|
Granth is the central
text of Sikhism
“The Granth is the central text of Sikhism, a religion that emerged in the
Punjab region of India in the 15th Century. Sikhism is a unique faith
which has aspects of Islam: monotheism and iconoclasm, and Hinduism:
reincarnation, karma and nirvana. However Sikhism is
distinct from Hinduism and Islam. The Sikh Gurus (teachers),
contemporaries of Luther and Calvin, were reformers who rejected the
caste system and much of the apparatus of Hindu ritual and legalism.
They promoted religious tolerance and the equality of women. The
founding Guru, Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, (1469-1538), is noted for the
saying "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim."
The Granth, compiled by Guru Gobind Singh, contains compositions of six
Gurus, namely Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru
Arjan, and Guru Teg Bahadur. The hymns are arranged by the thirty one
ragas (musical forms) in which they were composed. The
hymns that comprise the Granth were originally written in several
different languages: Persian, mediaeval Prakrit, Hindi, Marathi, old
Panjabi, Multani, and several local dialects. In addition, there are
Sanskrit and Arabic portions. This makes it extraordinarily difficult
to translate. . . .
The Granth is considered the living embodiment of the Gurus, the
"eleventh guru". Printed copies of the Granth are treated with the
greatest respect. This is the reason for the honorific titles that make
up the full name of the book. There are protocols to be observed in
while reading of the Granth. A Sikh reader suggests the following: "Out
of respect, it is advised that before you do read the Sri Guru Granth
Sahib, that you cover your hair." This is normally with a turban or a
piece of cloth provided by the gurdwara."
”
http://www.sacred-texts.com/skh/index.htm
|
If this
page was accessed during a web search you may wish to browse the
websites listed below where this topic titled "Granth is the central
text of Sikhism"
or related issues are discussed, commented, criticized or
researched in detail to promote global peace, progress in
religious harmony, and spiritual development of humanity:
http://www.adishakti.org/
http://www.al-qiyamah.org/
|