Sacred Literature & Sikh Studies

What Teeka (commentary) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji do you recommend?

Gurbani is Agam Agaadh Bodh. For this reason, you can't find a perfect teeka (commentary). The best thing is to refer to the Darpan (Prof Sahib Singh's teeka), and Giani Harbans Singh's Nirnai i.e. Teeka, because both of these teekas are based on Gurbani Viyakaran (grammar). Apart from this one can refer to Bhai Veer Singh's teeka called 'Santhiya' and Sant Kirpal Singh's sampardayak teeka.

What do you know of Raagmala?

The literal meaning of the word Raag-mala is: a chain/necklace (mala) of raags (musical measures) i.e., a list of raags. This list differs according to the author and the music school it is based upon. Thus there exists a number of such lists in the music text books. Raagmala is also the title of a composition of twelve verses, running into sixty lines, appended to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as a table or index of raags that appears after the "Mundaavni", i.e. the epilogue or "closing seal".

RAAGMALA FULL TEXT (TRANSLATION)

What is the arrangement and layout of Sri Guru Granth Sahib?

Guru Arjan planned to arrange the writing not by subject, but accordingly to musical measures, or 'Raags' in which the hymns are meant to be sung. The composition which is musical is also metrical, and so follows definite metrical schemes. So on this basis, the Hymns of Shabads are divided into different parts or padas. Each pada consists of one or more verses. The other divisions are pauris, sloks, chants, swayas, etc.

Why did the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Gurus leave us with no Bani?

There was only ever ONE Guru, i.e. the one Jaagdi Jyot (Living Light). To non-Sikhs the Guru Sahibaans may be 10 human bodies. To Sikhs there has always been and right now only ONE. Gurbani is "Dhur Kee Baani" - revealed from the Almighty according to His will.

The same Guru-jyot was working in all Guru Sahibaans and it is this Guru-jyot that was the Guru. The Guru jyot chose to go in 9 khands (continents) of this planet in it's first body to spread the glory of Naam. In the fifth body, the Guru-jyot chose to get martyred. It chose to wear two kirpans of Miri and Piri in the sixth body.

What is considered 'kachi bani'? What can be sung in kirtan during divan?

As you may have guessed, there are protocols on what can be sung in the public Gurdwara setting. According to the Panthic Sikh Rehit Maryada - the document that functions as the Sikh code of conduct:

"The exposition can only be of the ten Guru's writings or utterances, Bhai Gurdas's writings, Bhai Nand Lal's writings or of any generally accepted Panthak book or books of history (which are in agreement with the Guru's tenets) and not of a book of any other faith. However, for illustration, references to a holy person's teachings or those contained in a book may be made."

In Chaupai Sahib, Guru Ji prays to destroy the enemies but in Ardaas we pray for the welfar of humanity. Explain.

We mistakenly assume our enemies to be human beings. In spiritual life our enemies are those who mislead us from the path of truth and put us in trouble. The major ones among them are lust, anger, greed, attachment, and ego. They are called “diseases” or “devils” which “kill” our soul. They attack our mind and fill it with vices destroying its virtues.

i) ਪੰਚ ਦੋਖ ਅਸਾਧ ਜਾ ਮਹਿ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਕੇਤਕ ਆਸ ॥੧॥
"One who is filled with the five incurable vices - what hope is there for him? ||1||"
(Ang 486)

Why is "Waheguru" is mentioned only 17 times in Guru Granth Sahib whereas "Raam" is mentioned hundreds of time?

The RSS says in Guru Granth Sahib God's name "Waheguru is mentioned only 17 times whereas God's name "Raam" is mentioned some couple hundred times which means "Raam" is given more significance by the Gurus and Gurus accepted Rama as a God?

What is the substance of the Rehras?

Rehrās is the name given to the main evening prayer of the Sikhs. The word itself implies supplication, though some traditionalist scholars have interpreted it as rāh-i-rāst which, in Persian, means the straight path, the path of faith and devotion as against that of mere ritual practices or yogic austerities. The title 'Rehrās' however does not occur anywhere in Guru Granth Sahib Ji itself, nor is the text, as it is recited today, recorded as a single whole.

What do you know of Bhaṭṭ-Vahīs?

BHAṬṬ-VAHĪS, scrolls or records maintained by Bhaṭṭs, hereditary bards and genealogists. According to Nesfield as quoted in W. Crooke, The Tribes and Castes of the North Western India, 1896, Bhaṭṭs are an "offshoot from those secularised Brāhmaṇs who frequented the courts of princes and the camps of warriors, recited their praises in public, and kept records of their genealogies. " These bards constantly attended upon or visited their patron families reciting panegyrics to them and receiving customary rewards.

What do you know of Bhai Gurdas' Varan?

Varan Bhai Gurdas is the name given to the 40 Varan (chapters) of writing by Bhai Gurdas. They have been referred to as the "Key to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib" by Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru. Bhai Gurdas was a first cousin of Mata Bhani, mother of Guru Arjan Dev. He was the first scribe of Guru Granth Sahib and a scholar of great repute. From his work its clear that he had mastery of various Indian languages and had studied many ancient Indian religious scriptures.

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