What Is the Guru Granth Sahib? Why Is It Important For Sikhs, Who Wrote It First And History

Guru Granth Sahib is the foremost holy book of Sikhism. It is considered the sacred book not only because of being a religious scripture but also as a spiritual guide for all generations to come. It is a compilation of 1,430 pages of spiritual poetry and teachings about living an honest, kind, and God-fearing life. Awareness regarding its history, compilation, and authors will help in understanding its significance.

What Is The Guru Granth Sahib?

The Guru Granth Sahib is the foremost holy book of the Sikhs, written in Gurmukhi script and written in musical ragas. It acts as a guide to all aspects of human life, stressing the worship of the one supreme God, equality of men, selfless service, and abolition of the caste system.

Who Compiled The First Edition?

The original composition of the holy book was called the Adi Granth and was written by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the Fifth Sikh Guru, in 1604 CE. In order to keep the true messages of Sikhism pure and prevent any tampering, Guru Arjan gathered together all the hymns of the previous Gurus, along with his own writings. 

Guru Arjan gave the responsibility of writing down the text to the great scholar Bhai Gurdas. The book was later consecrated in the Golden Temple of Amritsar, where Baba Buddha Ji became its first Granthi.

ALSO READ- 80s Couple AI Photo Prompts: 5 ChatGPT Prompts To Create Vintage Retro Couple Pictures In 2026

Who Wrote The Hymns In It?

The Holy Book is an exceptional book of a universal nature, with contributions made by various authors, hailing from diverse locations and from different castes and religions:

• Six Sikh Gurus: Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Angad Dev Ji, Guru Amar Das Ji, Guru Ram Das Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, and Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

• Non-Sikh Bhagats and Saints: Spiritual men belonging to the Hindu and Muslim faiths, such as Bhagat Kabir, Bhagat Ravidas, Bhagat Namdev, and Sheikh Farid.

• Bhatts and Disciples: Verses composed by court poets and disciples of the Gurus.

The History And Final Standardisation

In the year 1708, the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, completed the holy book by including the hymns of his father, the Ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, at Damdama Sahib. Just before his death, Guru Gobind Singh declared that there would be no more human Gurus for the Sikhs, and this scripture would remain their permanent Guru.

Why Is It Important For Sikhs?

The scripture is revered by the Sikhs as the embodiment of divine wisdom. It represents human fraternity through its inclusion of works of saints belonging to lower castes and other religions. The scripture provides spiritual guidance to the Sikhs through daily recital (Gurbani).

ALSO READ- Lalbagh Raja First Look: Check Key Details, Pandal Design And More

Conclusion

The Guru Granth Sahib is truly a remarkable monument of spiritual harmony and divinity. Through its teachings of the Gurus and medieval saints, it has been able to illuminate millions of people across the globe since time immemorial.

Image credits: Freepik

To read more such stories, stay connected to Her Zindagi.