View source for Religion:Sikh scriptures

{{Short description|Holy books of an Indian religion}}
The principal '''Sikh scripture''' is the Adi Granth (First Scripture), more commonly called the Guru Granth Sahib. The second most important scripture of the Sikhs is the Dasam Granth. Both of these consist of text which was written or authorised by the [[Biography:Sikh gurus|Sikh Gurus]].

Within Sikhism the Sri Guru Granth Sahib or Adi Granth is more than just a scripture. Sikhs consider this Granth (''holy book'') to be a living Guru. The holy text spans 1430 pages and contains the actual words spoken by the Gurus of the Sikh religion  and the words of various other Saints from other religions including Hinduism and Islam.

== Terminology ==

=== Bir ===
The word 'bir' ({{Lang-pa|ਬੀੜ|translit=Bīṛa|label=Gurmukhi}}; alternatively spelt as 'birh') in Sikhism refers to a complete volume of a Sikh scripture as an individual corpus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nabha |first=Kahn Singh |date=April 1930 |title=Mahan Kosh |url=https://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.dictionary |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=Sri Granth (Mahan Kosh Encyclopedia, Gurbani Dictionaries and Punjabi/English Dictionaries) |quote=(1) n.f. same as ਬੀਹੜ reserve forest or pasture; a volume or recension (of Sikh scripture), corpus of Guru Granth Sahib. (2) v. imperative form of ਬੀੜਨਾ fix, lay.}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Harbans |title=Encyclopedia of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala |year=2002 |edition=4th |volume=1: A-D |pages=374 |quote=BIR, a term used for a recension or copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, is derived from Skt. [Sanskrit] verb ''vid''. meaning "to make strong or firm, strengthen, fasten, or to be strong, firm or hard." The Punjabi verb ''birana'' which means "to fix, bind or fasten (something) firmly, or to lay (a gun)" is from the same root. Guru Arjan having compiled the Holy Book deputed one of his leading disciples, Bhai Banno, to go and get the volume bound in Lahore, perhaps because facilities for proper binding did not then exist at Amritsar. Bhai Banno utilized the opportunity to have another copy transcribed and he got both volumes "fastened and bound." These bound copies came to be called the Adi Bir and Bhai Bannovali Bir. Further copies made from these two recensions were also called birs. For birs (recensions) of Sikh Scripture, see SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB. The word bir in Punjabi is also used for reserved forest or village land set aside as common pasture.}}</ref> The term "Bir" is dervied from the Sanskrit verb ''vīḍ'' which means "to make strong or firm, strengthen, fasten, or to be strong, firm or hard."<ref name=":0" /> The first birs in Sikh history were the Kartarpuri Bir (also known as the Adi Bir, meaning "first corpus") and the Bhai Bhanno Bir.<ref name=":0" /> Copies of these corpuses are also referred to as "Birs".<ref name=":0" />

=== Pothi ===
[[File:Palm-leaf manuscript (pothi) attributed to Guru Nanak and claimed to have been compiled and authored by him.jpg|thumb|Palm-leaf manuscript (''pothi'') attributed to Guru Nanak and claimed to have been compiled and authored by him]]The word 'pothi' ({{Lang-pa|ਪੋਥੀ|translit=Pōthī|label=Gurmukhi}}) originally meant 'book' in Old Punjabi (cognate to 'pustak' in Hindi, with both derviving from the Sanskrit word pustaka).<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Harbans |title=Encyclopedia of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala |year=2011 |edition=3rd |volume=3: M-R |pages=348 |quote=POTHI, popular Punjabi form of the Sanskrit ''pustaka'' (book), derived from the root ''pust'' (to bind) via the Pali ''potthaka'' and Prakrit ''puttha''. Besides Punjabi, the word ''pothi'' meaning a book is current in Maithili, Bhojpuri and Marathi languages as well. Among the Sikhs, however, pothi signifies a sacred book, especially one containing gurbani or scriptural texts and of a moderate size, generally larger than a gutka but smaller than the Adi Granth, although the word is used even for the latter in the index of the original recension prepared by Guru Arjan and preserved at Kartarpur, near Jalandhar. In ''Puratan Janam Sakhi'', the earliest-known life story of Guru Nanak, the book of hymns which he gave to his successor, Guru Angad, is called pothi. Guru Arjan, Nanak V, probaly [sic] alluding to the Adi Granth pronounces pothi to be "the abode of God" for it contains "complete knowledge of God" (GG, 1226). At several places in the Guru Granth Sahib, pothi refers to sacred books of the Hindus as distinguished from those of the Muslims for which the words used are kateb and Qur'an.}}</ref> However, amongst Sikhs the term evolved to refer to a sacred book, especially one containing Gurbani or scriptural texts and of a moderate size.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Harjinder |date=12 September 2022 |title=From Pothi to Guru Granth Sahib: The Perfect-Genius of Guru Arjan Sahib |url=https://sikhri.org/articles/from-pothi-to-guru-granth-sahib |website=Sikh Research Institute |quote=The collection of those Sabads was safeguarded in the Pothi by each Guru and handed over to the next Guru, who added more sabads. In Indic tradition, even today, Pothi refers to a text, manuscript, or book. ... Guru Arjan Sahib collected all the Pothis and initiated the definitive anthology. It was commenced in 1604. It is also known as Adi Granth or Kartarpuri Bir. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib added the sabads of Guru Teghbahadar Sahib and elevated its status to Guru Granth Sahib in 1708. It is also known as Damdami Bir.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mahan Kosh Encyclopedia, Gurbani Dictionaries and Punjabi/English Dictionaries |url=https://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.dictionary |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=Sri Granth |quote=SGGS Gurmukhi/Hindi to Punjabi-English/Hindi Dictionary<br />Pothī. ਗ੍ਰੰਥ, ਪੁਸਤਕ, ਧਾਰਮਕ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ। book, sacred book. ਉਦਾਹਰਨ: ਪੋਥੀ ਪੁਰਾਣੁ ਕਮਾਈਐ ॥ Raga Sireeraag 1, 33, 2:1 (P: 25).<br /><br />SGGS Gurmukhi-English Dictionary<br />[P. n.] The book, religious text<br />SGGS Gurmukhi-English Data provided by Harjinder Singh Gill, Santa Monica, CA, USA.<br /><br />English Translation<br />n.f. book, especially a sacred book.<br /><br />Mahan Kosh Encyclopedia<br /><br />ਨਾਮ/n. ਪੁਸ੍ਤਕ. ਕਿਤਾਬ. ਗ੍ਰੰਥ। 2. ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ.{1380} “ਪੋਥੀ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਕਾ ਥਾਨ.” (ਸਾਰ ਮਃ ੫).<br /><br />Footnotes:<br />{1380} ਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰ ਵਾਲੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੀਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਤਤਕਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ “ਪੋਥੀ” ਸ਼ਬਦ ਸਾਡੇ ਧਰਮਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਲਈ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਹੈ.}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Initially, the corpurses of the earlier Sikh gurus were termed as pothis rather than as birs.<ref name=":1" /> The literary corpus that Guru Nanak passed down to his successor, Guru Angad, is referred to as a pothi.<ref name=":1" />

=== Gutka ===
A gutka ({{Lang-pa|ਗੁਟਕਾ|translit=Guṭakā|label=Gurmukhi}}) is an extract of Gurbani, which is smaller in size in-comparison to a Pothi and contains lesser amounts of hymns or specific selections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nabha |first=Kahn Singh |date=April 1930 |title=Mahan Kosh |url=https://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.dictionary |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=Sri Granth – Mahan Kosh Encyclopedia, Gurbani Dictionaries and Punjabi/English Dictionaries |quote=English Translation: n.m. breviary, handbook of prayers; small wooden piece; cleat.<br /><br />Mahan Kosh Encyclopedia: ਸੰ. ਗੁਟਿਕਾ. ਨਾਮ/n. ਗੋਲੀ. ਵੱਟੀ। 2. ਤੰਤ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸਿੱਧਾਂ ਦੀ ਇੱਕ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਗੋਲੀ, ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਮੂੰਹ ਵਿੱਚ ਰੱਖਕੇ ਹਰ ਥਾਂ ਜਾਣ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਹੋਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ. ਮੰਤ੍ਰਵਟੀ. “ਗੁਟਕੇ ਬਲਕੈ ਬਹੁ ਉਡਜਾਵੈ.” (ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ੮੫) “ਗੁਟਕਾ ਮੁੰਹ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਇਕੈ ਦੇਸ ਦਿਸੰਤਰ ਜਾਇ ਖਲੋਵੈ.” (ਭਾਗੁ) 3. ਛੋਟੇ ਆਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਪੋਥੀ. ਜਿਵੇਂ- ਪਾਠ ਦਾ ਗੁਟਕਾ.}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Harbans |title=Encyclopedia of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala |year=2011 |edition=3rd |pages=217 |quote=GUTKA, a small-sized missal or breviary containing chosen hymns or ''banis'' from Sikh Scriptures. The etymology of the term gutka may be traced back to Sanskrit ''gud'' (to guard, preserve) or ''gunth'' (to enclose, envelop, surround, cover) through Pali ''gutti'' (keeping, guarding). A late-eighteenth-century scholar of Udasi sect spelt the word as ''gudhka''. It is obligatory for Sikhs to recite certain texts and prayers as part of their daily devotions. This led to the practice of writing them down in gutkas or ''pothis'' (larger in size than gutkas). Keeping or carrying of gutkas must have gained greater vogue among the Sikhs during the early eighteenth century when disturbed conditions forced them to be ever on the move. They kept them sheathed with their ''gatras'' or cross-belts as they rode out from place to place. Gutkas became really popular with the advent of the printing press and the rise of the Singh Sabha movement during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Various types of gutkas made their appearance. The most common were ''Nitnem'' gutkas, which contained ''banis'' meant to be recited daily, namely ''Japu'', ''Jaapu'', ''Savaiyye'', ''Anandu'' for the morning, ''Rahrasi'' and ''Benati Chaupai'' for the evening and ''Sohila'' at bedtime. Some also contained ''Shabad Hazare'', ''Asa ki Var'' and ''Sukhmani'', although the last two ''banis'' were also available in separate volumes. Another gutka which has gained currency under the title is ''Sundar Gutka'' containing besides all the above banis, compositions for occasional recitation such as ''Barah Maha'' (Twelve Months) and hymns appropriate to birth, marriage and funeral ceremonies and rites. The commonest script is Gurmukhi, although gutkas published in Devanagari and Persian scripts are also available.}}</ref> They became popularized in the 18th century, when state-enacted oppression of Sikhs forced them to be ever on the move and the portable nature of gutkas served well in this time.<ref name=":3" /> They became further hyped with the introduction of the printing press in the Punjab in the 19th century.<ref name=":3" />

=== Lakhri ===
The term 'Lakhri' referred to the scribe of manuscripts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Jasprit |date=10 October 2011 |title=To Give Our Past a Future |url=http://www.sikhfoundation.org/sikh-arts-heritage/to-give-our-past-a-future/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510031536/http://www.sikhfoundation.org/sikh-arts-heritage/to-give-our-past-a-future/ |archive-date=10 May 2017 |website=The Sikh Foundation International}}</ref>

== Language and script ==
The term used to label the language employed by the Sikh gurus in their compositions is ''[[Social:Sant Bhasha|Sant Bhasha]]'', a composite literary language of North India that borrows vocabulary from a variety of regional and historical lects.<ref>Songs of the Saints from the Adi Granth By Nirmal Dass.  Published by SUNY Press, 2000. {{ISBN|0-7914-4683-2}}, {{ISBN|978-0-7914-4683-6}}. Page 13. "Any attempt at translating songs from the Adi Granth certainly involves working not with one language, but several, along with dialectical differences.  The languages used by the saints range from Sanskrit; regional Prakrits; western, eastern and southern Apabhramsa; and Sahaskrit.  More particularly, we find sant bhasha, Marathi, Old Hindi, central and Lehndi Panjabi, Sindhi and Persian. There are also many dialects deployed, such as Purbi Marwari, Bangru, Dakhni, Malwai, and Awadhi."</ref><ref>History of Punjabi Literature by Surindar Singh Kohli. Page 48. Published by National Book, 1993. {{ISBN|81-7116-141-3}}, {{ISBN|978-81-7116-141-6}}. "When we go through the hymns and compositions of the Guru written in Sant Bhasha (saint- language), it appears that some Indian saint of 16th century".</ref><ref>The making of Sikh scripture by Gurinder Singh Mann. Published by Oxford University Press US, 2001. {{ISBN|0-19-513024-3}}, {{ISBN|978-0-19-513024-9}} Page 5. "The language of the hymns recorded in the Adi Granth has been called "Sant Bhasha," a kind of lingua franca used by the medieval saint-poets of northern India. But the broad range of contributors to the text produced a complex mix of regional dialects."</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Deol |first=Harnik |url=http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/1443/1/U093328.pdf |title=Religion and Nationalism in India:The Case of Punjab, 1960 -1990 |year=2012 |pages=48 |quote=Remarkably, neither is the Qur'an written in Urdu language, nor are the Hindu scriptures written in Hindi, whereas the compositions in the Sikh holy scripture, Adi Granth, are a melange of various dialects, often coalesced under the generic title of Sant Bhasha.}}</ref>

Guru Arjan decided to employ the Gurmukhi script of his predecessors when he compiled the Adi Granth.<ref name=":2" /> Kavi Santokh Singh, in his ''Suraj Prakash'', explains the reasonings for why he did so as follows:<ref name=":2" />

{{Blockquote|text=In a perfect state of oneness, the Guru called Gurdas in his presence.

Seating him close by, [the Guru] voiced the purpose: “Bhai, listen to our hope.3

Create cohesive benevolent Grinth [Braj form of 'Granth']-Anthology in the Gurmukhi [alphabets].

In Patti composed by revered Nanak, beautiful are the thirty-five [alphabets].4

Scribe the entire Gurbani in them; it is very easy to study them.
Those graced with great intellect shall practice it to learn.5

They will study and reflect for many years, then they may realize the essence.
With heart filled with devotion, scribe that essence in Gurmukhi with ease.6

Intellectuals can scribe it in Sanskrit and [Perso-Arabic] language of the Turks.
It will spread all over quickly as the oil over water.7

Householders [busy] earning have less wisdom;
those seeking education can study it with ease.
The great pathway will be revealed, and those treading it will never go astray any time.8

Therefore, scribe them in Gurmukhi alphabets; it will be availed in the whole world.
Devoted ones will study with ease; they will realize freedom is in Hari-1’s [Guru
Nanak] remembrance.9

Their greatness is very beautiful; Gurmukhi’s identity will be known in the world.
Ones who will witness, study, and scribe will respect it,
ones who acknowledge it as the eliminator of sins-transgressions will love it.”10|author=Kavi Santokh Singh|title=''Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth'' (Ras 3, Adhiai 41)|source=}}

== History ==
Starting with the founder of the faith, Guru Nanak, sacred compositions recorded and devised by Sikhs were kept in a pothi.<ref name=":2" /> Guru Nanak would pass his personal pothi down to his successor, Guru Angad, who would himself pass it down to his successor and so-on and so-forth.<ref name=":2" /> Eventually, Guru Arjan collected the scattered pothis linked to his predecessors and published the Adi Granth in 1604, assisted in his endeavor by Bhai Gurdas acting as the scribe.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last1=Nayar |first1=Kamala Elizabeth |title=The Sikh View on Happiness: Guru Arjan's Sukhmani |last2=Sandhu |first2=Jaswinder Singh |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2020 |isbn=9781350139893 |edition=1st |pages=48–49}}</ref> The reason for him doing so has been said to have been that heretical sects, such as Minas, were using the pen-names of earlier Gurus and attempting to circulate their compositions as sanctified Sikh writings.<ref name=":2" /> Scholars Mandanjit Kaur and Piar Singh state the following regarding the motivations of the Guru for assembling an authoritative canonical text:<ref name=":2" />
{{Blockquote|text=Stray compilations of them [sabads] were in circulation. Conscious or unconscious interference in their text, often prompted by a desire to round off a word or a phrase or to regulate its metrical flow in accordance with the whim of the singer, was not an uncommon phenomenon. To check this, the need to place an authentic version of the bānī in the hands of the readers seemed paramount. The corpus of the bānī left by the third and the fourth Gurus, as also composed by Guru Arjun himself, had grown enormously. There was a need to regulate it, lest it should be lost. There was a danger of its being interpolated by imitators too. Guru Arjun, therefore, thought it fit to compile the whole corpus of gurubānī in a befitting way and, thus, leave behind himself an authorized version of the Sikh Scripture.|author=Mandanjit Kaur and Piar Singh|title=''Guru Arjan and His Sukhmani'' by Kapur Singh, introductory section}}[[File:Illustration of Guru Arjan with the Adi Granth before him from 'The Sikh Religion' (1909).jpg|thumb|Illustration of Guru Arjan with the ''Adi Granth'' before him from 'The Sikh Religion' (1909)]]Various recensions of the primary Sikh canon, the Guru Granth Sahib, are known aside from the two primary ones most recognized by Sikhs today (Kartarpuri and Damdami).<ref name=":4" /> The recension published by Guru Arjan in 1604 would come to be known as the Kartarpuri Bir (also known as the Adi Bir<ref name=":0" />).<ref name=":4" /> The original manuscript of the Kartarpuri Bir is preserved by the Sodhi family inhabiting Kartarpur, Jalandhar district.<ref name=":4" /> 

Another recension, known as the Bhai Banno Bir (also known as the Bhai Bhannowali Bir<ref name=":0" />), was also in circulation.<ref name=":4" /> The composition of this recension is traced back to 1604 by Bhai Banno, a prominent follower of the Guru, who prepared an unauthorized copy of the composition of Guru Arjan when the Guru asked him to get the leafs bound together into a manuscript at Lahore.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Clary, Randi Lynn. ''‘Sikhing’a husband: Bridal imagery and gender in Sikh scripture''. Rice University, 2003.</ref><ref>Singh, Pashaura. "Recent Research and Debates in Adi Granth Studies." ''Religion Compass'' 2.6 (2008): 1004-1020.</ref><ref>Zelliot, Eleanor. "The Medieval Bhakti Movement in History: An Essay on the Literature in English." ''Hinduism''. Brill, 1982. 143-168.</ref><ref>Singh, Pashaura. "Scriptural adaptation in the Adi granth." ''Journal of the American Academy of Religion'' 64.2 (1996): 337-357.</ref> Another view is that it was prepared in 1642 by a certain Banno of Khara Mangat (located in modern-day Gujrat district).<ref name=":4" /> This composition contains many extraneous, superfluous, and apocryphal writings, including sectoral Mina compositions and compositions of the female Bhakti saint, Mirabai.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Clary, Randi Lynn. ''‘Sikhing’a husband: Bridal imagery and gender in Sikh scripture''. Rice University, 2003.</ref><ref>Singh, Pashaura. "Recent Research and Debates in Adi Granth Studies." ''Religion Compass'' 2.6 (2008): 1004-1020.</ref><ref>Zelliot, Eleanor. "The Medieval Bhakti Movement in History: An Essay on the Literature in English." ''Hinduism''. Brill, 1982. 143-168.</ref><ref>Singh, Pashaura. "Scriptural adaptation in the Adi granth." ''Journal of the American Academy of Religion'' 64.2 (1996): 337-357.</ref>

There further existed a third recension, known as the Lahori Bir.<ref name=":4" /> The Lahori Bir was composed in around 1610 and was found in a shrine in Pakistan.<ref name=":4" /> The Lahori Bir is mostly similar to the sancitfied Kartarpuri Bir, however differences lay in the ordering of Bhagat (devotional poets) and Bhatt (bardic poets) compositions found at the end of the scripture.<ref name=":4" />

Guru Gobind Singh would later publish the Damdami recension (also spelt as 'Damdama') of the Adi Granth with Bhai Mani Singh acting as the scribe.<ref name=":2" /> The reason for him doing so has been said to be the unauthorized recensions of the Adi Granth scattered around, especially the Banno recension which contained unauthorized additions.<ref name=":4" /> This is the recension in-which the [[Religion:Guru Maneyo Granth|guruship]] was given to in 1708 and rechristened as the ''Guru Granth Sahib'', however the original Damdami manuscript was lost during the Vadda Ghalughara in 1762.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> Two exact copies of the Damdami recension, one manuscript dating to 1682 and the other dated to 1691, were kept at the [[Religion:Sikh Reference Library|Sikh Reference Library]] and are presumed to be lost forever after the library was burnt down by Indian forces during Operation Blue Star in 1984.<ref name=":4" />

== ''Shaant Ras'' (Essence of Peace) ==

=== Guru Granth Sahib ===
{{Main articles|Biography:Guru Granth Sahib}}

The principal Sikh scripture is the ''Adi Granth'' (First Scripture), more commonly called the ''[[Biography:Guru Granth Sahib|Guru Granth Sahib]]''. The Sikhs do not regard this as their "holy book" but as their perpetual and current "[[Biography:Guru|guru]]", guide or master. It was called ''Adi Granth'' until [[Biography:Guru Gobind Singh|Guru Gobind Singh]], the tenth and final guru in human form, conferred on it the title of the guru in 1708, after which it was called ''Sri Guru Granth Sahib'', or ''Guru Granth Sahib'' for short. The ''Granth'' has 1430 ''Ang Sahib'' (ang meaning limb since the Guru Granth Sahib is not a book but it is the eternal Guru for Sikhs) divided into 39 chapters. All copies are exactly alike. The Sikhs are forbidden from making any changes to the text within this scripture.

The ''Guru Granth Sahib'' was compiled by [[Biography:Guru Arjan|Guru Arjan]] Dev, the fifth guru of the Sikhs. The work of compilation was started in 1601 and finished in 1604. The Granth, called "Pothi Sahib" by Guru Arjan, was installed at Harmandir Sahib (House of God) with much celebration.

==== Authorship ====
The Guru Granth Sahib is widely accepted as containing the works of six [[Biography:Sikh gurus|Gurus]], fifteen Bhagats (devotional poets), elevent Bhatts (bardic poets), and four [[Religion:Gursikh|Gursikhs]] (devoted Sikhs).<ref name=":4" /> The SGPC version of the Guru Granth Sahib has the works of 6 Gurus while the Nihang version has the works of 7 gurus including one couplet by Guru Har Rai.{{Cn|date=June 2023}}

==== Sections ====
The Guru Granth Sahib can be divided into three main sections:<ref name=":4" />

# Introduction (pages 1–13): Containing in-sequence of appearance the ''Mul Mantar'', ''Japji'' (meaning "to meditate"), five hymns of ''So Dar'' (meaning "that gate") four hymns of ''So Purakh'' (meaning "that Being"), and five verses of the ''Sohila''.<ref name=":4" />
# ''Raga'' (pages 14–1353): This is the by-far the largest section, where compositions of the authors are ordered by traditional Indic musical modes, metres, or measures, known as ''[[Biology:Raga|ragas]]''.<ref name=":4" /> The chapters in this section begin with a verse by a Sikh guru and end with a verse of a Bhagat.<ref name=":4" /> Each raga chapter begins with shorter compositions and end with longer ones.<ref name=":4" /> The compositions of the Gurus are arranged by chronological order, with Guru Nanak's verses coming first, Guru Angad's second, and so forth.<ref name=":4" /> The Gurus are referred to as ''Mahala'' (house, palace, or vessel) in the headings, with Guru Nanak being referred to as the ''First Mahala'' (M.1) and so-on by order of guruship succession (Angad – M.2, Amar Das – M.3, Ram Das – M.4, Arjan Dev – M.5, Tegh Bahadur – M.9).<ref name=":4" />
# Conclusion (pages 1354–1430): Contains miscellaneous compositions and works that were left out of the earlier raga section, including individual works of Nanak, Amar Das, Arjan, Tegh Bahadur, [[Biography:Kabir|Kabir]], Farid, Kalh, Harbans, and Mathura.<ref name=":4" /> Contains the ''Mundavani'' (closing seal) and gratification couplet of Guru Arjan and after that is the controversial and much-debated ''[[Religion:Ragmala|Ragamala]]''.<ref name=":4" />

==== Japji Sahib ====
[[File:Japji Sahib section of a Guru Granth Sahib manuscript from Guru Ka Bagh, Banaras, now housed at Bhai Gurdas Library G.N.D.U. 01.jpg|thumb|Part of Japji Sahib, a section of a Guru Granth Sahib manuscript from Guru Ka Bagh, Banaras, now housed at Bhai Gurdas Library G.N.D.U.]]
''Japji Sahib'' is a Sikh prayer, that appears at the beginning of the ''[[Biography:Guru Granth Sahib|Guru Granth Sahib]]'' – the scripture and the eternal guru of the Sikhs. It was composed by [[Biography:Guru Nanak|Guru Nanak]], the founder of [[Religion:Sikhism|Sikhism]]. It begins with ''Mool Mantra'' and then follow 38 ''paudis'' (stanzas) and completed with a final ''Salok [[Biography:Guru Angad|by Guru Angad]]'' at the end of this composition. The 38 stanzas are in different poetic meters.

''Japji Sahib'' is the first composition of Guru Nanak, and is considered the comprehensive essence of [[Religion:Sikhism|Sikhism]]. Expansion and elaboration of ''Japji Sahib'' is the entire ''[[Biography:Guru Granth Sahib|Guru Granth Sahib]]''. It is first Bani in [[Religion:Nitnem|Nitnem]]. Notable is Guru Nanak's discourse on 'what is true worship' and what is the nature of God'. According to Christopher Shackle, it is designed for "individual meditative recitation" and as the first item of daily devotional prayer for the devout. It is a chant found in the morning and evening prayers in Sikh gurdwaras. It is also chanted in the Sikh tradition at the Khalsa initiation ceremony and during the [[Religion:Antam Sanskar|cremation]] ceremony.

===Bhai Gurdas Varan===
Varan Bhai Gurdas is the name given to the 40 varan (chapters) of writing by Bhai Gurdas. They have been referred to as the "Key to the Guru Granth Sahib" by Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh guru. He was the first scribe of [[Biography:Guru Granth Sahib|Guru Granth Sahib]] and a scholar of great repute. From his work, it is clear that he had mastery of various Indian languages and had studied many ancient Indian religious scriptures.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29703420 |title=The encyclopaedia of Sikhism |date=1992–1998 |publisher=Punjabi University |others=Harbans Singh |isbn=0-8364-2883-8 |volume=4 |location=Patiala |pages=411–412 |oclc=29703420}}</ref>

==== Languages ====

The following languages are found in this Granth:
*  [[Social:Punjabi language|Punjabi]] – many Sikh Gurus, Bhagat (saint) Sheikh Farid and others
*  [[Social:Sindhi language|Sindhi]] – Guru Arjan
*  [[Social:Sanskrit|Sanskrit]] – Guru Nanak, Guru Arjan and others
*  [[Social:Gujarati language|Gujarati]] and [[Social:Marathi language|Marathi]] – Bhagat Namdev and Trilochan
*  Western Hindi – Bhagat Kabir
*  Eastern Hindi – Court poets
*  Eastern Apabhramshas – Bhagat Jaidev
*  [[Social:Persian language|Persian]] and [[Social:Arabic|Arabic]] – Bhagat Namdev and Guru Nanak

The first published translation of the ''Guru Granth Sahib'' into Sindhi was done in 1959 by Jethanand B. Lalwani of Bharat Jivan Publications.  He used his entire personal savings and produced 500 copies. Lalwani later took out loans to make a reprint in 1963.

The knowledge that enshrines and illuminates ''[[Biography:Guru Granth Sahib|Guru Granth Sahib]]'' does not recommend translation; instead a direct learning connection with ''[[Biography:Guru Granth Sahib|Guru Granth Sahib]]'' is only advised. This recommendation reduces learner's bias through secondary translations and middle channels that could mislead a learners' journey.


== ''Bir Ras'' (Essence of War) ==

=== Dasam Granth ===
[[File:Page from the Bhai Mani Singh bir (manuscript) of the Dasam Granth dated to the early part of the 18th century.jpg|thumb|Page from the illuminated Bhai Mani Singh bir (manuscript) of the Dasam Granth dated to the early part of the 18th century]]

This is regarded as the second holiest book of the Sikhs and is called the ''[[Religion:Dasam Granth|Dasam Granth]]'' – the book of the tenth guru.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29703420 |title=The encyclopaedia of Sikhism |date=1992–1998 |publisher=Punjabi University |others=Harbans Singh |isbn=0-8364-2883-8 |volume=1 |location=Patiala |pages=514–532 |oclc=29703420}}</ref> The Granth was compiled three years after the guru's death and it was Mata Sundri, the widow of the guru, who asked Bhai Mani Singh, a contemporary of the guru, to collect all the hymns composed by the guru and prepare a Granth of the Guru. However, the narrative of Bhai Mani Singh being the collector and compiler of Guru Gobind Singh's writings is strongly based on a letter purported to be Bhai Mani Singh writing to Mata Sundari. The authenticity of this letter has been challenged by scholars like Rattan Singh Jaggi, who claim the writing style does not match Bhai Mani Singh's time period and the letter only surfaced in the 1920's.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rinehart |first=Robin |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/710992237 |title=Debating the Dasam Granth |date=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-984247-6 |page=39 |oclc=710992237}}</ref> It was completed in 1711. In its present form it contains 1428 pages and 16 chapters as listed below. The Nihang Dasam Granth contains 70 chapters.
* [[Religion:Jaap Sahib|Jaap]] ([[Philosophy:Meditation|meditation]])
* Bichitra Natak (autobiography of the Guru)
* Akal Ustat (praises of God)
* Chandi Charitar I & II (the character of goddess [[Religion:Chandi|Chandi]])
* Chandi di Var (a ballad to describe goddess [[Religion:Durga|Durga]])
* ''Gian Prabodh'' (the awakening of knowledge)
* ''Chaubis Avtar'' (24 incarnations of [[Religion:Vishnu|Vishnu]] ordered by Supreme God)
* Brahm Avtar (incarnation of [[Religion:Brahma|Brahma]])
* Rudar Avtar (incarnation of [[Religion:Shiva|Shiva]])
* Shabad Hazare (ten shabads)
* Swayyae (33 stanzas)
* Khalsa Mehma (the praises of the Khalsa)
* Shaster Nam Mala (a list of weapons)
* Triya Charitar (the character of humans whose fall in deeply and mentally sexual desire )
* [[Religion:Zafarnama (letter)|Zafarnamah]] (epistle of victory, a letter written to Emperor Aurangzeb)
* Hikayats (stories)

The following are the main [[Religion:Gurbani|banis]] regularly recited by devoted ''amritdhari'' Sikhs:

# Japji Sahib
# [[Religion:Jaap Sahib|Jaap Sahib]]
# [[Religion:Tav-Prasad Savaiye|Tav Prasad Savaiye]]
# [[Religion:Chaupai (Sikhism)|Chaupai Sahib]]
# [[Religion:Anand Sahib|Anand Sahib]]
# [[Religion:Rehras|Rehiraas Sahib]]
# Kirtan Sohila or Sohila Sahib

=== Sarbloh Granth ===
[[File:Sarbloh Granth page.jpg|thumb|Folio of an 18th-century handwritten [[Religion:Sarbloh Granth|Sarbloh Granth]] manuscript]]
{{Main articles|Religion:Sarbloh Granth}}
The Sarbloh Granth (Punjabi: ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ, ''sarabalŝha grantha'') also called Manglacharan Puran, is a voluminous book contains collections of various writings of Guru Gobind Singh, Poets and other Sikhs. Sarbloh Granth literally means ''"the Granth or Scripture of all-steel or iron"''. Khalsa Mahima is part of this Granth. This Granth contains hymns of greatness of Panth and Granth. Khalsa Mahima is authentic hymn of Guru Gobind Singh of this granth.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29703420 |title=The encyclopaedia of Sikhism |date=1992–1998 |publisher=Punjabi University |others=Harbans Singh |isbn=0-8364-2883-8 |volume=4 |location=Patiala |pages=57–58 |oclc=29703420}}</ref>

==== Languages ====
* Khadi boli
* [[Social:Konkani language|Konkani and Marathi]]
* [[Social:Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
* [[Social:Persian language|Persian]]
* Hyderabadi
*Brij
*Influence of Awadhi
*[[Social:Punjabi language|Panjabi]]
*Influence of [[Social:Urdu|Urdu]]
*[[Social:Persian language|Persian]]
*Influence of [[Social:Arabic|Arabic]]

== Conservation ==
[[File:Decorated page of the Dasam Granth from the Patna Sahib bir (manuscript) 03.jpg|thumb|Decorated page of the Dasam Granth from the Patna Sahib bir (manuscript)]]
Large amounts of historical Sikh scriptural manuscripts have been systematically "cremated" (burnt to destruction)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mann |first=Gurinder Singh |title=The Making of Sikh Scripture |publisher=Oxford Academic |year=2001 |pages=121–136 |chapter=8 The Guru Granth Sahib |quote=...all old manuscripts were sent to Goindval for “cremation” in the late 1980s}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1258082801 |title=Sikh art from the Kapany Collection |date=2021 |others=P. M. Taylor, Sonia Dhami, Sikh Foundation, National Museum of Natural History. Asian Cultural History Program |isbn=978-81-949691-2-9 |edition=First Indian |location=New Delhi, India |pages=296–302 |oclc=1258082801}}</ref> over the years at secretive ''‘Angitha Sahib’'' gurdwaras in Punjab and around India under the guise of ''[[Religion:Kar seva|kar seva]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dogra |first=Chander Suta |date=2013-05-27 |title=Endangered texts |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/endangered-texts/article4750493.ece |access-date=2023-01-08 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Saxena |first=Shivani |date=23 November 2014 |title=For 25 years, a gurdwara near Dehradun has been cremating old copies of sacred texts {{!}} Dehradun News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/for-25-years-a-gurdwara-near-dehradun-has-been-cremating-old-copies-of-sacred-texts/articleshow/45251949.cms |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> This practice is criticized for systematically destroying historical manuscripts rendering them unable to be researched, archived, repaired, or conserved for future generations. There have been instances of so-called ''Satkar Sabhas'' (or Satkar Committees) stealing historical manuscripts from their traditional custodians and refusing to return them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=I. P. |date=2020-08-17 |title=Satkaar committee took away 'bir' of Guru Granth Sahib brought from Pakistan in 1947 |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/satkaar-committee-took-away-bir-of-guru-granth-sahib-brought-from-pakistan-in-1947/articleshow/77587332.cms |access-date=2023-06-25 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=I.P. |date=2020-08-31 |title=Satkar Committee returns Bir taken away from former Khalsa college principal |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/satkar-committee-returns-bir-taken-away-from-former-khalsa-college-principal/articleshow/77840651.cms |access-date=2023-06-25 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Balwant |url=https://sikhinstitute.org/akal_takht08/balwasi.html |title=Sri Guru Granth Sahib And Sikh Society |date=November 2008 |publisher=Institute of Sikh Studies |quote=The persons who go to a dera are not allowed to perform ceremonies connected with marriage, death etc., by invoking Guru Granth Sahib. A sahejdhari Sarpanch of Shakarpura village in Haryana used to organize Akhand Path of Guru Granth Sahib every year. But last year (December, 2007), the ‘satkar sabha’ members threatened to forcibly take away the Guru Granth Sahib by disrupting the Akhand Path unless the Sarpanch accepted siropa. Instances are there when certain Gurdwaras did not give ‘Bir’ to dalit Sikhs to perform marriage or death ceremonies. The ‘Birs’ of Guru Granth Sahib are being removed from various public places, even from the houses of Sikhs under the pretext of non-observance of maryada. Large number of ‘Birs’ has been removed from various places in Madhya Pradesh. These ‘Sirs’ are being consigned to the almirahs in gurdwaras.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |others=Tribune News Service (T.N.S.) |date=6 July 2021 |title='Saroop' of Guru Granth Sahib forcibly taken away, SGPC files complaint against Satkar Committee members |work=The Tribune |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/saroop-of-guru-granth-sahib-forcibly-taken-away-sgpc-files-complaint-against-satkar-committee-members-279198}}</ref> The SGPC has been criticized for the poor "restoration" methods it has conducted on historical manuscripts of Sikh scriptures.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bagga |first=Neeraj |date=14 February 2018 |title=Bluestar: Expert wary of SGPC move to preserve 'saroop' of bir |work=The Tribune |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/bluestar-expert-wary-of-sgpc-move-to-preserve-saroop-of-bir-544087}}</ref>

=== Digitization ===
[[Panjab Digital Library]] in collaboration with the Nanakshahi Trust took up digitization of Sikh scriptures in 2003. Thousands of manuscripts have been digitized and are available online at Panjab Digital Library.

Digitization efforts which began in 2008 are also ongoing at the [[Religion:Sikh Reference Library|Sikh Reference Library]] to scan the scriptural manuscripts and other literature held within its collection.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Surjit |date=2017-09-24 |title=33 years after Operation Bluestar: Sikh reference library at Golden Temple thriving, and how |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/33-years-after-operation-bluestar-sikh-library-at-golden-temple-thriving-and-how/story-9zUn1i66gnArFwAF1lBE0L.html |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web |date=2018-06-06 |title=The missing chapter of 1984: Book by book, Sikh Reference Library struggles to restore glory |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/the-missing-chapter-of-1984-book-by-book-sikh-library-struggles-to-restore-glory/story-UR8vtp08NrjVpE8eK4ag0N.html |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=SinghStation |date=2018-01-15 |title=Literature at Sikh Reference Library to be Available Online soon |url=https://singhstation.net/2018/01/literature-sikh-reference-library-available-online-soon/ |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=SinghStation |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 6 September 2023, the SGPC announced plans to digitize Sikh literature and scriptures kept in the collection of Sri Guru Ramdas Library in Amritsar.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Amrik |date=6 September 2023 |title=SGPC decided to establish a press in America and print the holy images of Sri Guru Granth Sahib |url=https://www.punjabnewsexpress.com/punjab/news/sgpc-decided-to-establish-a-press-in-america-and-print-the-holy-images-of-sri-guru-granth-sahib-221221 |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Punjab News Express}}</ref> There are plans to make the digitized works available to the public on a website in the near future.<ref name=":32" />

== See also ==

* [[Social:Sant Bhasha|Sant Bhasha]]
* History of Dasam Granth
* Sikh architecture
* Sikh art and culture
* History of Sikhism
* [[Religion:Gurbani|Gurbani]]
* [[Religion:Nitnem|Nitnem]]
* Bhat Vahis
* [[Panjab Digital Library]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.sikhs.org/granth.htm www.sikhs.org]
* [http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/discourses-in-english/16516-kirtan-with-english-sub-titles-4.html Kirtan with English]
* [http://archimedespress.co.uk/books Sri Dasam Granth Sahib: Questions and Answers: The book on Sri Dasam Granth Sahib] 
* [http://www.panjabdigilib.org Panjab Digital Library]
* [http://www.gurbani.org Gurbani]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080306093437/http://www.gobindsadan.org/dasamgranth/library/1897_report/ Sri Dasam Granth Report & Contents]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080308095625/http://www.sridasamgranth.com/ Sri Dasam Granth Sahib ji Website]
* [http://gurugranthsahib.gurudwara.net Gurudwara.Net] Online Guru Granth Sahib with Hindi, Punjabi and English translation.
* [http://www.hrusa.org/advocacy/community-faith/sikh1.shtm www.hrusa.org]
* [https://www.bl.uk/sacred-texts/articles/sikh-prayer-and-worship The British Library: Discovering Sacred Texts - Sikhism]


[[Category:Sikh terminology]]

{{Sourceattribution|Sikh scriptures}}