Not too many people around the world know much about Sikhism. Occasionally you see or hear about the turban-wearing Sikh men doing community services in various parts of the world, but rarely do we talk about their beliefs.
There are over 25 million Sikhs around the world and most of them live in the Punjab state of India. Punjab has historically been an important place for Sikhs. This is where their religion started, all the Sikh Gurus lived and all the holy places exist till date. Talking about the belief-system, The Guru Granth Sahib is the central scripture which offers great insights to the underlying philosophy of Sikhism. In this piece, we are going to discuss seven important aspects about The Guru Granth Sahib:
1. The word Guru is added in its title because Sikhs consider it to be the living Guru (teacher/guide). There were ten Gurus in Sikhism, and after they died, the high status was given to the holy book. Interestingly, it is treated like one too. It is placed on a throne, and when the recitation takes place, people sit below its level and give it the same respect as they would to a living Guru.
2. Interestingly, most Sikhs do not possess a copy of it. It is mostly recited in Gurudwaras (sikh temples). There is a lot of poetry in it and is best experienced in group chantings.
3. The holy book is a compilation of poetic texts written by many writers, including first five Sikh Gurus and even some non-Sikh writers from different castes. Some of these writers were Kabir Das, Ravi Das, Nam Dev.
4. Guru Arjun first installed the holy book in Harminder Sahib temple in Amritsar (India) in 1604. This is why, it’s perhaps the most sacred place for all Sikhs.
5. The Guru Granth Sahib is written in Punjabi language with Gurumukhi script. While the language is spoken in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, it’s been mostly the Sikhs who have kept the tradition of Gurumukhi script alive.
6. The foundational values of Sikhism (and therefore, its scripture) came from the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev. He believed in the oneness of God and was influenced by the Bhakti movement of Hinduism and Islamic Sufism. Thus, you find a poetic blend of various religions in the scripture. The addition of multiple writers from diverse backgrounds makes the text more inclusive.
7. The central message gets repeated throughout the holy book, which is to devote yourself to the service of God. A lot of stress is given on good deeds than any rituals. Below are the words of Guru Arjun which perfectly summarise the central message of Sikhism:
Of all religions, the best religion,
The purest deed, is repeating the Name of the Lord.
Of all rites, the holiest rite
Is cleansing oneself of evil in the company of saints;
Of all efforts, the finest effort
Is repeating the name of the Lord forever;
Of all speeches, the sweetest speech that transcends death is
Hearing and voicing the Lord’s glory:
Of all places, the best places,
Nanak, is the heart in which the Lord dwells.
Kalampedia 