Guru Granth Sahib – First Parkash

Parkash Utsav Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is observed on the 15th day (new moon) of Bhadon, which in 2022 will fall on 28th August. Bhadon is the sixth month in the Punjabi Calendar which usually falls in August or September of the Georgian calendar.

Guru Granth Sahib — also called Adi Granth or Adi Guru Darbar– is not any other holy book or scripture for the Sikhs; but a perpetual, ultimate, and eternal Guru. In 1604, On this day first Parkash (opening ceremony) of the Guru Granth Sahib at the historic Golden Temple in Amritsar was observed. This day commemorates the first Parkash (opening ceremony) of the Guru Granth Sahib at the newly built Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.

The Adi Granth, written by the fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev, is the original scripture, also known as “Kartarpuri Bir”, and was installed at the Golden Temple on September 1, 1604. A well-known Sikh devotee by the name Baba Buddha was named as the main Granthi or attendant of the sacred writing.

The day is an important landmark for the Sikh community, they consider Guru Granth Sahib comprising of 1430 pages and 5864 hymns or verses called Shabads as their living Guru. Its contents, considered to be the preaching of the Gurus are referred to as Guru’s bani (the Guru’s voice) or Gurbani.

The first version of the book was compiled by the 5th Sikh Guru Arjan at Amritsar in 1604 CE. He included his own hymns and those of his predecessors, the Gurus Nanak, Angad, Amar Das, and Ram Das, and a selection of devotional songs of both Hindu and Islamic saints (notably the poet Kabīr).

In 1704 CE the 10th and last Guru, Gobind Singh, added the hymns of his predecessor, Guru Tegh Bahadur (the 6th – Hargobind, 7th– Har Rai, and 8th – Hari Krishen- Gurus did not write hymns), and enjoined that after his own death the Granth would take the place of the Guru. After the death of Guru Gobind Singh, his hymns and other writings were compiled into a book known as the Dasam Granth.

What is remarkable about Sri Guru Granth Sahib?

This is the most recent of the main religious sacred writings from the Indian subcontinent and this is the main known sacred text that contains the first compositions from the bosses of noteworthy confidence known as Sikhism. The aggregation of the first sacred writing was finished by the fifth Sikh Guru, Arjan Dev in 1604. Presumably, the most novel element of this sacred text is that it contains a general message of profound living for the entire human race.

A depiction of God is given in the exceptionally opening sentence of Guru Granth Sahib, which is called Mool-Mantar (fundamental belief). what’s more, is a Preamble of the principal segment called Japji: There is One God, He is the Eternal Truth, the Creator, Without Fear, Hate or Enmity, All-Pervading, and Everlasting Divine Spirit, Self-Existent, and He is acknowledged by Guru’s Grace.

Prayers

Nitnem: It is the collection of hymns of different Gurus to be read daily by the common people at least three times a day. Nitnem usually includes Panj Bania and sometimes includes Rehiras Sahib and Kirtan Sohilla ( for the night). The morning and the evening prayers should be followed by a set of prayers known as Ardas. The five Banis or the Panj Bania are Japji Sahib- appears at the beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib

Jaap Sahib–Morning prayers of the Sikh which was composed by tenth Guru Gobind Singh and is found at the start of Sikh scripture Dasam Granth. It is the praise of God and includes names of various Gods in different languages. It is composed of 199 verses and is the first Bani of Dasam Granth.

Tav- Prasad Savaiye–It is a short composition that contains around 10 stanzas and is present on pages 13 to 15 of Dasam Granth.

Chaupai Sahib — Also referred as Banti Chaupai is a hymn by Guru Gobind Singh

Anand Sahib— It is the collection of hymns written by Guru Amar das Ji who was the third Guru in Sikhism. It is available from page 917-922 in Guru Granth Sahib. It is chanted at all the religious ceremonies of the Sikhs

Rehras Sahib is the evening prayer of Sikhs which is a part of Gurbani ( Hymns in the central text of Guru Granth Sahib). It contains hymns of four different Gurus Guru Nanak, Guru Amardas, Guru Ramdas, Guru Arjan Dev, and Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It gives energy to the mind and body after the day-long hard work. It is in a way to thank God for completing the day with no hassles. Rehras contains hymns from So Dar and So Purakh, Chaupai Sahib, Anand Sahib, and Mundhavani. Chaupal Sahib is taken from Dasam Granth.

Kirtan Sohila: It is the night prayers chanted by all Sikhs before they go to bed. It is composed of five hymns or Shabd. The five hymns are contributed by Guru Nanak, Guru Ram das, and Guru Arjan. The first three hymns were uttered by Guru Nanak, the fourth by Guru Ram Das, and the fifth by Guru Arjan Dev.