Every religion in the world has its own revered scripture and significance. However, the position of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is supreme and unique because no other scripture in the world has been bestowed with the status or title of Guru. Only Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji holds the exalted place of being the living Guru. Another great glory of this sacred scripture of Sikhism is that it provides guidance to the entire humanity.
If we briefly glance at the history of its compilation, we find that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the only scripture that was compiled under the personal supervision of the Fifth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Recognizing the need of the time, Guru Arjan Dev Ji undertook this divine task at the serene site of Sri Ramsar, Amritsar. The writing work of this great scripture was carried out by Bhai Gurdas Ji under Guru Sahib’s instructions. This sacred compilation was completed in Samvat 1661 (1604 CE). After its completion, the scripture was sent to Lahore for binding through Bhai Banno Ji.
Upon its return, Guru Arjan Dev Ji brought the bound volume of the sacred Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in the form of a Nagar Kirtan procession from Sri Ramsar Sahib to Sri Harmandir Sahib (Sri Darbar Sahib), Amritsar, on Bhadon Sudi 1, Samvat 1661. There, Baba Buddha Ji was appointed the first Granthi, and the first ceremonial installation (Parkash) of the sacred scripture took place. At that moment, Baba Buddha Ji opened the scripture and read the hukamnama (divine command), which was:
ਸੂਹੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫॥
ਸੰਤਾ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਜਿ ਆਪਿ ਖਲੋਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਕੰਮੁ ਕਰਾਵਣਿ ਆਇਆ ਰਾਮ॥
ਧਰਤਿ ਸੁਹਾਵੀ ਤਾਲੁ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਜਲੁ ਛਾਇਆ ਰਾਮ॥ (ਅੰਗ 783)
Later, the Tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, added the hymns of the Ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, through Bhai Mani Singh Ji, thus giving the scripture its complete form. In 1708 CE, before merging with the Divine at Nanded (Sri Hazur Sahib, Maharashtra), Guru Gobind Singh Ji bestowed Guruship upon the Shabad Guru — Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji — and instructed the Sikhs to accept it as their eternal Guru. Giani Gian Singh mentions in Panth Prakash:
ਆਗਿਆ ਭਈ ਅਕਾਲ ਕੀ ਤਬੈ ਚਲਾਯੋ ਪੰਥ।
ਸਭ ਸਿੱਖਨ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਾਨੀਓ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ॥
By bestowing Guruship upon Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Tenth Guru guided the Sikhs to shape their lives under the leadership of the Shabad Guru, and to serve humanity by practicing the eternal principles of Gurbani. In this way, both the worldly and spiritual life of Sikhs would be blessed. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji contains the sacred hymns of six Gurus, along with those of 15 Bhagats from different faiths, languages, and regions, 11 Bhatts, and other devoted Sikhs closely associated with the Gurus. The 31 ragas (musical measures) in which Gurbani is composed make this scripture not only spiritually profound but also musically unique and supreme.
The Bani (divine hymns) enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji embodies the spirit of unity, fraternity, and optimism. Rising above all racial prejudice, religious rigidity, and narrow-mindedness, it strings the whole of humanity into one garland. Through divine wisdom, the composers of Gurbani instilled virtues such as love, humility, patience, contentment, tolerance, simplicity, and self-confidence within mankind. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not only the eternal scripture of Sikhism but also provides spiritual and moral guidance to the entire humanity, inspiring people of all communities to renounce religious fanaticism, narrow thinking, and sectarianism, and to live together in harmony and brotherhood.
Gurpreet Singh Editor, Khalsa Akhbar
