Sikhism: The Eternal Guru - Sri Guru Granth Sahib

The Guru Granth Sahib or the Adi Granth is considered the living Guru and the supreme spiritual authority of the Sikh religion. Basically a collection of devotional hymns and poetry, the Granth Sahib lays down moral and ethical rules for development of the soul, spiritual salvation and unity with God. Since Sikhism shuns idol worship, Sikhs don't worship the Guru Granth Sahib as an idol but it is held in utmost respect for the writings of the Gurus it contains. The Guru Granth Sahib is perhaps the only Holy Scripture, which not only contains the works of its own religious founders but also writings of people from other faiths.

The holy book contains 5894 hymns. The number of stanzas, according to Pincott, is 15,575. 974 verses by the first Guru Nanak Dev, 62 by the second Guru, 907 by the third, 679 by the fourth, 2218 by the fifth, and 115 by the ninth. Among the remaining 922 hymns of bhagats, the highest number of hymns (541) is by Kabir.

Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru compiled the works of the preceding Gurus and his compilation was known as the Adi Granth. He installed the Holy Book at Harmandir Sahib in 1604. Baba Buddha was appointed as its first granthi or keeper. But it was Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru who did the final compilation and the Panth came to be known as the Khalsa Panth. Guru Gobind Singh also ended the physical lineage of the Gurus and proclaimed the holy book of the Sikhs, Shri Guru Granth Sahib as the final Guru.

This has been put forth in one of the verses, in an attempt to reveal the "form" of Shri Guru Granth Sahib, as the Guru personified:

Bani Guru, Guru Hai Bani

Wich Bani, Amrit Sare

(The Word is the Guru, Guru is the Word: Within the Word is the core of Purity or Truth)

An interesting fact related to the holy writings of the succeeding Gurus (except Guru Ram Dass) is that they all have signed as “Nanak” implying thereby the work of Guru Nanak himself in reverence to Guru Nanak Dev. Although the major contribution of the verses in Shri Guru Granth Sahib is by Guru Arjan Dev, yet almost the entire Gurbani is attributed to "Nanak".

However, verses by fifteen bhagats: Jai Dev, Nam Dev, Trilochan, Parmanand, Sadna, Ramanand, Beni, Dhanna, Pipa, Sain, Kabir, Ravidas, Farid, Surday, Bhikhan and eleven bhattas (Mathra, Jalap, Harbans, Talya, Salya, Bhal, Kulh Sahar, Nal, Kirat, Gayand, Sadrang), have the "signatures" of the respective authors.

Japuji Sahib is the first book of the holy Shri Guru Granth Sahib, containing only 41 verses. It is said that Guru Angad compiled the book when he was still known as Bhai Laihna. As per his master's orders, Guru Angad selected appropriate verses and gave Japuji Sahib its present form during the last decade of Guru Nanak's life.

To truly appreciate, one has to have some knowledge about Hinduism, India, Indian culture and history, a fairly good knowledge of Hindi and Gurmukhi, and most importantly a simple and open heart with willingness to be in line with the main inquiry of the Japuji Sahib - the Search for Truth.