The Prime Minister of India recently greeted the nation on the occasion of the Parkash Purab Utsav, celebrating the holy Sikh book, the Guru Granth Sahib, on 19th August 2020. This event marks the commemoration of the installation of this sacred scripture at the Golden Temple in 1604. The Guru Granth Sahib is not only a crucial religious text for followers of Sikhism, but it also carries immense historical and cultural significance.
Understanding the Prakash Purab Utsav
The first Prakash Purab Utsav was held in 1604 following the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib in Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden temple. This festival is an integral part of Sikh culture and religion, where devotees across the globe participate with great enthusiasm and devoutness.
Significance of Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib plays a pivotal role in Sikhism. Comprising nearly 6,000 hymns penned down by the various Sikh Gurus and saints of different religions and castes from early and medieval times, the scripture holds immense spiritual importance. It is worshipped as a living Guru in all gurdwaras and is treated with utmost respect and reverence.
Compilation of the Holy Scripture
The first compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib was done by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan, in Amritsar in 1604 CE. He incorporated his own hymns along with those of his predecessors like Gurus Nanak, Angad, Amar Das, and Ram Das. The scripture also includes devotional songs of Hindu and Islamic saints, including the poet Kabīr.
Contributions of Guru Gobind Singh
The tenth and last Guru, Gobind Singh, made significant contributions to the Guru Granth Sahib in 1704 CE. He added the hymns of his predecessor, Guru Tegh Bahadur, who was the ninth Guru. Interestingly, the sixth to the eighth Gurus — Hargobind, Har Rai, and Hari Krishen — didn’t compose any hymns. Guru Gobind Singh declared that after his death, the Granth would take the place of the Guru. His hymns and writings were later compiled into a separate book known as the Dasam Granth.
Linguistic Composition of the Guru Granth Sahib
Most of the language used in the Guru Granth Sahib is either Punjabi or Hindi. However, words from other languages like Marathi, Persian, and Arabic are also interspersed throughout the text, making it a linguistically rich scripture articulating profound spiritual teachings.
The Aftermath of Guru Gobind Singh’s Demise
Following the demise of Guru Gobind Singh, his hymns and other spiritual writings were compiled into a distinctive scripture known as the Dasam Granth. Like the Guru Granth Sahib, its teachings continue to guide millions of devotees worldwide. The Dasam Granth serves as another important religious text representing the spiritual, philosophical and cultural heritage of Sikhism.