Shivanna - Shiva Puran
The Guru Granth Sahib is the central religious scripture of Sikhism and is regarded by Sikhs as the eternal, living Guru.
Origin and Compilation
– Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539), the founder of Sikhism, composed hymns that taught devotion to one God, equality, humility, and truthful living.
-These hymns were preserved and added to by successive Sikh Gurus.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji (5th Guru)
– In 1604, Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled the Sikh scriptures into a volume called the Adi Granth
- It included:
1.Hymns of the first five Sikh Gurus
2.Hymns of Bhagats and Sants (saints) from different backgrounds, such as Bhagat Kabir and Bhagat Ravidas
-This showed Sikhism’s emphasis on equality beyond caste, religion, and social status.
-The Adi Granth was installed at Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar.
Language and Structure
-Written in Gurmukhi script
– Composed in multiple languages and dialects, including:
– Organized by ragas (musical measures), emphasizing devotional singing (Kirtan)
-Contains 1,430 pages (Angs)
Core Teachings
The Guru Granth Sahib teaches:
– Belief in One Universal God
– Equality of all humans (no caste, gender, or religious discrimination)
– Honest living (Kirat Karni)
– Sharing with others (Vand Chakna)
– Remembrance of God (Naam Japna)
Respect and Practice
-Treated with the highest respect, like a living Guru
-Placed on a raised platform under a canopy
-Read daily in Gurdwaras worldwide
-Sikhs bow before it as a sign of humility and devotion
Significance
The Guru Granth Sahib is unique among world scriptures because:
– It includes writings from multiple faith traditions
– It is not just a book, but the spiritual guide and authority of Sikh life