Author: Darshan Singh
Several Contributors/
Translator(s)/ Editors(s): Darshan Singh
Publisher: Punjabi University
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 253
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8173809283
Description
Guru granth Sahib is the sacred book of the Sikhs. The word Granth comes from Sanskrit and it means a book as the Bible or the Quran. It is variously called Adi Granth [Primal scripture]. Granth Sahib [the holy Granth], or Guru Granth Sahib. Compared to the earlier great scriptures of the world it is relatively of recent origins. Guru Nanak the founder of the faith was born a little over five hundres years ago. He composed his sacred poetry in the prevalent Punjabi poetic forms under the divine inspiration as corroborated by the Bani itself and set them to classical Indian musical modes [Ragas] for the purpose of devotional singing. This sacred composition forms the nucleus of the future Sikh scripture.
The Granth Sahib thus prepared was installed at the place most suited to it. Harimandar Sahib, the central Sikh shrine on Bhadon vadi ekam Bikrami Sammat 1661. Bhai Buddha Ji, a most venerated primal figure of early Sikhism, was appointed as the first Granthi by Guru Arjan Dev. This solemn occasion is celebrated by the Sikhs as Parkash Divas year after Year. After the installation of Granth Sahib, Guru Arjan Dev and successor Gurus always took a lower place to sit and to retire for night in its presence. Guru Gobind Singh while staying at Talwandi Sabo [Damadamah Sahib] re-edited the Adi Granth, inserted four Sabads in the liturgical portion and also included the hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur at the appropriate place. Bhai Mani Singh a great exponent of the Sikh beliefs and most respected Sikh worked as amanuensis with Guru Gobind Singh. Baba Deep Singh another contemporary warrior Sikh saint prepared four copies of the re-edited sacred corpus to be installed at the sacred Takhats of the Khalsa Panth.
The essence of guru Granth Sahib consists in its being the vehicle of Divine revelation, a repository of spiritual wisdom suited to all times, climes and spaces. In the Sikh common parlance Guru Granth is regarded as Sabda-Avtara [Word incarnate]. The Word as Vehicle of Divine revelation has always been recognized as the spiritual guide. Guru Granth Sahib is Guru because its Divine knowledge leads to liberation if properly appropriated and interpreted in the individual and community life. Almost all the prominent Sikh interpreters have repeatedly emphasized this aspect of the Granth Sahib.
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
1. Inaugural Address: The Theory of the Name
-J.P.S. UBEROI
2. Key-Note Address: The Adi Granth: An Appreciation
- HARJEET SINGH GILL
3. The Making of Guru Granth Sahib
- J.S. GREWAL
4. Formation of Guru Granth Sahib
- BALWANT SINGH DHILLON
5. Sri Guru Granth Sahib: A Distinctive Holy Book
- JASWANT SINGH NEKI
6. Some Unique Features of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib
- WAZIR SINGH
7. Sri Guru Granth Sahib as the Living, Visible and Eternal Guru Granth Sahib
- HARNAM SINGH SHAN
8. Recent World Thought and Sri Guru Granth Sahib
- GURBHAGAT SINGH
9. Bhagat Bani in Guru Granth Sahib
- SHASHI BALA
10. Ethical Concerns of Guru Granth Sahib
- JASWINDER KAUR DHILLON
11. Raag Parbandh of Sri Guru Granth Sahib
-GURUNAM SINGH
12. Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Gender Discourse
- DEEPINDER JEET RANDHAWA
13. Guru Granth Sahib among the Sikh Diaspora
- DARSHAN S. TATLA
14. Scripture as a Generic Concept
-G. GISPERT SAUCH, S.J
15. Guru Granth Sahib and the Vedas
- N.S.S. RAMAN
16. Guru Granth Sahib and the Vedas
- BRAHMACHARI SURENDRA Kumar
17. A Study of Sikhism in Buddhistic Perspective with particular reference to the Guru Granth and the Tipitaka
- SANGHASEN SINGH
18. The Holy Qur’an and Sri Guru Granth Sahib: Similarities and Distinctions
- I.H. AZAD FARUQI
19. Guru Granth Sahib: A Muslim Perception
-AKHTARUL WASEY
20. Guru Granth Sahib and the Tamil Prabandhas
- N. MUTHU MOHAN
Contributors