ACROSTIC :At the age of seven Guru Nanak went to school and the schoolmaster wrote the alphabet on a wooden tablet for Nanak. After just one day Nanak copied the alphabet from memory and made an acrostic on the alphabet. The acrostic called the Patti or tablet in the Rag Asa, is as follows: The One Lord who created the world is the Lord of all. Fortunate is their advent into the world. whose hears remain attached to God\’s service.
0 foolish man who have thou forgotten him? When you adjusted thine account, my friend, thou shalt be deemed educated. The Primal Being is the Giver, He alone is true. No account shall be due by the pious man who understandeth by means of those letter.
References :
1. Encyclopedia of Sikh Religion and Culture, R.C.Dogra and Dr.G.S. Mansukhani 1995
According to Sikh hagiographical sources, when young Guru Nanak was just seven years old, he attended a modest village school where his teacher wrote the alphabet on a wooden tablet. Guru Nanak not only copied the alphabet from memory by the end of the day but also composed an acrostic poem on it. This early display of intellectual brilliance and spiritual insight is remembered as one of the first reflections of his divine genius. The acrostic—often called the “patti” or tablet in the Raag Asa—was subsequently incorporated into Sikh liturgical literature and appears in the Guru Granth Sahib. It uses the sequential letters of the alphabet as the initial markers for lines that extol the One Universal Creator and expound on the virtues of remembrance, service, and devotion.
The Acrostic
While there are slight variations in its recitation, the version commonly cited from the Guru Granth Sahib (Raag Asa, First Mehl, Patee Likhee) is as follows:
One Universal Creator God. By the Grace of the True Guru:
Sassa:
He who created the world is the One Lord and Master of all. Those whose consciousness remains committed to His Service— Blessed is their birth and their coming into the world.
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*O mind, why forget Him? You foolish mind! When your account is adjusted, O brother, only then shall you be judged wise.
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Eevree:
The Primal Lord is the Giver; He alone is True. No accounting is due from the Gurmukh who understands the Lord Through these letters.
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Ooraa:
Sing the Praises of the One whose limit cannot be found. Those who perform service and practice truth obtain The fruits of their rewards.
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Nganga:
One who understands spiritual wisdom becomes a Pandit, A learned religious scholar; One who recognizes the One Lord among all beings Does not speak of personal ego.
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Significance
Early Spiritual Insight:
This acrostic is significant not only as a mnemonic device but also because it showcases young Guru Nanak’s precocious mastery of both language and spiritual thought. His ability to link each letter of the alphabet to a higher, cosmic principle conveys that learning and divine knowledge are closely intertwined.
Liturgical Role:
Recited within Sikh congregations and often included in devotional readings, the acrostic serves as a reminder of the constant presence of the Divine and the importance of maintaining a state of consciousness (chardi kala) that is ever attentive to God’s service.
Symbol of Devotion:
The composition reinforces the Sikh emphasis on remembrance (simran) and service (seva), urging adherents to lead lives anchored in the pursuit of truth and humility.
This acrostic, crafted at such a tender age, remains a powerful testament to Guru Nanak’s lifelong journey of intertwining learning, memory, and spiritual aspiration. Its continued use in Sikh liturgy highlights the enduring legacy of his early genius in shaping Sikh thought and identity.
