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 Guru
Granth Sahib is a Granth (book) originally
compiled by Fifth Guru and named as
Adi Granth, and later recompiled by
all the gurus that followed him. Guru
Granth Sahib was appointed as the Eleventh
Guru by Tenth Guru Guru Gobind Singh
ji. It is the ultimate teacher of the
sikhs. Sikh means disciple and Guru
means teacher.
According to Guru Gobind Singh's poet
Sainapat, Bhai Nand Lal and Dhadi Nath
Mal, all of who were present at Nander,
a day before the Guru's demise, the
sikhs enquired as to whom he was entrusting
his Khalsa. Bhai Nand Lal in Rahitnama
says the Guru replied he has three forms.
The first was nirgun or invisible, the
second was his word and the third was
sagun or the visible. After his physical
death his soul would be invisible. His
second form would be Adi Granth (not
Dasam Granth), "Dusar Rup Granthji
jan, Mera rup Granthji jan. Is men bhed
nahin kuchh man." The third sagun,
or visible rup was the Khalsa. He added
that he had bestowed his physical form
upon his khalsa. The Guru accompanied
by Khalsa went to the place where Adi
Granth had been installed. He opened
the holy book, placed five paise and
a coconut before it, bowed before it,
then went round the sacred scripture
five times, bowed every time, and declared
it as the Guru for all times to come.
Upto this time the holy book was called
Pothi Sahib. Gobind Singh named it Granth
consisting of two words, Gur and Ant
meaning eternal Guru. He asserted: "
In future whoever wishes to seek englightenment,
guidance and solace, let him read the
holy granth. This is your Guru for ever
and ever till eternity. " The Guru
said that he was entrusting the Khalsa
to the care of AkalPurukh (God). He
affirmed
Dusara rup Granth ji jan
Un ke ang mero kar man
Jo sikh gur darshan ki chah
Darshan karo granth ji ah.
Jo mam sath chaho kar bat
Granth ji parhe bichare sath.
jo muj bachan sunan ki chai
Granth ji parhe sune chit lae
mero rup Granth ji jan
Is men bhed nahin kuchh man
[The Granth is second
myself (Guru Granth, not Dasam Granth
which was compiled later by Bhai Mani
singh), It should be taken for me. A
Sikh who wants to see me, should have
a look at the Granth. One who wishes
to talk to me, should read the Granth
and think over it. One who is anxious
to listen to my talk, he should read
the Granth and listen to its recitation
with attention. Consider the Granth
as my ownself. Have not the least doubt
about it.]
Guru Gobind singh's last sermon (now
it is part of daily routine of Sikhs,
after Ardaas).
aagya bhai Akal ki Tabhi chalayo Panth,
Sab Sikhan ko hukum hai Guru Manyo Granth.
Guru Granth ji manyo pargat Guran ki
deh.
jo, prabh ko milna chahe khoj shabad
men le.
[Under orders of the Immortal
being the Panth was started. All the
Sikhs are enjoined to accept the Granth
as their Guru. Consider Guru Granth
as representing Guru's body. Those who
wish to meet God can find the way in
its hymns.]
Thus Eleventh Guru Granth Sahib ji were
born. Guru Granth has 1430 pages of
text in poetry form. The Guru Granth
is full of devotion, meditation, grace
of Guru and God. It includes hymns of
more then 20 Hindu and Muslim saints
of India. It is the only holy book in
world which was written by its founder
of religion. Bible was not written by
Christ, neither was Quran but Granth
was written by all Gurus, from Guru
Nanak to Guru Gobind. Guru Granth Sahib
also contains the hymns of famous saints
of their time (irrespective of caste,
creed, religion,etc).
Guru Gobind Singh wrote his own Granth,
which was called "Dasam Granth".
Bhai Mani Singh compiled and included
other work of Guru Gobind Singh in Dasam
Granth. Here is the comparison of both
granths. Guru Granth vs. Dasam Granth.
Adi Granth and Dasam Granth, a comparison:
similarity.
1. Both the granths have almost the
same number of printed pages of the
same size of the page and
similar type. The Guru Granth has 1430
pages
and Dasam Granth 1428.
2. Both belive in one supreme being,
a personal God, merciful and kind.
3. God is also all-pervading, unborn,
formless,
timeless.
4. Both lay emphasis on meditation
and repetition
of the Name to achieve salvation.
5. Both believe in the law of karma
and transmigration of soul.
6. Both have faith in Sacha Khand.
7. Both emphazie on the devotion to
the Guru, who is perfect man, but not
God.
8. Both rely on casteless and class
less society,
and equality between man and woman.
9. Both are in poetry and in Gurmukhi
script.
The difference between Guru Granth and
Dasam Granth.
The main difference between the two
is that of objective. The Guru Granth
aims at gaining peace of mind and complete
renunciation. The Dasam Granth believes
in a holy war (Dharma Yudh) against
tyranny and fanaticism.
God of Guru Granth is God of truth.
God of Dasam Granth is God of justice,
ready to strike at the tyrant, autocrat
and the despot.
The Guru Granth is full of devotion,
meditation, grace of Guru and God. The
Dasam granth depicts scenes of battles,
arms and weapons and intrigues of men
and women.
Guru Nanak's Japji and Guru Gobind singh's
Jap differ essentially. Japji believes
in God's Hukum. There is no such thing
in Gobind Singh's Jap.
According to Loehlin, the Guru Granth
may be compared to Temple and the Dasam
Granth to a fortress. (Loehlin pages
57-59)
Copyright © Harbans Singh "The
encyclopedia of Sikhism. "
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