Sikh history, fully sourced. Open to all
Sikh history, fully sourced. Open to all
Sikh history, fully sourced. Open to all
The Guru Granth Sahib is the central religious scripture of Sikhism, treated not as a historical document but as the eternal, living Guru — addressed with the same reverence a human Guru would receive. It is installed on a raised platform under a canopy in every Gurdwara, ceremonially opened each morning and closed each night, and approached with specific protocols of respect (bowing, covering the head, removing footwear).
The scripture's roots trace to the Adi Granth, compiled by Guru Arjan Dev between 1601 and 1604 at Ramsar Sahib and scribed by Bhai Gurdas Ji. Guru Arjan structured the text musically as well as textually, organising it by raga (melodic framework) — a structure covered in more depth on the Culture & Heritage page's Music & Kirtan section.
The final, authenticated version was compiled by Guru Gobind Singh in 1705 at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, near Bathinda — known as "Guru Ki Kashi" for its association with this intensive scholarly work, and now recognised as the fifth of the five Takhts. In 1708, at Nanded, Guru Gobind Singh formally declared the text the eternal Guru, ending the line of human Gurus — the event that closes Era 1 on this portal.
The Guru Granth Sahib contains hymns from the Sikh Gurus alongside the writings of Hindu and Muslim saints (Bhagats) whose teachings aligned with core Sikh principles — a deliberate inclusion that reflects the faith's founding rejection of religious and caste hierarchy. According to the SGPC, the scripture contains 5,894 hymns in total, the majority contributed by Guru Arjan Dev (2,218), with substantial contributions from Guru Nanak (974), Guru Amar Das (907), Guru Ram Das (679), and Guru Angad Dev (62).
The text opens with the Mool Mantar — the foundational statement of Sikh belief, declaring Ik Onkar (the oneness of all things), covered in depth on the Philosophy page. The path of Japji Sahib, the first composition recited each morning as part of Nitnem, is structured around five spiritual realms (Khands), moving from righteous duty through to ultimate union with the divine.
Other sections are the subject of ongoing scholarly and community discussion about authorship and inclusion. This portal presents it as it is: a significant text that includes daily prayers every initiated Sikh recites, without adjudicating the broader scholarly debates.