Artifacts and manuscripts

An undated manuscript from the Anandpur period, described by Mann as the earliest surviving source for what became the Dasam Granth.

An early eighteenth-century copy of the scripture linked by tradition to Baba Deep Singh and the scribal school at Damdama Sahib.

A copy of the Adi Granth associated with Bhai Banno, holding extra compositions not found in the Kartarpur manuscript.

The version of the scripture that added the hymns of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, said to have been prepared at Damdama Sahib under Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

The volume held at Kartarpur and long identified as the Adi Granth prepared by Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji with Bhai Gurdas as scribe.

A dated early eighteenth-century volume listed by Mann among the early manuscripts of the Dasam Granth.

A Dasam Granth manuscript at Patna carrying the date 1698. Mann holds its Ugradanti to be the earliest copy of that text he has seen.

Janam sakhi manuscripts first found at Lahore, whose earliest dated copies were written in 1701.

An illustrated life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji completed in 1733, with 57 paintings. Its colophon names patron, scribe and artist.

A dated manuscript of the Bala tradition, reported as the oldest extant janam sakhi manuscript of any tradition.

The best-known manuscript of the Puratan tradition of janam sakhis, unnoticed in London until 1872.

Two Gurmukhi manuscripts of hymns made at Goindwal in the early 1570s, the oldest surviving collection behind the Sikh scripture.

A pothi sometimes identified with the book Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is said to have handed to Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji.

Manuscripts of a collection of 225 stories traditionally credited to Bhai Mani Singh.

A Puratan manuscript found at Hafizabad in the 1880s and published by Macauliffe, since lost.

The two known manuscripts of the Miharban tradition, covering only part of a six-volume work.

A folio from an Urdu-script military manual of the Sikh Empire.

Letters sent out by Banda Singh Bahadur, with a Persian seal and their own opening formula.

Letters issued in her name from Delhi after Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji passed away.

Dated letters from the Anandpur period onwards, written by scribes and marked by Guru Ji.

The earliest surviving letters of the Gurus to their followers. One names 62 Sikhs in Bihar communities.

Letters to congregations, some thanking them for offerings and commending the Sikhs who carried them.

A dated copper plate naming Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and a Brahmin named Jawala Das.

A copper plate in Anandpur script attributed to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, instructing followers to recognise a priest named Bhadia.

A letter in Persian verse addressed to Emperor Aurangzeb, known today only from copies.

Bracelets, a small dagger, a needle and thread, a conch shell, a seal ring and a manuscript taken from him on his arrest.

Clothing and small items said to have been left with villagers when Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji changed clothes at Bilga on the way to his wedding.

A comb, a turban and a small kirpan given by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji to Pir Buddhu Shah after the battle of Bhangani, according to tradition.

A robe with Arabic writing, kept by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Bedi descendants at Dera Baba Nanak and revered by Sikhs as worn by Guru Ji on the journey to the Middle East.

Two swords, a muzzle-loading gun, a seal, an old scripture and a mirror linked by tradition with Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

A sword hilt, a dagger and part of a double-edged weapon kept in the basement of the gurdwara.

A gown with 52 strings, linked by tradition with the release of 52 princes from Gwalior Fort.

A palanquin said to have carried the Goindwal Pothis to Amritsar and back.

Items kept with the Kartarpur manuscript, including a breviary and two khandas.

A handwritten pothi, a hand fan, an embroidered handkerchief and a cap linked with Bibi Rup Kaur, daughter of Sri Guru Har Rai Ji.

A rabab shown at Patna as the instrument of Bhai Mardana, companion of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

A chariot linked by tradition to Mata Ganga, wife of Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji.

Wooden sandals, an old gown, weapons and hukamnamas associated with Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

The strong room for offerings made at the Harmandir Sahib, Akal Takht and Baba Atal gurdwara, including a jewelled canopy scorched in 1984.

Swords and other weapons associated with the Gurus and later Sikh figures, shown at the Akal Takht.

Weapons displayed as relics of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji at the place where Guru Ji passed away.

Old weapons displayed at the gurdwara that marks the site of the 1699 Vaisakhi gathering.

Old weapons in the main gurdwara, including three believed to have been used personally by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

A sword said to be Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's gift to Rai Kalha of Raikot, who received Guru Ji after Chamkaur.

Weapons that Mata Sahib Devan is said to have brought from Nanded in 1708.

A steel helmet shaped to hold a turban and topknot, decorated with koftgari and patterned mail.

A gold-decorated helmet of a rare type, possibly made for an elite brigade of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army.

A very large cannon cast at Lahore for Ahmad Shah Durrani's minister. The Bhangi Sikhs captured it in 1762.

A diamond held by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and given up by Maharaja Duleep Singh when the British annexed the Punjab in 1849.

A small group of paintings that some scholars believe may have been made in a Guru's lifetime. This is not established.

An octagonal throne covered in thick gold sheet, made by the goldsmith Hafez Muhammad Multani for Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

An early hill painting that shows the two Gurus meeting, an imagined scene.

Early Sikh coinage struck in the names of the Gurus rather than a ruler.

Official Persian papers of the Sikh state, in 129 bundles.

The rare manuscripts, books and hukamnamas of the SGPC's library, removed or destroyed during Operation Blue Star in June 1984. What happened to them is still contested.