Shri Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Scripture)

The central text of the Sikh religion - the Guru Granth Sahib - is a different kind of scripture. A number of features mark its distinctiveness among the scriptures of the world, including its style, content, history and authority.

One unique aspect of the Guru Granth Sahib relates to its historical development. Unlike the texts of most world religions, Sikh scripture was written and compiled by the prophets of the tradition.

In fact, the precedent of Sikh scriptural writing began with the founder and first Guru of the tradition - Guru Nanak (1469-1539). Nearly 1,000 of his compositions have been preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib, and to this day, some of his writings are included among the daily prayers of the Sikhs.

On the basis of references within the text and other early literature, traditional Sikh interpretations consider the scriptural writings to be revealed. For instance, one of Guru Nanak's compositions translates as: "I have spoken as You have caused me to speak." Another proclaims: "I express the speech of the Divine as it comes to me."

For Sikhs, these references serve as evidence of revelation and give the Guru Granth Sahib a level of Divine authority.

As the Sikh tradition developed over the 16th and 17th centuries, so did the scriptural corpus. Six of the 10 Gurus contributed to the canon, and in compiling the scriptures, the Gurus took an unprecedented step by collecting and including writings of religious thinkers from a variety of backgrounds (e.g., social, regional, professional).

These diverse backgrounds highlight the tradition's inclusive worldview. For example, the Guru Granth Sahib does not just include the compositions of the Sikh Gurus; it also contains the words of, for example, Sufi Muslims and 'low-caste' Hindus.

According to traditional interpretations, these writings share the same message, ideology and spirit expressed by the Sikh Gurus, and furthermore, their inclusion reflects the Sikh belief that anyone can experience the Divine, no matter their context or background.

The Guru Granth Sahib is written in a unique script - Gurmukhi - and incorporates a number of different languages, including Punjabi, Persian and Braj. Sikh traditions explain that these languages were purposefully selected to make the message more accessible - by using popular languages that diverse communities could understand, the Gurus created a scripture that catered to the masses.

Before he passed away in the early 18th century, the 10th and final living Sikh Guru - Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) - conferred the authority of the Sikh tradition to two distinct institutions: Guru Khalsa Panth and Guru Granth Sahib.

(The former [i.e., Guru Khalsa Panth], refers to the community of formally committed and initiated Sikhs, an institution to be discussed in a later essay.)

The elevation of the scripture to the status of Guru gave it a further level of authority. In addition to viewing it as Divine revelation, Sikhs also understand it as their complete, eternal, and infallible life-guide.

Another unique aspect of Sikh scripture relates to its content and style. The Guru Granth Sahib is comprised of poetry and music relating to Divine experiences; some compositions provide guidance for achieving these experiences, while others offer inspiration by expressing the bliss and satisfaction that comes with these experiences.

These poetic and musical expressions continue to serve as the centerpiece of Sikh public and private religiosity.

Individuals read and recite selections from the text on a daily basis, congregations gather and sing from the scripture collectively, and major life events (e.g., birth, marriage, death) are marked by ceremonies that center around the Guru Granth Sahib.

The lives of Sikhs, as well as the life of the Sikh community, revolve around their central text - the Guru Granth Sahib - a unique scripture that establishes and exemplifies foundational Sikh ideologies.

 

There is one God for all humanity.

God has no particular form, color, caste, gender, or language

All humans, men and women, are equal before God.

It is imperative to earn an honest living and share ones earnings with others

One should strive in their lives to realizing the spark of the divine within themselves.

Refraining from intoxicants (alcohol, tobacco, and drugs)

What Is SIKHISM ?

Sikhism is the fifth largest world religion with over 25 million devotees worldwide. It is a monotheistic religion founded in 1469, by Guru Nanak. It holds as its basic tenets, the equality of mankind, the equality of men and women, and the fundamental equality of all religions. Guru Nanak rejected idolatry and the caste system, and taught that there is a universal, genderless and formless God, who is accessible equally to all, irrespective of their race or religion.

Born in the Punjab region of South Asia, Guru Nanak travelled far during his lifetime and taught the principles that have become the core of Sikh belief. Everywhere he travelled, a community of disciples arose, called Sikhs. The term Sikh literally means a student or disciple.

Towards the end of his life, Guru Nanak nominated a successor to carry on his teachings. This successor, the second Guru of the Sikhs, in his turn nominated a successor towards the end of his life. The evolution of the religion continued in this manner for a period of about 200 years, with a succession of ten living Gurus from 1469 to 1708.

Guru Nanak and his successors wrote extensively, choosing spiritual poetry set to music as the primary form of disseminating their ideas. The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan, put together the complete set of writings of the Gurus in the form of the Adi Granth. In the Adi Granth, Guru Arjan also included the spiritual verse of many non-Sikhs as well, thereby firmly entrenching within Sikh ideology and practice Guru Nanak's philosophy of the universality of humanity.

The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, took the final steps in codifying Guru Nanak's ideology within Sikh practice. He gave instruction that after him, there would be no more living Gurus, that instead the Adi Granth would become the 'Guru' for the Sikhs. The word 'Guru' itself means spiritual teacher or guide, and after Guru Gobind Singh, the Adi Granth became the Guru Granth, and is revered by Sikhs as such.

Guru Gobind Singh also created the contemporary ceremony by which an individual is formally initiated within the Sikh faith. This ceremony, called the Amrit ceremony, first took place in 1699, under Guru Gobind Singh's direction, and Guru Gobind Singh, in an act of humility, asked his disciples to formally induct him also through this ceremony.

A Sikh who has undergone the Amrit ceremony is called an Amritdhari Sikh. Both men and women are inducted similarly through this ceremony. Once inducted, an Amritdhari Sikh also adopts Five Articles of Faith.