What is “Naam di Daat”?

What is Naam di Daat? This is a wonderful question and an intricate one too. With respect to Naam let’s ponder upon the following Gur-hukams from Gurbani:

1) NAAM JAPO MERE SAAJAN SAINA||

2) NAU-NIDH AMRIT PRABH KA NAAM||
DEHI MEH ISS KA BISRAAM||

3) NAAM KE DHARE SAGLE JANT||
NAAM KE DHARE KHAND BRAHMAND||

In the first line, Guru Ji is instructing us to recite or japp Naam. Here Naam means Gur-Mantra that we are supposed to recite and japp. As we japp and recite this Naam, it leads us to Jyot Prakaashi roop of Naam which in essence is roop (image) of Waheguru himself.

In the second pankiti Guru Sahib is mentioning the Jyot-roopi Naam that is secretly present in everyone. “Dehi me iss ka bisraam” i.e. it resides in the dehi (body). People who have used hand pumps in India know that in summer when the water goes deeper in Earth, sometimes one has to pour water from outside and then pump the hand pump to bring water out. Same way, Naam Gur-Mantr has to be japped from outside to get to the treasure of Naam right inside us.

In the third pankiti Siri Guru jee writes about Jyot-Prakashi Naam that is essentially Waheguru himself, that pervades the whole universe and the whole universe, galaxies and creatures are sustained by this all-pervading Naam.

While it all starts with the first stage i.e. by reciting and chanting Naam but it leads one first to the Naam treasure right inside our body and then connects us to the all pervading Naam i.e. Waheguru himself. Naam and Naami-Waheguru are one and the same.

Naam di daat actually is the daat of Waheguru himself. Naam and Naami are one and the same just like Guru and Waheguru are the same. Guru is the form of Waheguru and same way Naam is the energy form of Waheguru. It’s the way one can join formless Waheguru. It’s our connection with the formless Waheguru.