The Guru Granth Sahib (, ), or Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib, is the holy scripture and the final Guru of the Sikhs.[1] It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs (parts), compiled and composed during the period of Sikh Gurus, from 1469 to 1708.[1] It is a collection of hymns or shabad, which describe what God is like[2] and the right way to live. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), the tenth of the Sikh Gurus, affirmed the sacred text Adi Granth as his successor, terminating the line of human Gurus, and elevating the text to Guru Granth Sahib.[3] Thenceforward the text remained the holy scripture of the Sikhs, regarded as the living embodiment of the Ten Gurus.[4] The role of Guru Granth Sahib, as a source or guide of prayer,[5] is pivotal in worship in Sikhism.
The Adi Granth was first compiled by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606), from hymns of the first five Sikh gurus and other great saints, including those of the Hindu and Muslim faith.[2] After the demise of the tenth Sikh guru many handwritten copies were prepared for distribution by Baba Deep Singh.
Written in the Gurmukhi script, predominantly in archaic Punjabi with occasional use of other languages including Braj, Punjabi, Khariboli (Hindi), Sanskrit, regional dialects, and Persian, often coalesced under the generic title of Sant Bhasha.[6][7][8][9][10][11]
The numerous holy men who contributed to the Guru Granth Sahib is collectively referred to as Bhagat Bani or "Word of Devotees". These saints belonged to different social and religious backgrounds, including Hindus and Muslims, cobblers and untouchables. Though Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji contains the compositions of both Sikh Gurus as well the other great saints(Bhagats),including those of the Hindu and Muslim faith.But no distinction what so ever is made between the works of Sikh Gurus and Sikh Bhagats and that the titles "Guru" and "Bhagat" should not be misleading.The Guru Granth Sahib is the sole and final successor of the line of gurus. Anyone claiming the status of living guru is considered a heretic.[14]
The fourth Guru also composed hymns. The fifth, Arjan Dev, in order to consolidate the Bani (Divine word) of earlier Gurus and to prevent spurious compositions creeping in, began early in 1599 to compile the Adi Granth according to the plan laid out by Nanak.[15] The Tawarikh Guru Khalsa mentions that he issued a Hukamnama (official order), asking anyone who could contribute to do so. All of the sourcing and content was reviewed in order to ensure the authenticity of the existing revelation.[15][16]
The final prepared volume, written by Bhai Gurdas, under the direct supervision of Guru Arjan, included the compositions of the first five Sikh Gurus and of fifteen Bhagats, seventeen Bhatts ("bards", or traditional composers) and four others such as Bhai Mardana, a lifelong companion of Guru Nanak. The Adi Granth took five years to complete and was installed in Harmandir Sahib ("the abode of God"), popularly known as the Golden Temple, on September 01, 1604, with Baba Buddha as the first Granthi.[16] This original volume is presently in Kartarpur and bears the signature of the Guru Arjan.[17]
The redaction of the Adi Granth was prepared by Guru Gobind Singh with the scribe Bhai Mani Singh at Talwandi Sabo (renamed as Damdama Sahib). Guru Gobind Singh added the hymns composed by Guru Tegh Bahadur[18] but excluded his own. There is mention of Guru Gobind Singh's holding an "Akhand Path" (continued recital of Guru Granth Sahib).[19] From Talwandi Sabo, Guru Gobind Singh went to Deccan. While at Nanded, Guru Gobind Singh installed the final version prepared by him as the perpetual Guru of Sikhs in 1708.
The Guru Granth Sahib is divided into ragas or classical musical notes. The chronological division is on the basis of ragas and not on the order of succession of Gurus. As with the Adi Granth, Sikhs do not lay emphasis on any particular volume of Guru Granth Sahib as the Guru.
The Supreme Court of India holds that the Guru Granth Sahib should be, for historic and legal reasons, considered a 'Juristic person': "The Granth replaces the Guru after the tenth Guru. We unhesitatingly hold Guru Granth Sahib to be a juristic person." The court articulated this finding in the context of a case pertaining to a property dispute.
The Adi Granth was conferred the title of "Guru of the Sikhs" by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, 1708. The event, when Guru Gobind Singh installed Adi Granth as the Guru of Sikhism, was recorded in a Bhatt Vahi (a bard's scroll) by an eyewitness, Narbud Singh,[20] who was a bard at the Guru's court. There are a variety of other documents attesting to this proclamation by the tenth Guru.
Thus, despite some aberrations, the Sikhs overwhelmingly accept that the Guru Granth is their eternal Guru. This has been the understanding and conviction of the Sikhs, since that October day of 1708.
A close associate of Guru Gobind Singh and author of Rehit-nama, Prahlad Singh, recorded the Guru's commandment saying "With the order of the Eternal Lord has been established [Sikh] Panth: all the Sikhs hereby are commanded to obey the Granth as their Guru".(Rehat-nama, Bhai Prahlad Singh)[21] Similarly Chaupa Singh, another associate of Guru Gobind Singh, has mentioned this commandment in his Rehat-nama.
The Sikh Gurus developed a new writing system, Gurmukhī, for writing their sacred literature.[22] Although the exact origins of the script are unknown,[23] it is believed to have existed in an elementary form during the time of Guru Nanak. According to Sikh tradition, Guru Angad is said to have invented the script,[22] and popularised its use among the Sikhs. It is stated in Mahman Prakash, an early Sikh manuscript, that the script was invented by Guru Angad at the suggestion of Guru Nanak during the lifetime of the founder.[24] The word Gurmukhī translates as "from the mouth of the Guru". The script was used, from the onset, for compiling Sikh scriptures. The Sikhs assign high degree of sanctity to Gurmukhī language script.[25] The Gurmukhī language Script is also the official script for the Indian State of Punjab.
The poems are divided on the basis of their musical setting in different ragas.[27] A raga is a series of melodic motifs, based upon a definite scale or mode, that provide a basic structure around which the musician performs. The ragas are associated with different moods and times of the day and year.[27] The total number of ragas in the Sikh system is thirty one, divided into fourteen ragas and seventeen raginis (less important or less definite ragas). Within the raga division, the songs are arranged in order of the Sikh gurus and Sikh bhagats with whom they are associated.
The various ragas are, in order: Raga Sri, Manjh, Gauri, Asa, Gujri, Devagandhari, Bihagara, Wadahans, Sorath, Dhanasri, Jaitsri, Todi, Bairari, Tilang, Suhi, Bilaval, Gond (Gaund), Ramkali, Nut-Narayan, Mali-Gaura, Maru, Tukhari, Kedara, Bhairav (Bhairo), Basant, Sarang, Malar, Kanra, Kalyan, Prabhati and Jaijawanti. In addition there are twenty-two compositions of Vars (Traditional ballads). Nine of these have specific tunes and the rest can be sung to any tune.[27]
Translations of the Guru Granth Sahib are available. However, Sikhs believe that it is necessary to learn Gurmukhī, designed and used by the Sikh Gurus, to fully understand and appreciate the message. Translations only give a preliminary understanding of the Guru Granth Sahib. A Sikh is encouraged to learn Gurmukhi to fully experience and understand the Guru Granth Sahib.
The Guru Granth Sahib is always the focal point in any Gurudwara. It is attended with all signs of royalty, as was the custom with Sikh Gurus, and is placed upon a throne, and the congregation sits on the floor. It is waved upon by a chaur (sort of fan) which is made of fine material and a canopy is always placed over it. The devotees bow before the Guru as a sign of respect.
The Guru Granth Sahib is taken care of by a Granthi. He is responsible for reciting from Guru Granth and leading the Sikh prayer. The Granthi also acts as the caretaker of Guru Granth Sahib and this function may not be performed by any other person. It is kept covered in silken cloths, known as Rumala, to protect from heat, dust, pollution etc. It rests on a manji sahib under a rumala until brought out again.[29]
The printing of Guru Granth Sahib is done by the official religious body of Sikhs based in Amritsar. It is the sole worldwide publisher of Guru Granth Sahib. Great care is taken while making printed copies and strict code of conduct is observed during the task of printing.[30]
Before the twentieth century, only hand written copies of Guru Granth Sahib were prepared. The first printed copy of Guru Granth Sahib was made in 1864. Since the early 20th century Guru Granth Sahib has a standard 1430 pages.
The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is currently printed in an authorised printing press in the basement of the Gurdwara Ramsar in Amritsar; any resulting printer's "waste" that has any of the sacred text on, is cremated at Goindval [31]. However, unauthorised copies of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji have been printed.
Any copies of their sacred book Guru Granth Sahib which are too badly damaged to be used, and any printer's waste which has any of its text on, are cremated with a similar ceremony as cremating a deceased person. Such burning is called Agan Bhet. (For similar reasons, observant Jews bury damaged Torah scrolls and hold for them a funeral similar to that for a human being. Muslims however, bury the badly damaged Quran or pages of the Quran deemed unreadable.)
Panjab Digital Library (PDl) in collaboration with the Nanakshahi Trust has taken up digitization of centuries old manuscripts in year 2003. PDL represents an effort to preserve and make accessible the rich heritage of Punjab through digitization. For ages, these historical treasures have been threatened with loss or damage. Now, Panjab Digital Library seeks to digitally preserve them in their original form, color, graphics and texture, while at the same time, changing the way we access and utilize these materials. It will redefine the role and scope of a library. Scholars and public alike will have easy access to the online digital library with powerful searching and browsing capability. This digitization of history holds great promises in research, education and awareness, while saving precious time and money.
This is what Max Arthur Macauliffe writes about the authenticity of the Guru's teaching:
Pearl Buck, a Nobel laureate, gives the following comment on receiving the First English translation of the Guru Granth Sahib:
Some of the major messages can be summarized as follows: -
Any person carrying out any Service or Sewa must observe the following:
While Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is on the move the following is observed:
Guru Sahib World University would be formally launched in July 2009. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Fourth Centenary Memorial Trust. The meeting was chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Paraksh Singh Badal. Disclosing this, Mr. Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to the Chief Minister said that apart from intensive work on Guru Granth Sahib studies, the University would focus on imparting education in post modern technologies such as Nano-technology, Bio-technology, Information Technology and Business Management besides comparative study of different religions. These courses would be introduced in the inaugural academic session next year.
Later, the University would also house the faculties in Emerging Technologies, Basic Sciences, Management, Social Sciences, Arts, Languages, Engineering, Architecture, Law and Social Justice. Work will soon commence on the construction of the Complex.
Punjabi University, Patiala, has established a department which provides a number of academic courses on Guru Granth Sahib. The department was established in 1962. Sikhism is a revealed religion and as such the department was established to do research in Sikhism and Sikh scriptures.[32] The aim of the department is to study Sikhism as an academic discpline and to produce source material for students working in the field of Sikh studies. The thrust areas of the departmental research are Sikh theology and Sikh Philosophy[32]
The university has started work on an online academic course in advanced studies of the Guru Granth sahib. This academic course would be available internationally, to any student who wants academic training in the Sikh scripture. The academic exam papers would be designed by "The Advanced Centre for Development of Punjabi Language, Literature and Culture".[33]
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