 |
Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the main
scripture of the Sikhs. Its first
title, the Adi Granth (which means
primary and original), clearly signifies
its importance in the Sikh faith
and worship. The fifth Guru, Guru
Arjan Dev Ji, compiled Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji in the year 1604
A.D.
|
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is purely monotheistic.
It accepts only ONE GOD and rejects all
other deities, spirits, angel’s etc.
Only God is Immortal.
The compilation of the Adi Granth Began,
When Guru Nanak Dev Ji, during his travels,
undertook to collect the Bani (hymns)
of like-minded Saints in his notebook
(Pothi). The Pothi was passed on to the
second Guru (Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji) and
then to the third Guru (Sri Guru Amar
Das Ji). Sri Guru Amar Das got it prepared
under his personal supervision, through
his Grandson Sahansar Ran, four Pothis,
which came in possession of Baba Mohan
and were known as the Pothis of Baba Mohan.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji collected these Pothis
and complied them into the Adi Granth.
The compilcation was over in 1601 and
editing was completed in 1604 A.D. Guru
Arjan Dev Ji gave the copy to Bhai Bano
for binding. He took it to Lahore and
on the way prepared a copy. This is known
as Bhai Bano's copy.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji got
the original after binding. Guru Arjan
Dev Ji installed the Holy Book at Harmander
Sahib (Golden Temple) in 1604. Baba Buddha
was appointed as its first Granthi.
For nearly 200 years, all copies of the
Guru Granth Sahib were carefully written
out by hand. In 1852, copies of the Guru
Granth Sahib Ji were printed out for the
first time.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Ji is an enormous volume of 1,430 large
size printed pages in a script called
Gurmukhi. Each printed copy is identical.
The style of language used is poetry,
but there are many forms of versification.
The hymns are not arranged by subject
or author, but divided into 31 ragas (musical
measures) which they are meant to be sung.
At the beginning and at the end, however,
there are small sections of devotional
readings from morning and evening services.
These provide an epilogue to a complete
reading of the scripture, and are meant
for recitation only.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Ji contains compositions of the first
five Gurus, the ninth Guru, and fifteen
Bhagats. (Jai Dev, Nam Dev, Trilochan,
Parmanand, Sadna, Ramanand, Beni, Dhanna,
Pipa, Sain, Kabir, Ravidas, Farid, Surday,
Bhikhan) and eleven Bhatts (Mathra, Jalap,
Harbans, Talya, Bhal, Kulh Sahar, Nal,
Kirat, Gayand, Sadrang).
|
