Guru Manio Granth
By M.S. Aneja

THE book which contained the hymns of the first four Sikh Gurus, along with the hymns of some of the bhaktas, was in the custody of Baba Mohan, Guru Amardas’s son. Guru Arjan Dev recovered Mohan Pothi (which became the main source of hymns of earlier Sikh Gurus and some of the prominent saint-poets) from the Guru’s son. The vast project of collecting and selecting the hymns, compiling and writing the sacred volume was completed in the later half of August, 1604, when it was installed in Hari Mandir (The Golden Temple),Amritsar. Guru Arjan Dev who compiled the holy book named it Pothi Sahib. Bhai Gurdas served as an amanuensis to record the bani. Baba Buddha was the first person to hold the sacred office of Granthi (priest) of Hari Mandir, and custodian of the Holy Book.

Later, the sacred volume was edited by Guru Gobind Singh who added the hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The volume as it now stands (1430 pages) on completion in 1706, was bestowed the title of Guru by Guru Gobind Singh. He called it Guru Granth Sahib.

A mantra or chant of power, is an affirmation of faith like the Kalima of Islam, the Gayatri of Hinduism, the Om Padmane hum of Buddhism and similar creeds of other faiths. The fundamental creed of Sikhism that is embodied in the pages of the holy Granth Sahib, and which is enunciated at the opening (read or recited for invoking the blessings of God), in Mool Mantra (standing at the head of Jap Ji), is uncompromising monotheism: "Ik Onkar, Sat-nam, Karta Purukh, Nirbhao, Akal-moorat, Ajuni, Swe-Bhang, Gur-Prasad". The mantra is repeated 33 times in the Granth.

Most of the hymns in the Granth are by the Guru who compiled it and the rest by the other Gurus i.e. Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Angad Dev, Guru Amardas,Guru Ramdas, and Guru Tegh Bahadur and some by Hindu and Muslim saint-poets hailing from different parts of (medieval) India.

The Granth is written in Gurmukhi script. The saint-poets hailing from different regions employed the idiom and dialect of their areas. At places, in special context, the Yogic, Brahmanical or Muslim terminology predominates.

Every Sikh is expected to recite daily some selections from the scriptures, as a religious duty. Nit Nem. The hymns for daily recitation are — (morning): Jap Ji (Guru Nanak), Jaap Sahib (Guru Gobind Singh, Dasam Granth), evening: ten swaiyyas (Guru Gobind Singh, Dasam Granth) Sodar Rahiras (Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Amardas, Guru Arjan Dev) before retiring, at night: Sohila (Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Ramdas, Guru Arjan Dev).

The whole volume has been cast (except the Jap Ji and some verses towards the end of the Holy Book) into ragas or musical measures. Thirty-one ragas (Sri Rag, Majh, Gauri, Asa, Gujri.....) have been used in the book.

The holy Granth is the presiding presence whenever Sikhs gather to consider solemn issues concerning religion or the welfare of the community or to resolve some crisis. Thanksgiving for a joyous event or prayers for the peace of the departed are alike offered in its presence. No Sikh marriage can be sanctified without the chanting of the nuptial hymns (four verses) from the Granth. The theme of Lavan hymn (composed by Guru Ramdas) is the soul’s union with Over-Soul i.e. God.

One of the doctrines, held axiomatic among the Sikhs is the belief in the (sacred) Book as Guru. This is held firmly and irrevocably. Each morning and evening, towards the conclusion of congregational prayers, this belief is asserted in unison by chanting:

"Sabh Sikhan Ko Hukam hai Guru Manio Granth." Guru Gobind Singh’s (original) injunction to this effect, reads: "Akal-Purakh ke bachan siun Pragat chalaiyo Panth;/Sabh Sikhan Ko hukam hai...".