The Sikh Scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib

The Granth Sahib was compiled by the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Arjun Dev. It contained the hymns composed by five Gurus and more than two dozen other pious persons, Bhagats (devotees), born in different regions of India and in different faiths: Kabir and Nam Dev were low caste; Ravi Das (a shoemaker) was considered an untouchable; Rama Nand was a high caste Hindu; Farid and Bhikhan were Muslims; Dhanna was a farmer; and Peepa was the ruler of a small state.

Compilation of the scripture was completed in August, 1604, when it was installed in the sanctum sanctorum -- Darbar Sahib, literally meaning the "court of the Guru." The religious centre was founded by the third Nanak, the pool was dug by the fourth Nanak, and the buildings were constructed by the fifth Nanak. The pool was named Amrit-Sarovar and the city, which developed around it, became famous as Amritsar. The place chosen was in the middle of Punjab, and only forty-five kilometres from the capital, Lahore (now in Pakistan). Because of the gold plating of the domes of Darbar Sahib, the British mentioned it as Golden Temple.

The hymns of the ninth Nanak were added by the tenth Nanak, who also conferred Guruship on the scripture. There are some 5,800 hymns grouped into 31 ragas (musical measures). In addition, there is a preamble in the beginning of the scripture and some special hymns in the end. Being the revealed hymns spoken by the Gurus, the scripture is treated as the spirit of the Gurus and not just as a religious book. Guru Granth Sahib is installed on a throne (a small cot) under a canopy, the way any king would sit in his court.

The hymns are written in the Gurmukhi script and the language used is Sant Bhasha, (spoken by Saints, religious preachers) which is very close to Punjabi. It is well understood in the whole of northern and north-western India. Hindi, Persian and Arabian words and phrases have also been used liberally.

BASIC CREED

The basic creed of the Sikh faith is recorded in the very beginning of the scripture as invocation. It is also mentioned at the head of each raga, musical measure, and its sub-units.

The invocation

Ik Onkar Satnam Karta Purkh Nirbho Niwair
Akal Moorat Ajooni Saibhang Gurparsad.

It is translated as::

By the Grace of the One Supreme, the Truth, the Creator,
The All-pervading Reality, without fear, without enmity,
Immortal, Un-incarnated and Self-existent.

The Sikhs, thus, are strict monotheists and believe in God -- the Father-Mother of all humanity -- Who loves everybody irrespective of their faith, caste, or race.

The Sikh faith was founded when Guru Nanak made public the message revealed to him :

All people are children of the same Father:
Do not divide them into Hindus and Muslims (ie. different faiths).

The fact that the same Lord vibrates in every heart was also experienced by the Bhagats. Any one, irrespective of the faith or caste in which one is born, who loves God, ultimately realises God. Here are some hymns of such pious people quoted from the Guru Granth Sahib:

Those who meditate on (love) God realise God.
-- Jap, The Preamble

We are the equal children of the same One Father.
-- Guru Nanak, p. 611

There is a reflection of His Spirit in everyone.
All glow with His light.
-- Guru Nanak., p. 13.

The whole universe sprang from One Divine light.
A person who in-tunes himself with the Divine Law finds Him
pervading everywhere through and through the whole universe.
-- Kabir, p. 1349.

None else but the Lord speaks in all (the living beings)
whether they trail on the ground, walk on their legs or fly in the air.
Those who give up all desires and become devotees
of the Almighty find Him not away (different) from themselves.
-- Nam Dev, p. 988.

Do not be rude to any person, the same Divine Master
dwells in the heart of every human being.
If you want to realise Him,
do not hurt the feelings of anyone,
you will hurt the Master residing therein.
-- Farid, p. 1384.

The Lord blessed me with the priceless jewel, the Divine Name.
One can enjoy it, but not describe it, like a dumb person.
I observe Him revealing Himself everywhere.
-- Bhikhan, p. 659.

All thoughts of mine and thine, second or third
(other than One Creator) have vanished.
I observe only Him everywhere.
-- Ravi Das, p. 345.

Instead of involving yourself in ritual worship,
seek the Lord within yourself.
The same Lord, Who is in the whole universe, dwells in every heart.
Those who search (love) Him realise Him.
-- Peepa, p. 695.

O Lord! you are All-pervading.
You are a living Reality in every human being.
You have made me realise the Divine in my own heart.
-- Rama Nand, p. 1195.

Therefore, the prayer of a Sikh always ends in :

"Lord, in Thy Name bless all."