The Guru of the Sikhs

Sri Guru Granth Sahib - the Eternal Guru of Sikhs

Sri Guru Granth Sahib [Punjabi (Gurmukhi): ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ], is the central religious scripture of Sikhism, considered by Sikhs to be the final, sovereign guru after the lineage of ten Gurus of the religion.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib at Harmander Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab

Sri Guru Granth Sahib is a voluminous text of 1430 Angs (pages), compiled and composed during the period of Sikh Gurus from 1469 to 1708 and is a collection of hymns (Shabad) or Baani describing the qualities of God and the necessity for meditation on God's Nām (holy name). 

The Origin

The origin of the Sikh scriptures lies in the hymns of its founder, Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji which were preserved by his successor, Guru Angad Devi ji.  The collection known as the "Pothi" was passed on to his successors and then handed over by the Third Guru's son Bhai Mohan to the fifth Guru, Arjan Dev ji.

The Original Pothi of Guru Nanak

The Adi Granth, the first rendition, was first compiled by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan (1563–1606), from hymns of the first five Sikh gurus and 15 other great saints, or bhagats, including thirteen Hindu and two Sufi saints. 

Original Adi Granth in possession of Sodhi Family

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru, added all 115 of Guru Tegh Bahadur's hymns to the Adi Granth, and this second rendition became known as Guru Granth Sahib. In 1708 Guru Gobind Singh conferred the title of "Guru of the Sikhs" upon the Adi Granth. The Sikhs since then have overwhelmingly accepted Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred book, as their eternal Guru. 

Preservation of Authenticity and Sanctity

Baba Deep Singh, the Head of reputed Damdami taksal was instructed by the Guru to preserve the authenticity of its content. Till now, each copy of Sri Guru Granth sahib is verified and signed by a representative of Damdami Taksal and carries its stamp as proof of authenticity. 

Stamp of Damdami Taksal on Sri Guru Granth Sahib

After the death of tenth Sikh Guru, Bhai Mani Singh prepared many copies of the work for distribution. For this monumental work, Bhai Mani Singh was executed by the Mughal rulers by chopping his limbs by each joint. 

Execution of Bhai Mani Singh by Mughal Rulers

Sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in 2015

Sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth sahib in Punjab

There has been a number of incidents in Punjab state in 2015, where the copies of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was desecrated by some unknown person(s) tearing its pages and spreading them all over the streets. This provocative action followed the disappearance of a copy of Sri Guru Granth sahib from a Gurdwara in rural Punjab. Some time later an inciting letter was posted on the wall of Sikh Gurdwara, challenging the Sikhs to rescue their  "Guru" from the possession of the "abductors". The letter clearly points to the culprits belonging to "Sauda Sadh" from Sirsa in Haryana.

Threatening letter by the followers of "Satguru Dera" of Sacha Sauda

This Sikhs across the globe have been incensed by this provocative action and have protested in Punjab by blocking roads peacefully demanding the government to find the culprits.

Missing the Point

In my humble opinion, both the Sikh protesters as well as the culprits who performed the sacrilegious act of tearing the pages of Guru Granth Sahib and scattering them on the streets; are missing the point.

The culprits have desecrated the paper on which Sri Guru Granth Sahib was printed. They have not ... and will never be able to desecrate the Guru of the Sikhs. Because the sanctity of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is not in the paper but in the wisdom contained in the message of Gurus, saints, and sufis. No act of sacrilege will ever be able to damage that wisdom. 

The concept of "Eternal Guru" was created by Guru Gobind Singh ji for this situation only - you can kill the "human" Guru, you can damage the pages of scriptures, but you will never be able to destroy the "Eternal Guru" of the Sikhs as it resides in the hearts of the Sikhs, and is indestructible.

Because, we, the Sikhs bow down to that wisdom of the Gurus enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and Not to the paper that contains it.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs