The Holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
The 10th Sikh Guru Sri Guru Govind Singh Sahib Ji, son of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji, born at Patna in Bihar on 22nd Dec 1666, who left for heavenly abode on 7th Oct 1708 at Nander in Maharastra (India), declared the highest venerable Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as “GURU” forever on 6th Oct. 1708 at Nander. The specific locality, where Sri Guru Govind Singh Ji, declared Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as Guru is called ‘ABCHAL NAGAR’. This is one of the 5th PANJ TAKHT, the most revered shrine of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, popularly known as ‘Takht Sri Sach Khand, Hazur Sahib ji.
The 5 Takht Sahibs:
- Takht Sri Sach Khand, Hazur Sahib ji
- Takht Sri Akaal Takht (Akaal bunga), Sri Harmandir sahib ji , Amritsar
- Takht Sri Keshgarh sahib ji , Anandpur
- Takht Sri Damdama sahib ji , Talwandi Saboki
- Takht Sri Patna sahib ji
THE MOST VENERABLE SRI GURU SAHIBANS:
- Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
- Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji
- Sri Guru Amar Das Ji
- Sri Guru Ram Das Ji
- Sant Sri Naam Dev ji
- Sri Guru Harigovind Ji
- Sri Guru Harirai Ji
- Sri Guru Hari Krishan Ji
- Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji
- Sri Guru Govind Singh Sahib Ji
Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji
The 10th Guru Sri Guru Govind Singh Sahib ji managed writing of present Guru Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji through Bhai Mani Singh ji at Talwandi, Saboki, District Bhatinda, Punjab during the period 17th January 1706 to 30th Oct 1706. The most revered Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is also called ‘Damdami Beed’. The Holy body of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji consists of 1430 Angas (Pages). The VANI i.e. preaching which find place in the most revered holy body of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji are poetical in form and arranged in various RAGAS prevalent at the contemporary period or earlier to that. The major Ragas are the following:
Japu Nisanu, Siriragu, Majh, Gauri, Asha, Gujari, Dev Gandhari, Bihagarha, Badhanshu, Sorathi, Dhanasari, Jaitsari, Todi, Bairarhi, Tilang, Soohi, Bilavalu, Gond, Ramkali, Nat Narain, Mali Gaura , Maru, Tukhari, Kedara, Bhairau, Basantu, Sarag, Malarh, Kanara, Kaliyan, Parbhati, Jaijawanti, Sahashkriti, Gatha, Funahe, Chaubole, Salok Bhagat Kabir Ji Ke , Salok Sheikh Farid Ji Ke, Savaiye, Ragmala etc.
Vani / Sabads of the following Sikh Guru Sahibans have find place in the Holy Guru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji:
Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji (Mahla 1) (958); Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji (Mahla 2) (62); Sri Guru Amar Das Ji (Mahla 3) (870); Sri Guru Ram Das Ji (Mahla 4) (638); Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Mahla 5) (2305); Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (Mahla 9) (59 Sabad and 56 Salokas); Sri Guru Govind Singh Ji (Mahla 10) (1 Salok)
Vani / Sabad/ Salokas/ Rhymes of the following Devotees (Bhaktas) have also been compiled in the Holy Guru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji:
Sant Kabir Ji (537 Salokas and Sabads); Sri Jaidev (2); Sri Trilochan Ji (4); Sri Dhannaji (3); Sant Sri Naam Dev ji (61); Sant Sri Parmanand ji (1); Sri Peepa ji(1); Baba Sunder ji (6); Sri Beni ji (3); Sri Bheekhan Ji (2); Sri Mardana ji (3); Sant Ravi Das ji (40); Sri Rai Balwand & Satadumi Ji (8); Sant Ramanand Ji (1); Sri Sadhna Ji (1); Bhakt Sur Das Ji (2); Seikh Farid Ji (123 Saloka and Sabad); Sri Sain Ji (1).
Sabad / Poetries of the following great poets have also been included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji:
Sri Kalay Ji (49); Sri Kalsahar Ji (4); Sri Keerat Ji (8); Sri Gayand Ji (5); Sri Jalan Ji (1); Sri Jalya Ji (1); Sri Jaalap Ji (4);
Sri Talya Ji (1); Sri Das Ji (14); Sri Nalya Ji (6); Sri Valya ji (5); Sri Bhalya Ji (1); Sri Bheekha Ji (2); Sri Mathura ji (10); Sri Salya Ji (3); Sri Sevak Ji (7); Sri Haribansh Ji (2).
The major languages which have been used in the holy body of Param Poojya Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji are Arbi, Turky, Prakrit, Old Punjabi (Gurumukhi), Farsi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Braj, Awadhi etc.
To be continued---------------------------------------------
(Courtesy -“Shri Guru Granth Sahib” – Hindi Sabdarth (Volume –I) (1989) Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiyala)