Guru Granth Shahib

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: The Eternal Guru of Sikhism

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, often referred to simply as the Guru Granth Sahib or Adi Granth, is the central religious scripture of Sikhism. Compiled by the Sikh Gurus themselves, it is revered not just as a holy book but as the eternal Guru or spiritual guide for Sikhs worldwide. This sacred scripture embodies the teachings, philosophy, and hymns (shabads) of Sikh Gurus and various saints and scholars from diverse spiritual traditions.

Historical Background

The compilation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji began with Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, who started the tradition of composing hymns known as Gurbani. Over time, succeeding Gurus contributed their teachings and compositions to this evolving scripture. The final compilation was completed by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru, in 1604 CE.

Structure and Content

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is structured into 1,430 pages (Angs), each page known as an Ang, with hymns organized according to musical measures (Ragas). It includes contributions not only from Sikh Gurus but also from Bhakti saints, Sufi poets, and Hindu saints, emphasizing the universality and inclusivity of its teachings.

The scripture is written in Gurmukhi script, a script developed by Guru Angad Dev Ji, the second Sikh Guru. It contains hymns in various languages, primarily Punjabi, but also including Sanskrit, Persian, and other dialects prevalent during its compilation.

Guru Granth Sahib was composed by seven Sikh Gurus:

Guru Nanak Dev,

Guru Angad Dev,

Guru Amar Das,

Guru Ram Das,

Guru Arjan Dev,

Guru Hargobind and

Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Guru Gobind Singh added 1 sloakh in mahala 9 Ang 1429. It also contains the traditions and teachings of Indian sants (saints), such as

Ravidas,

Ramananda,

Kabir and

Namdev among others, and two Muslim Sufi saints Bhagat Bhikan and Sheikh Farid.