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Sikhism - An Introduction: The Guru Granth Sahib

by Owen Cole

This collection of hymns or shabads is the main scripture of the Sikhs and the focus of their worship. Printed versions are commonly used nowadays and are 1430 pages in length. The origins of the Guru Granth Sahib lie in the pothis or collections of the compositions, firstly of Guru Nanak and then of his three successors. These were finally put together under the instruction and supervision of the fifth Guru (Arjan), with Bhai Gurdas acting as amanuensis, and were formally installed in 1604. It was known as the Adi Granth until the tenth Guru (Gobind Singh) added to it the compositions of his father Guru Tegh Bahadur and installed it as Guru in 1708, shortly before his death. It is divided into three sections of unequal length, pages 1 to 13, 14 to 1353, and a short epilogue from 1353 to 1430. In addition to the bani of six Gurus there are compositions by non-Sikh writers; these are known as the bhagat bani and are spread throughout the book.

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