Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Collections of hymns existed before 1604. Two pothis from the family of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji survive. Tradition, as told in the Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi, says Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji went himself to Goindwal to obtain them from Baba Mohan, and that the work was done at the spot now called Ramsar with Bhai Gurdas as scribe. A date in Bhai Gurdas's hand reads Bhadon vadi 1, 1661 Bikrami, or 1 August 1604.

The volume was installed at Harmandir Sahib on 16 August 1604, with Baba Buddha Ji as its first attendant. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism describes the first volume as having 974 leaves, and later passing to the family of Dhir Mall at Kartarpur.[EoS][Web]

The hymns of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji were added later. Sikh tradition, repeated by the SGPC, says Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji dictated the full text to Bhai Mani Singh at Damdama Sahib in 1706. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji included none of his own work. This form, proclaimed as Guru in 1708, is the source of the text in use.[Web][EoS]

The first 13 angs hold the Japji Sahib and the opening liturgy. Then come 31 raag sections, from Sri Raag on ang 14 to Jaijavanti on ang 1352. Closing compositions follow, including saloks of the Bhagats, Savaiye and the Mundavani. The last item, on angs 1429 and 1430, is the Ragmala.

Within a raag, the order is generally shabads with four verses, then longer forms such as ashtpadis and chhants, then Vars, and finally the hymns of the Bhagats. Headings name the author by Mahala, a number for each Guru, as Mahala 1 for Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. All six Gurus use the name "Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji" as their signature in the verse. Bhagats are credited by name.

The 1,430-page text is the standard form and carries SGPC approval. BaniDB uses the same numbering, and a page is called an ang.[EoS][Web][EoS][DB][EoS]

There are six Gurus: Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji, Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji and Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. There are also fifteen Bhagats of varied faith and trade: Kabir, Farid, Namdev, Ravidas, Trilochan, Beni, Dhanna, Jaidev, Bhikhan, Sain, Pipa, Sadhna, Ramanand, Parmanand and Surdas. The Encyclopaedia treats their words as equal in standing with those of the Gurus.

The Bhatts, a group of bards, praise the Gurus in Savaiye on angs 1389 to 1409. Others are Rai Balvand and Satta, whose Var is on ang 966, Baba Sundar on ang 923, and Bhai Mardana, whose name heads saloks on ang 553. The Encyclopaedia reads one of these as his, and two as addressed to him by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.[EoS][EoS][EoS][EoS][EoS][EoS][Web]