JAAP KARNA
Literally: ‘to repeat’ the Name (of God).
It can be done in three manners: to repeat, so that the others should listen; to repeat it slowly, so that the others may not listen; to repeat in mind. The last one is also known as Ajpa-Jap.
In Sikhism, Jaap Karna is not repeating of God’s Name or a hymn but it means always to keep ‘noble fear’ of God always in one’s mind, so that one may not do anything against His Order.
In Sikhism ‘sat naam’ or ‘VahGuru’ is not a spell/charm/magic/incantation etc. The repetition of His Name or of a hymn, as a Mantra or as some other magical power is not in consonance with the Sikh ideology.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)