Transcript The Guru Granth Sahibji

The Guru
Granth
Sahibji
The Place of Scripture for Sikhs
• The written language of the Scriptures is Gurmukhi
(today this is a form of "old Punjabi").
• Sikhism has three main Scriptures:
The Guru Granth Sahib,
The Janamsakhis,
The Dasam Granth.
• The most important Scripture is the Guru Granth Sahib
- since this is the eternal Guru.
• The Dasam Granth is the "Tenth Collection" - the
compositions of the tenth Guru only.
• The Janamsakhis are the "birth testimonies" of Guru
Nanak - hagiography
• The Dasam Granth – Guru Gobind Singh’s
compositions, hence “Dasam” Granth
• Guru Gobind Singh’s teachings not in GGS
• Complied around 1734 – 26 years after his
death = authenticity?
• Not necessarily used in worship
The Importance of the Guru Granth
Sahib
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1st time hymns of Gurus, Hindu saints and Muslim saints collected together
Guru Arjan’s main source for the compilation is identified as the mohan pothi, that
is the Goindwal pothis or hymns.
mohan pothi included the works of the first three gurus: that is, Nanak, Angad and
Amar Das. The pothi (hymns) started by Guru Nanak was passed to each guru in
turn, this pothi is today known as the mohan pothi, it was recovered from Bhai
Mohan by Guru Arjan.
It also contained works from the Sant mystics, this non-Sikh material is known by
Sikhs as the bhagat bani - Kabir, Namdev, and Ravidas.
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Mohan was Guru Amardas’ son, after the death of the fourth guru, Ramdas, the
pothi (hymns) written by the four gurus fell into the hands of Bhai Mohan.
Scribe of the Adi Granth was Bhai Gurdas, Guru Arjan’s uncle.
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The first original Adi Granth was installed by Guru Arjan at Harmandir in 1604 CE.
Bhai Budha, a devout Sikh, was appointed as the first granthi of the temple
• No ceremony takes place without the Guru Granth Sahib
• Universal/tolerant nature of GGS
• Gurus not by name in GGS but M1, M2 etc.
• 3 different versions of the GGS;
(a) The original copy inscribed by Bhai Gurdas
(b) The Damdama version - the compositions of Guru Tegh
Bahadur wereadded to the original sometime in the
seventeenth century.
(c) Banno version - this also supplements the Kartarpur text.
A few hymns which had been crossed out by Guru Arjan
were included into this copy.
Guru Arjan declared this copy to be Khari-bir, that is, the
forbidden copy.
• Damdama version is used most often
• The GGs is the source and authority on Sikh
beliefs and philosophy
• Not worshipped
• Wherever installed becomes a Gurdwara
• 1430 pages
• Akhand path – 48 hours
• Sehaj path
• Not mass produced – utmost care
• Translated into many languages – gora Sikhs
• Utmost respect:
Chauri
higher level
Canopy
Carried on head
Rumalas
Resting place
Respect by bowing
Collection box
All signs of royalty
• Life cycle rites governed by Guru Granth
Sahib:
* Marriage service.
* Naming ceremony.
* All other Sikh rituals.
* New business.
* Some kind of trouble.
* Continuous reading for the akhand path. The
conclusion is called the bhog.
* Reading with breaks for the sahaj path.
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Not many homes have copy
Gutka’s instead - passages used in daily prayer
Woken up
Laid to rest at night
No priesthood – all can read, male and female
Guru Arjan writes:
“In the Platter (of this Book) are placed three
things - Truth, Contentment and Wisdom, And
also the Nectar-Name of the Lord, who is the
Support of all. He, who tastes this Fare, Relishes
it, and he is wholly Fulfilled”. (AG 1429)
Activity
1. Why do you think Guru Arjan found it necessary to
compile the Adi Granth?
2. Critically evaluate the belief of the one spirit being
eternally present in the Guru Granth Sahib.
3. Assess the importance of the Guru Granth Sahib as
the eternal Guru of the Sikhs
4. Why do you think the hymns of the lower caste saints
were included in the Adi Granth?
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