Acknowledge as Guru the Granth. You whose heart is pure,
seek him in the world.
from the Ardas,the Sikh Daily Prayer
The Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib and the Adi Granth are the two names for the Sikh sacred texts.
The Guru Granth Sahib embodies the core of Sikh religious teachings.
It is a representational substitute of the great gurus of the past. As the text commands,
"acknowledge the Guru Granth as the visible body of the Gurus."
The work is a collection of inspired writings by the different ten gurus
of Sikh history. The Granth is written in Gurumukhi a derivative of Hindi.
The whole work is approximately fifteen hundred pages long.
Sikhs place a great deal of importance on the reading of theGuru Granth.Reading may commence
with random opening of the book at any page. Readings may involve individual or communal
reading by a congregation.
There are also "marathon readings" such as the Akand Pathwhere
the Granth is read for forty-eight hours, or Saptah Path, an uninterrupted
reading which lasts for a whole week.
Anyone is permitted to read before a gathering. The readings are
usually undertaken by a granthior official. Unlike some other Asian religions where women are barred from any
public or ceremonial functions, Sikh women are permitted to officiate as readers.
The Guru Granth Sahib has to be specially installed in a temple known as the gurdwara
and is subjected to a great deal of formalized devotion. Individuals usually own parts of the Guru Granth with daily
prayers and devotionals for their own personal use.
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