SPIRITUAL JOURNEY FOR THE SOUL

The Guru Granth Sahib, also known as Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism. It is regarded by Sikhs as the final and eternal Guru, following the lineage of the ten human Gurus of the religion. The Guru Granth Sahib holds great reverence and plays a pivotal role in the lives of Sikhs.

The compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib began with the Adi Granth, which was completed in 1604 by Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru of Sikhism. The Adi Granth was installed inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, on September 1, 1604. Guru Arjan compiled hymns from previous Gurus, including Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das, and Guru Ram Das. He also included verses from enlightened Muslim and Hindu Bhagats and Bhatt Minstrels. Later, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, added the hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur to the Adi Granth, affirming it as his successor. This second rendition became known as the Guru Granth Sahib and is sometimes referred to as the Adi Granth as well.

The Guru Granth Sahib consists of 1,430 pages known as “angs” and contains 5,894 poetic compositions called “shabads.” These shabads are written in various languages, including Punjabi, Lahnda, regional Prakrits, Apabhramsa, Sanskrit, Hindi languages (Braj Bhasha, Bangru, Awadhi, Old Hindi), Bhojpuri, Sindhi, Bengali, Persian, and Arabic. The text is written in the Gurmukhi script, which is the script traditionally used for writing Punjabi. It is a combination of devanagari and takri scripts.

The Guru Granth Sahib is not just a collection of religious hymns but is considered the living Guru by Sikhs. Before his death, Guru Gobind Singh declared that there would be no more human Gurus and that the Guru Granth Sahib would serve as the eternal Guru for all time. Sikhs believe that the teachings and wisdom contained within the Guru Granth Sahib provide guidance for all aspects of life.

English

Hindi

French

Arabic

Urdu

Bengali

Korean

Japanese

Chinese

Persian

Swahili

Malaysian

Gujarati

Telugu

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German

Punjabi

Tamil

Pashto

Thai

Spanish

Nepali

Anand Karaj

Sidh Gosht

Soul Gutka {For Death Ceremony}



The scripture is highly respected, and Sikhs treat it with great reverence. It is often housed in a special room within a gurdwara, the Sikh place of worship, where it is placed on a canopied bed. When the Guru Granth Sahib is not being read or recited, it is ceremonially closed, and a prayer is said before it is put into “sukhasan,” a state of peaceful repose. It is kept under covers or blankets, and a soft light is kept on in its presence throughout the night.

When attending to the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhs follow certain protocols. Anyone taking responsibility for its care must bathe, wash their hair, and dress in clean clothing. They must cover their head, remove their shoes, and wash their hands and feet before touching or moving the Guru Granth Sahib. The formal prayer of Ardas is recited, and utmost care is taken to ensure that the sacred scripture never touches the ground.

The Guru Granth Sahib is not only a spiritual guide for Sikhs but also a source of inspiration, wisdom, and solace. It contains the words spoken by the Gurus, known as Gurbani, which means “from the Guru’s mouth.” Sikhs believe that the Guru Granth Sahib embodies the word of God and provides guidance for leading a righteous and fulfilling life. It is through the study, recitation, and understanding of the Guru Granth Sahib that Sikhs seek to connect with the divine and live in accordance with its teachings.

In conclusion, the Guru Granth Sahib is the central religious scripture of Sikhism and is regarded as the eternal Guru by Sikhs. It was compiled by Guru Arjan and later augmented by Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru Granth Sahib contains hymns and writings from various Sikh Gurus, enlightened Muslim and Hindu Bhagats, and Bhatt Minstrels. It is written in the Gurmukhi script and contains teachings that guide Sikhs in all aspects of life. The Guru Granth Sahib is treated with great respect and is considered the living Guru. It serves as a source of inspiration, wisdom, and divine guidance for Sikhs around the world.