Adi Granth

Earlier known as Adi Granth, Guru Granth Sahib is written in the Gurmukhi script. Ādi Granth was primarily written by Bhai Gurdas ji, under the supervision of Arjan Dev ji, between the years 1603 and 1604. When Guru Arjun dev ji first completed the Adi Granth, they placed it upon their own bed and slept on the floor. The sacred script was written without any spaces or breaks. However, the original volume was burned by Ahmad Shah Durrani's army in 1757, when they burned the whole town of Kartarpur.

Gurū Granth Sāhib ji was again compiled by Guru Gobind Singh ji, the tenth Guru of the sikhs in the year 1678. Guruji dictated all the bani to Bhai Mani Singh who recorded the bani on the paper. It consists of the original Ādi Granth along with the addition of Teg Bahadur's hymns. Thus Guru Gobind Singh Ji did not included his own bani (shabads) in Guru Granth Sahib Ji instead, he placed them in a separate Granth, the 'Dasam Granth'. Thus, Dasam Granth is not revered as Guru. It was decreed (announced ) by Gobind Singh ji, that Guru Granth Sahib Ji is to be considered as the eternal guru of all Sikh. Though, this is not mentioned either in 'Guru Granth Sahib' or in 'Dasam Granth'.

The first hukamnama of guru granth sahib ji was "Sabb sikkhan kō hukam hai gurū mānyō granth"

Printing

The printing of Guru Granth Sahib is done in Amritsar by officially appointed Sikhs. These are printed world wide under strict code of conduct. Before the twentieth century, Guru Granth Sahib was only hand written and was first printed in the year 1864, in the basement of the Gurdwara Ramsar in Amritsar.

Recitation

Guru Granth Sahib ji is always placed at some raised platform, known as Takht (throne). The Guru Granth is given the greatest respect and honour. Sikhs cover their heads and remove their shoes in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib ji. Guru Granth sahib ji is normally carried on the head as a sign of respect. It is waved upon by a chaur (sort of fan) which is made of fine material and a canopy is always placed over it. The devotees bow before the Guru as a sign of respect.

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Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Guru Granth Sahib Ji, earlier known as Adi Granth, is the 'eleventh guru' of the sikhs. The holy script was compiled by sikh gurus from 1469 to 1708, containing the text of text of 1430 angs (pages). The Divinity ( Faiths and belief systems ) of our gurus is mentioned in our eternal sikh scripture called Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, the living Guru. This not only explains us about the pure lives lived by our great gurus, but also explains that how pure our life can be that leads to moksha. All the text mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib Ji is known as 'Gurbani', which is also known as 'Dhur ki bani', which means 'words of God'.

Guru granth sahib contains the hymns of all the nine gurus along with the traditions and teachings of fifteen other sants (saints) such as Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, Sheikh Farid and several others. There are 31 main rāgs within the Gurū Granth Sāhib. The granth further comprises over 5000 śabads or hymns. Guru Granth Sahib was given the Guruship by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in the year 1708. Guru Gobind Singh ji said that before his demise, the Sikhs were to treat the Granth Sahib as their next Guru. Guru Ji said – “Sab Sikhan ko hokam hai Guru Manyo Granth” meaning “All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as Guru”

In the staring we have the Mūl Mantra, an iconic verse created by guru Nanak,

' Ik ōankār sat nām kartā purkh nirbha'u nirvair akāl mūrat ajūnī saibhan gur prasād '

which says there is ' One Universal Creator God, The Name Is Truth, Creative Being Personified, No Fear, No Hatred, Image Of The Timeless One, Beyond Birth, Self Existent, By Guru's Grace.'

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