The Guru Granth Sahib contains the scriptures of the Sikhs.  No Sikh ceremony is regarded as complete unless it is performed in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib.  The Granth was written in Gurmukhi script and contains the actual words and versus as uttered by the Sikh Gurus.  Initially known as the Adi Granth, it was compiled by the fifth Guru Arjan and installed in 1604 in Sri Harmindar Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar.  The tenth Guru Gobind Singh added to the Adi Granth the composition of his father, Guru Teg Bahadur.  It is believed that four copies of the Granth Sahib were prepared, the first one was sent to Sri Harmindar Sahib at Amritsar, the second to Anandpur Sahib, the third to Patna Sahib and the fourth to Nander Sahib.  Guru Gobind Singh did not include his own verses in the Granth, owing to his modesty and humility.

When Guru Gobind Singh ended the line of the living Sikh Gurus by raising the Adi Granth to the status of permanent Guru he renamed it Guru Granth Sahib.  He commanded the Sikhs that it was to be the revered body and spirit of the ten Gurus.

Every copy of the Guru Granth Sahib consists of 1430 pages.  It contains the banis (sacred compositions) of the first five Gurus and the ninth Guru as well as a number of passages of verses written by several non-Sikh saints from Muslims, Hindus even so called "untouchable" castes. Altogether the Guru Granth Sahib includes 5894 shabads (hymns or holy verses) which are arranged in 31 ragas (musical measures).  The first verse is the Mool Mantra, followed by daily prayer or Nitnem namely, Japji, Sodar and Kirtan Sohila.  The renaming verses have been arranged according to their individual musical patters or ragas.

The Guru Granth Sahib is an anthology of prayers and hymns.  Most of the hymns are addressed to God and often describe devotee's condition: his aspirations and yearning, his agony in separation and his longing to be one with the Lord.  The subject of Guru Granth Sahib is truth: how to become 'a person of truth', that is, an ideal person.  As Guru Nanak states in the Mool Mantra, God is the ultimate truth and one has to cultivate those qualities which are associated with Him, in order to be like Him. The basic concept behind the hymns is that sacred music, when sung or listened to with devotion and undivided attention, can link that individual's consciousness with God.  A mind may become stable and enjoy the peace of his divine presence as listening to the hymns can exert a powerful influence on the mind and help to establish it communion with God.

In the Guru Granth Sahib revelation and raga go hand in hand. The Gurus were emphatic about the religious value of sacred music or kirtan and stressed its continuous use, as a source of divine joy joy and bliss.  Sacred music is fine art wedded closely to the spiritual theme.  It is devotional music in praise of the Glory of God conveyed by melody and rhythm.  The goal or objective of kirtan is to put the individual soul in tune with God.

The Guru Granth Sahib is a book of revelation.  It conveys the Word of the Master through his messenger on earth.  It is universal in it scope.  For Sikhs the greatness of Guru Granth Sahib lies not only in its being ther holy book but also in it being a general scripture intended for everybody, everywhere.

The Guru Granth Sahib also explains what Guru Nanak meant by a 'perfect individual' or a gurmukh.  It is a remarkble storehouse of spiritual knowledge and teachings which does not preach any rites or rituals but stresses meditation on the Name of God.  Through its teachings, it can enable men and woman to lead a purposeful and rewarding life while being members of society.  It seeks universal peace and the good of all mankind.  The Guru Granth Sahib also stresses the democratic way of life and equality of all people.  It teaches that we are karam yogis, that we reap what we sow.  The emphasis is on moral actions, noble living and working for the welfare of all people.  Respect and veneration for the Guru Granth Sahib does not imply idol worship, but rather respect for a divine message, the ideas and ideal contained in the Sikh scripture.  Meditation on the True Word, Satnam or the Wonderful Enlightener, Waheguru, or on any line of a verse in the Guru Granth Sahib, may bring the true devotee or disciple to be in tune with God.

Related Information:
Shri Guru Granth Sahib: Facts