Guru Granth Sahib the holy book of Sikhs contains the scriptures of the Sikhs. This holy compilation comprises of hymns and prayers which contains the actual teachings spoke by the Sikh Gurus. Also famed as Adi Granth, which contents are referred to as Gurbani and the individual hymn is called Shabad.
Dictation of Granth
Guru Arjan Dev ji undertook the significant task of compiling, collecting and scrutinizing the compositions and hymns of Guru Nanak dev ji and his predecessors. In this act of compiling he also included the hymns of other saints. Guru Arjan Dev ji invited followers and gurus of different sects to recite the hymns of their teachers. Guru Arjan Dev ji then from these teaching choose only those hymns which resonance the same emotions as he wanted to instill in his own community. After the selection all these hymns were dictated to the Bhai Gurudas guy who wrote to Granth Sahib.
Carrying the Granth
Once the compilation was done the Guru placed it at the famous Golden Temple. During the First Parkash was performed in the Golden Temple on August 30, 1640. At the same ceremony the Bhai Buddha was selected as the caretaker of the Granth Sahib. It was during this ceremony and bend before the collection acknowledging its higher authority of the bani. It was after this auspicious moment he decided never to sit at a level above the Granth Sahib. He also instituted as to the ways in which the daily public worship would be performed in the temple. Following his guidance the Granth are recited all day long with the stringed musical instruments.
According to legends the original Granth Sahib passed on from the Guru Arjan to Guru Hargobind and finally reached the hands of Dhir Mal grandson who kept the it with him forever. When Guru Gobind Singh ji sent some of his disciples to the descendants of Dhir Mal’s to restore the Granth . When they denied to return it. Guru Gobind Singh ji created the second version of Guru Granth Sahib in 1706. It is believed that during this process four hymns in the beginning for evening prayers were added and some authenticated writings were removed. Four copies of the auspicious Granth were made of which first was sent to the Harmandir Sahib, second to Anandpur, third to Patna and the fourth was kept at Nander.
