In 1604 the Adi Granth, or the Granth Sahib as it is better known, was reverently installed in the Harmandir, the very heart of the Darbar Sahib at Amritsar. The compilation of these sacred scriptures of the Sikhs was made possible by the prodigious efforts of the scholar, saint and builder of the Harmandir, Guru Arjan Dev

The sensitivity with which he combined the teachings, hymns, thoughts and verses of the first four gurus as also his own, and of Hindu and Muslim scholars and savants as well, then set meticulous standards of editing with regard to the syntax, style and they un of the text, resulted in the Guru Granth Sahib: a unique anthology of the best which men of wisdom and divine inspiration have to offer.

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last guru, ended a hundred years of the guru tradition by enjoining all Sikhs to look to the Granth Sahib as the supreme guru after his lifetime. Instead of an individual they were to worship knowledge from then on. The elevation of the Granth Sahib to the status of a guru was an unusual concept of leadership which has worked admirably over the centuries, with the scriptures proving a pillar of strength for the Sikhs. Whether in tragedy or triumph, rejoicing or grief, they have turned to the Guru Granth Sahib for philosophical insights and guidance, for a balanced out. look and a sense of direction.

This unique contribution by Sardar Pritam Singh Chahil is aimed at making the Granth Sahib accessible to those who because they cannot read Gurmukhi, have been unable to enjoy the beauty of these sacred texts. Each page of his four-volume translation of the Granth Sahib conforms to the precise number of words found on each page of the holy book. Of the three columns on every page, the first has the original text, the second a Roman transliteration of it the third an English translation of the original

For the first time thousands of people around the world can now appreciate and experience the rational, philosophical and devotional dimensions of Guru Granth Sahib which have inspired millions of people everywhere throughout the apes.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 3, 1995