The Message Of Gurbani

Articles on Sikh religious literature and doctrines.

This book examines three closely related questions in the process of canon formation in the Sikh tradition: how the text of the Adi Granth came into being, the meaning of gurbani, and how the Adi Granth became the Guru Granth Sahib. The censure of scholarly research on the Adi Granth was closely related to the complex political situation of Punjab and brought the whole issue of academic freedom into sharper focus. This book addresses some of these issues from an academic perspective. The Adi Granth, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, means ‘first religious book’ (from the word ‘adi’ which means ‘first’ and ‘granth’ which means ‘religious book’). Sikhs normally refer to the Adi Granth as the Guru Granth Sahib to indicate a confession of faith in the scripture as Guru. The contents of the Adi Granth are commonly known as bani (utterance) or gurbani (the utterance of the Guru). The transcendental origin (or ontological status) of the hymns of the Adi Granth is termed dhur ki bani (utterance from the beginning). This particular understanding of revelation is based upon the doctrine of the sabad, or divine word, defined by Guru Nanak and the succeeding Gurus. This book also explores the revelation of the bani and its verbal expression, devotional music in the Sikh tradition, the role of the scripture in Sikh ceremonies, and the hymns of Guru Nanak and Guru Arjan.

In Volume Four of It Is The Same Light series (SGGS pages 601-800), author Daljit Singh Jawa continues to share the beauty of the SGGS with those who have limited familiarity with the language (Gurumukhi), history, or context. The following are some of the comments received on volume 1 of this series. This translation of Guru Granth Sahib is one of the best English translations in my view, as it is in simple understandable English, each shabads summary message is given, there is connection between the shabads to reveal continuity of thought process in Guru jis message. Thanks to S Daljit Singh ji for the great work which will benefit future generations understand Guru Jis message easily. -Amarjit Singh, M.D., University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York A monumental undertaking, reflecting a lifetime of devotion to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and to the scholarly study of its voluminous texts. Both its rendition of the original Gurmukhi script, with accompanying English transliteration, and its erudite commentary on each of the Granths many hymns mark this work as a stunning achievement which will benefit all serious students of the Sikh religion and of world religions in general. -Barry Crawford, Ph.D., Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas

This textbook gives an overview of the languages of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Gurmukhi script, its pronunciation, and grammar. Since grammar serves as an important tool for producing meaningful interpretations of Gurbani, this textbook seeks to introduce a basic approach for accessing the linguistics of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Contains 125 questions about Sikh religion. This book also features quotations from Guru Granth Sahib.

There has been a lack of understanding of the term ‘Ghar’ used extensively and prominently in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It is now, as a result of the path-breaking research by Dr Charan Kamal Singh, that the term ‘Ghar’ has been presented the way it has never been done so far. It is for the first time that ‘Ghar’ has been related to each and every sentence of Gurbani. And all types of ‘Ghar’ of ‘sabads’ as well as ‘chhants’ have been established. In addition to the term Ghar, the ambiguity surrounding the term ‘Rahao’ has also been cleared authentically for the first time. This all-inclusive book contains all the technicalities of ‘Ghar’ including numerical and grammatical aspects and presents the facts in a simple, understandable way. The book relates to all those who read Gurbani, who perform Gurbani Kirtan, who listen to Gurbani Kirtan, who do Sehaj Path and who do Nitnem. Thus, this significant book relates with one and all who follow Sri Guru Granth Sahib.