Sikhs across India mark Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary with fervour

New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS) As dawn broke Thursday, hundreds of Sikhs across India thronged gurudwaras for morning prayers to mark the 539th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the world’s youngest religion that also has followers among the vast Indian diaspora worldwide.Taking the lead from the Golden Temple, the temporal seat of the Sikhs in Amritsar in Punjab, most gurudwaras marked Gurupurab, as the day is observed with the singing of Asa-di-var and hymns from Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.

This was followed by religious discourses, historical lectures, recitation of poems in praise of Guru Nanak and the distribution of “Karah Parshad (sweet pudding)” and “Langar (food cooked in a community kitchen)”.

In many cities across the country, processions led by young children dressed as the Panj Pyaras, or five beloved disciples of the Guru, were taken out even as groups of youths staged martial arts displays.

This year’s Gurupurab was particularly auspicious as the 300th anniversary of the writing of the Guru Granth Sahib has just been observed.

Guru Granth Sahib

The difference between Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth.

1. The main difference between the two is that of objective. The Guru
Granth aims at gaining peace of mind and complete renunciation. The
Dasam Granth believes in a holy war (Dharma Yudh) against tyranny and
fanaticism.

2. God of Guru Granth is God of truth. God of Dasam Granth is God of
justice, ready to strike at the tyrant, autocrat and the despot.

3. The Guru Granth is full of devotion, meditation, grace of Guru and
God. The Dasam granth depicts scenes of battles, arms and weapons and
intrigues of men and women.

4. Guru Nanak’s Japji and Guru Gobind singh’s Jap differ essentially.
Japji believes in God’s Hukum. There is no such thing in Gobind Singh’s Jap.

5. According to Loehlin, the Guru Granth may be compared to Temple and
the Dasam Granth to a fortress. (Loehlin pages 57-59)

Holy Book: Guru Granth Sahib

Guru Granth Sahib

Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh’s Holy Book. If it is not in use it is wrapped in decorative silks and placed on a platform. During the day the book is opened on cushions (manji). If it is not being read it may be covered with a cloth called a rumalla. Whilst it is being read a fan called a chauri (a sign of authority) may be waved over it. The book is made up from the sacred writing of six of the gurus. it contains 1,430 pages, 3,384 hymns and is always exactly the same. The language it is written in is Gurmukhi (literally “from the mouth of gurus”)…a written form of the panjabi. It is treated like a live guru; with great respect. Wherever the book is can be considered a meeting place for Sikhs.

Guru Granth Sahib

Guru Granth Sahib :) :)

The Guru Granth Sahib (also known as the Adi Granth) is truely top notch surrounded by the world’s great scriptures. It is considered the Supreme Spiritual Authority and Head of the Sikh religion, rather than any residence person. It is too the only scripture of it’s kind that not easily contains the works of it’s own religious founders but also writings of people of other faiths. The residence Guru of the Sikhs, the book is held in above the usual reverence by Sikhs and treated with the utmost respect. Sikhism rejects idol worship, so the Guru Granth Sahib is not worshipped as an idol, but instead emphasis is placed on attention of the book for the writings that arrive within. Guru Granth Sahib is a bunch of devotional hymns and poetry that proclaims God, lays apprehension on meditation on the True Guru (God), and lays lessened moral and ethical rules for development of the soul, spiritual salvation and unity amidst God.

300th Aniversary – Guru Granth Sahib

Guru Granth Sahib

Guru Nanak established Sikhism in the fifteenth century, and he was ofllowed by nine gurus. The tenth and the preceding Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, named the Guru Granth Sahib – the Holy Book of the Sikhs – as the next permanent Sikh Guru. The Holy Book is written is ragas, and preaches democratization and peaceful existance, irrespective of differences in caste and creed.

Gur-ta-Gaddi marks the 300th anniversary of the censecration of Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal guru of the Sikhs.

God does not encourage hatred; instead, His message is too of love; to service people in need. Our religion teaches us to reside in peace and harmony, improve the ability of others, and fight for justice, a great deal if we experience to scrifice our lives.

Guru Granth Sahib

Guru Nanak was against conversion, and he preached that all religions are equal and sacred. He preached too we should donate at least 10% of our income to charity.

Guru Gobind Singh conferred the Holy Book, the Granth Sahib, through the title of Guru, when he could easily see the a long period of time are able to turn up when there would be fights and quarrels fot he seat of the Guru.

He wanted the Sikhs to remain united and live in harmony providing every other. To protect the rights of teh common man, our worthy Gurus took the responsibility to safeguard the interest of the standard man.

Guru Granth Sahib – Teachings

Guru Granth Sahib

The Guru Granth Sahib teaches that national unity can be achieved only by rising above differences and division of creed, friendship, cultures, castes, colour, races and untouchability. Only in such a spiritual world can God be attained and only through this can man be rid of sorrows in the world. The mission of improvement carries on through the Guru Granth Sahib and at the same time there is a challenge and ire against hypocrisy and oppression. These sayings have been called divine not because they descended into the hearts of prophets through angels, but because they accord prime importance to oneness of all, “Manas ki jaat sabhe eke pehchanbo.” (The whole humankind is but one). Guru Gobind Singh accorded the role of Guru to Guru Granth Sahib in order to accomplish the experience “Bani guru, guru hai bani” (Holy verses are the embodiment of the Guru and Guru himself is holy verses), provided by the first Guru. He decided for all times that the verses of the Gurus and no human being or sage or seer will be the Guru.

Guru Granth Sahib

Baisakhi Processions

During the Baisakhi day, sacred Guru Granth Sahib is taken out in a procession. At the operate of the procession are the Panj Piaras, symbolizing the journey received by the four fearless devotees from what i read in this houses to Anandpur, to be baptised by Guru Gobind Singh. Baisakhi processions are attended by men, women and children alike amidst common thought and enthusiasm. The procession moves over considerable localities of the city and is welcomed by residents and members of social and cultural societies. Colourful bhangra and gidda dance apart based on information from mock duels are performed within Baisakhi processions. Another fascinating half of Baisakhi celebrations is the accompaniment of drummers, bands fidgeting religious times, devotees singing religious songs and men swinging swords.

Loud Sikh chants of ‘Bole so nihal’, ‘Deg teg fateh’ and rhythmic chants of ‘Sat nam’ and ‘Wahe guru’ ring out based on the center of the singing and drumming. Some men may wear the headgear (bana) of Guru Nanak, others the of Guru Gobind Singh.

Guru Granth Sahib

In this discourse at the end of the ceremony, Sikh religious leaders attempt to promote the feeling of charity amid people, exceptionally children in honor of Guru Gobind Singh.

In There are those places, essentially Punjab, the processions are taken out that much before Baisakhi.

Guru Granth Sahib

Guru Granth Sahib: Holy Book

Guru Granth Sahib

Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) is the holy book of the Sikhs, followers of Sikhism, and was written in Gurmukhi script.

SGGS was compiled by Shri Guru Arjan Dev, who invited saints and Sufis based on several characteristics of the India to contribute. They recited the hymns revealed to them. The hymns that contained the voice and spirit of god got selected to be included in SGGS. Chosen hymns got dictated to Bhai Gurdas Ji, who finally wrote the SGGS.

After it was compiled, the SGGS was installed in the newly put up Golden Temple (also well & known as Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar, India ), in 1604. SGGS is a holy team of expressions the god revealed to the Guru and Saints. They carry a message that go beyond rites and rituals bit are organization in its faith. They imagine in meditation in the and cr of god. Hymns carry the spirit, are aspirational and stand for a yearning to be in the god.

SGGS teaches the spirit of universality – “none is our enemy, none is stranger to us, we are in accord providing one and all.” The teachings reflected in Guru Granth Sahib trepidation writing a peaceful, liberal, free, fearless society everywhere the world.

Guru Granth Sahib: Hindi Version

Guru Granth Sahib

The Chief Minister, Mr Babulal Gaur, released the Hindi version of Guru Granth Sahib here, on Sunday. It has been translated by Dr Jodh Singh of Punjabi University, Patiala, and published by the Sikh Heritage Publishers, Patiala, in four volumes.

Mr Gaur announced that a separate chair would be set up in the honour of Guru Granth Sahib and Guru Nanak at the Barkatullah University in Bhopal. Besides, the state government would bring out special publications to apprise the common people of the glorious Sikh history.

Addressing a symposium on “Guru Granth Sahib Ki Mahima Apaar” organised by the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat to mark completion of 400 years of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Chief Minister said the great book contains poetic compositions of enlightened saints of different religious faiths in their respective regional languages and dialects.

The book thus represents the all-embracing and catholic culture of India. He said the Sikh community has a glorious history of bravery, courage and sacrifices.

Guru Granth Sahib

Guru Granth Sahib

The story of the making of Sikh scripture is brought to the present and its development is situated within a broader historical context. First, the history of the Adi Granth(Guru Granth Sahib) is traced from its inception in the late seventeenth century to the present time. The primary data for this discussion are provided by the extant Sikh scriptural manuscripts compiled between 1700 and the middle of the nineteenth century, when creation of new manuscripts virtually ceased, and the printed editions of the Adi Granth proliferated from 1865 onwards. The focus is then shifted to the issue of the development of scriptural authority within the Sikh community and its evolution is examined in detail. The roles that the text has played and continues to play in the Sikh religious and community life today are considered. The chapter concludes with a brief assessment of future prospects for the role and status of the Adi Granth as the Sikh community (now a world community with adherents all across the globe) enters the twenty-first century.

Guru Granth Sahib