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SIRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI |
An Everlasting Guru
Guru Granth Sahib is the scriptures of the Sikhs. No Sikh ceremony is
regarded as complete unless it is performed in the presence of Siri
Guru Granth Sahib Ji (‘the living voice of the Gurus’).
The Granth Sahib was written in Gurmukhi script and it contains the actual
words and verses as uttered by the Sikh Gurus. Initially known as the Adi
Granth, it was compiled by the fifth Siri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and installed in 1604, in
the Harimander Sahib (known as Golden Temple), Amritsar. The tenth Siri Guru Gobind Singh Ji added to the Adi Granth the
composition of his father, Siri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. It is
believed that four copies of the Granth Sahib were prepared; the first one was sent to the Harimander Sahib at Amritsar, the second to Anandpur, the third to Patna and the fourth
was kept by him at Nander. Guru Gobind Singh did not include his own verses in the Granth
due to his modesty and humility.
When Guru Gobind Singh ended the line of
living Sikh Gurus by raising the Adi Granth to the status of a permanent Guru and
renamed it Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He then commanded the Sikhs that it was to be
revered as the body and spirit of the Ten Gurus.
Every copy of Siri Guru Granth Sahib
Ji consists of 1430 pages. It contains the Banis (the sacred compositions) of the
first five Gurus and the ninth Guru as well as a number of passages of verses written by
several saints from Muslims, Hindus and even so called "untouchable". This was
done to demonstrate the Sikh respect for other saints and tolerance for all faiths.
Altogether, Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji includes 5894 Shabads (hymns or holy
verses) which are arranged in 31 Ragas (musical measures). The first verse is Mool Mantar (or Mantra), the Root Verse, followed by
daily prayer or Nitnem namely, Japji, Sodar and Kirtan
Sohila. The remaining verses have been arranged according to their individual musical
patterns or Ragas which began with Siri Raga and end with Jai-jiwanti.
Guru Granth Sahib is an anthology
of prayers and hymns. Most of the hymns are addressed to God and often describe the
devotee's condition: his aspirations and yearning, his agony in separation and his longing
to be with Lord. The subject of Guru Granth Sahib is truth: how to live a truthful
living, that is, an ultimate for an ideal person. As Siri Guru
NanaK Dev Ji states in the Mool Mantar, God is the
Ultimate Truth and one has to cultivate those qualities which are associated with him, in
order to like Him. The basic concept behind the hymns is that sacred music, when sung or
listened to with devotion and undivided attention, can link the individual's consciousness
with God. A mind may become stable and enjoy the peace of His divine Presence, as
listening to the hymns can exert a powerful influence on the mind and help to establish
its communion with God.
In Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji,
revelation and Raga go hand in hand. The Gurus
were emphatic about the religious value of sacred music or Kirtan
and stressed its continuous use, as source of divine joy and bliss. Sacred music is fine
art wedded closely to the spiritual theme. It is devotional music in praise of the Glory
of God conveyed by melody and rhythm. The goal or objective of Kirtan is to put the
individual soul in tune with God.
Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a book
of Revelation. It conveys the Word of the Master through His messengers on earth. It is
universal in its scope. The greatness of Guru Granth Sahib lies not only in its
being the holy scripture of the Sikhs but also in it being a general scripture available
to mankind, intended for everybody, everywhere.
The Granth also explains what Siri Guru
Nanak Dev Ji meant by a "perfect individual" or a Gurmukh.
It is a remarkable storehouse of spiritual knowledge and teachings. It does not preach any
rites or rituals but stresses meditation on the Name of God. Through its teachings, it can
enable men and women to lead a purposeful and rewarding life while being productive
members of a society. It seeks universal peace and the good of all mankind. Siri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji also stresses the democratic way of life and the equality of all
people. It teaches that we are Karm Yogis, that is, we reap what we sow. The
emphasis is on moral actions, noble living and working for the welfare of all people.
Respect and veneration for Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji does not imply idol worship,
but rather respect for a divine message, the ideas and ideals contained in the Sikh
scripture. Meditation on the True Word, Satnam or the Wonderful Enlightener, Waheguru,
or on any line of a verse in Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, may bring the true devotee
or disciple to be in tune with God.
by Dr. Pritam Singh Basic Facts & Figures about
Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Also see
Sikh Gurus
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