Guru Granth Sahib

Recent Development:

• Return of Saroops: Two saroops (copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib were recently returned to the Indian embassy in Doha, Qatar. The saroops were confiscated by Qatari authorities from individuals accused of running an unauthorized religious establishment.

About Guru Granth Sahib:

• Saroop (Bir):
• Definition: A physical copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, also known as "Bir" in Punjabi. Each Bir contains 1,430 pages referred to as "Ang," with consistent verses across different copies.
• Significance: The saroop is considered the eternal physical and spiritual form of the ten Sikh Gurus.
• Historical Compilation:
• First Compilation: Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, compiled the first Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib in 1604. This was installed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Baba Buddha was appointed as the first Granthi (caretaker) of the Golden Temple.
• Second Compilation: Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, added verses from Guru Tegh Bahadur (the ninth Guru and his father) and compiled the Bir for the second and final time. In 1708, Guru Gobind Singh declared the Guru Granth Sahib as the living Guru of the Sikhs.
• Content and Language:
• Hymns and Contributors: The Guru Granth Sahib is a collection of hymns written by six Sikh Gurus, 15 saints (including Bhagat Kabir, Bhagat Ravidas, Sheikh Farid, and Bhagat Namdev), 11 Bhatts (balladeers), and four Sikh contributors. The hymns are composed in 31 ragas (musical measures).
• Script: It is written in Gurmukhi, the script used for the Punjabi language.
• Ceremonial Practices:
• Sukh Asan Sthan (Sachkhand): Gurdwaras have a dedicated resting place for the saroop called ‘Sukh Asan Sthan’ or ‘Sachkhand’ where the Guru Granth Sahib is placed at night.
• Prakash and Paat: In the morning, the saroop is ceremoniously installed in a ritual known as ‘Prakash’ (the opening ceremony) and is read throughout the day. At the end of the day, the book is closed and rested during the ‘Sukh Asan’ ceremony.

Significance:

• Spiritual Role: The Guru Granth Sahib is considered the eternal living Guru for Sikhs, embodying the spiritual teachings and guidance of the Sikh Gurus and saints.
• Preservation and Respect: The respectful handling and maintenance of the saroops reflect the deep reverence Sikhs have for their holy scripture.

Recent Controversy:

• Confiscation Issue: The confiscation of the saroops by Qatari authorities and their subsequent return has drawn attention to issues surrounding the handling of religious artifacts and the operation of religious establishments abroad.