Mul Mantar at the opening of the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib, has been translated in three different ways by scholars: "There is one god", "This being is one", and as "One reality is".<ref name=eleanor/>

Similar emphasis on "One without a second" for metaphysical concept of Brahman, is found in ancient texts of Hinduism, such as the Chandogya Upanishad's chapter 6.2.<ref>[[Max Muller]], [https://archive.org/stream/upanishads01ml#page/92/mode/2up Chandogya Upanishad 6.2.1] Oxford University Press, pages 93–94</ref><ref>[[Paul Deussen]], ''Sixty Upanishads of the Veda'', Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, pages 156–157, 162–163</ref> The ideas about God and Highest Reality in Sikhism share themes found in the ''Saguna'' and ''Nirguna'' concepts of Brahman in Hinduism.<ref name=sskohli39/><ref>N. Mandair (2009), ''Postcolonial Philosophy of Religion'' (Editor: Purushottama Bilimoria, Andrew B. Irvine), Springer, {{ISBN|978-9400791770}}, pages 145–146</ref>

The concept of Ultimate Reality (Brahman) is also referred in Sikhism as ''Nam'', ''Sat-naam'' or ''Naam'', and ''Ik Oankar'' like Hindu [[Om]] symbolizes this Reality.<ref>William Owen Cole and Piara Singh Sambhi (1998), ''The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices'', 2nd edition, Sussex Academic Press, {{ISBN|978-1898723134}}, pages 70–71</ref><ref>H. S. Singha (2009), ''Sikh Studies'', Vol. 7, Hemkunt Press, {{ISBN|978-8170102458}}, page 47</ref>