Guide to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Credited as Mahala 1. Guru Ji's Japji opens the scripture. BaniDB, which groups verses differently, tags 805 shabad records to Guru Ji.[Web][DB][EoS]

Credited as Mahala 2. The smallest collection among the first five Gurus, made up of saloks placed within the vars. Sources differ by one.[Web][EoS][DB]

Credited as Mahala 3. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism places Guru Ji's output behind only those of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji, in seventeen raags. BaniDB tags 834 shabad records, in 18 raags.[Web][EoS][DB]

Credited as Mahala 4. The two counts differ by 41, and the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism spreads Guru Ji's hymns over 30 raags. BaniDB tags 476 shabad records.[Web][EoS][DB]

Credited as Mahala 5, and the compiler of the scripture. Totals for the whole book vary: the SGPC gives 5,894 hymns, though its per-author figures add to 5,877, and the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism says nearly 6,000 in one entry and nearly 7,000 in another.[Web][EoS][EoS]

Credited as Mahala 9. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji added these compositions to the scripture. BaniDB also shows 116, and places the shabads in 15 raags, matching the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism.[Web][EoS][EoS][DB]

The largest bhagat contribution, first appearing at ang 91. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism gives 227 hymns in 17 raags with 237 saloks in one entry, and 296 hymns with 239 saloks plus two long compositions in another. BaniDB tags 468 shabad records.[Web][EoS][EoS][DB]

First appears at ang 92. One hymn each in Sri Raag and Raag Dhanasri, and two in Raag Gujri. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism counts him a Maharashtrian poet, and notes no agreement on his birthplace.[EoS][DB]

First appears at ang 93, with further hymns in Raag Ramkali and Raag Prabhati. Little is known of his life.[EoS][DB]

First appears at ang 93. A shoemaker of Varanasi by his own verses, with hymns in sixteen raags. BaniDB tags 37 shabad records and places him in the same number of raags.[EoS][EoS][DB]

First appears at ang 345. One Encyclopaedia of Sikhism entry says 60 hymns in seventeen raags and another says 61. BaniDB tags 60 shabad records, in 18 raags. A poet of Maharashtra, who is said to have spent over twenty years in Punjab.[EoS][EoS][DB]

First appears at ang 487. One Encyclopaedia of Sikhism entry says two hymns and another says three. BaniDB tags three, in Raag Asa and Raag Dhanasri. Born to a farming family in Rajasthan.[EoS][EoS][DB]

A Sufi, counted among the fifteen. First appears at ang 488, with the saloks at angs 1377 to 1384. BaniDB tags 128 shabad records.[EoS][EoS][DB]

First appears at ang 526 in Raag Gujri, with the other hymn in Raag Maru. Known beyond Sikh scripture as the author of the Gita Govinda.[EoS][DB]

Both hymns are at ang 659, in Raag Sorath. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism notes two saints of this name in that period, and separates this devotee from the Sufi Bhikhan.[EoS][DB]

At ang 695, in Raag Dhanasri. A barber by trade in all accounts, though they place him at different courts.[EoS][DB]

At ang 695, in Raag Dhanasri. A prince of Gagaraun in Rajasthan who gave up his throne for a life of devotion.[EoS][DB]

At ang 858, in Raag Bilaval. A butcher by trade, believed to come from Sehvan in Sindh, whose other songs have not survived.[EoS][DB]

At ang 1195, in Raag Basant. A teacher of Varanasi. Tradition makes several other bhagats his disciples, which the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism calls chronologically impossible.[EoS][DB]

At ang 1253, in Raag Sarang. A poet of Maharashtra, separate from the Bhatt of the same name.[EoS][DB]

At ang 1253, in Raag Sarang. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism counts a single line, followed by a hymn of Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji that answers it, and separates him from the blind poet of the Sur Sagar. BaniDB tags that following hymn to him, under a heading reading Mahala 5, Surdas.[EoS][EoS][DB]

Poets whose savaiye in praise of the Gurus stand at angs 1389 to 1409. Scholars have not settled their number. Sahib Singh, Teja Singh and others count 11, Bhai Santokh Singh and Bhai Vir Singh count 17, and Pandit Kartar Singh Dakha counts 19. The figures here follow the count of 17.[EoS][Web]

Also called Kalsahar. Reckoned the most learned of the Bhatts, he praises the first five Gurus. The SGPC names him Kulh Sahar. BaniDB tags 49 shabad records across two spellings.[EoS][Web][DB]

All in praise of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji. BaniDB tags 17 shabad records.[EoS][Web][DB]

Also spelled Dasu or Dasi. One savaiya is written jointly with Bhatt Sevak. BaniDB does not tag any line to this name.[EoS][DB]

Four each in praise of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji and Sri Guru Ram Das Ji. BaniDB tags four shabad records. A son of Bhatt Bhikha.[EoS][Web][DB]

The savaiye stress the spiritual oneness of the Gurus. BaniDB tags 10 shabad records.[EoS][DB]

In praise of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji. His verses include the name Waheguru. BaniDB tags 17 shabad records.[EoS][Web][EoS][DB]

In praise of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji. BaniDB tags 12 shabad records.[EoS][Web][DB]

In praise of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji. Separate from Bhagat Parmanand Ji. BaniDB does not tag any line to this name.[EoS][DB]

All in praise of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji. A son of Bhatt Bhikha, who moved to Goindwal with his father. BaniDB tags five shabad records.[EoS][Web][DB]

He shares one further savaiya with Bhatt Das. BaniDB does not tag any line to this name.[EoS][DB]

One in praise of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji and two of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji.[EoS][Web][DB]

Of Sultanpur Lodhi, and a follower of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, whom both savaiye praise. Four of the other Bhatts are his sons.[EoS][DB]

Both in praise of Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji. The SGPC and BaniDB spell the name Harbans.[EoS][Web][DB]

Both in praise of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji. Not named separately by the SGPC or BaniDB.[EoS][DB]

In praise of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji. BaniDB does not tag any line to this name.[EoS][Web][DB]

In praise of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji. The SGPC spells the name Talya.[EoS][Web][DB]

In praise of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji.[EoS][DB]

Named in the SGPC's list of eleven Bhatts. The name is not in the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism's list of 17, nor tagged in BaniDB, and no separate count has been confirmed.[Web][EoS][DB]

Musician and companion of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The saloks stand at ang 553, in the var of Raag Bihagra, headed with his name and a numeral 1. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism credits one salok to him and two to Guru Ji, addressed to him. BaniDB tags all three to him.[EoS][DB]

A rabab player and co-author of the var at ang 966 in Raag Ramkali. Going by the composition itself, the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism gives him the first three pauris and treats the last two as joint. BaniDB labels him and Satta as Bhatts.[EoS][EoS][Src][DB]

A rabab player to Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji, said to be Rai Balvand's brother. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism gives him the fourth to sixth pauris of the var at ang 966.[EoS][EoS][EoS][Src][DB]

Great-grandson of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, and author of the Ramkali Sadu at ang 923. It records Guru Ji's last counsel to family and followers, and is commonly recited when a reading of the scripture concludes at funeral observances. BaniDB labels him a Bhatt.[EoS][EoS][DB]