In an era filled with desecration, distortion, and disconnection, this project was initiated to provide a greater opportunity for everyone to develop a personal relationship with the Guru Granth Sahib. SikhRI recruited an international team of specialists and subject matter experts to begin a process of "transcreation," composition by composition, beginning with Asa Ki Var. Transcreation is the process of developing meaningful interpretation, while providing content in both modern Panjabi and English. SikhRI's transcreation process is meant to generate a rich context to illuminate the language, aesthetics, musicology, history, culture, and philosophy contained within the Guru Granth Sahib.
The poetic form ‘Var Sat’ (a composition based on the seven days of the week) is commonly called ‘Satvar’ or ‘Satvara.’ It is a unique literary style that connects each day of the week with a specific idea, emotion, teaching, or reflection.
Patti is a poetic form based on the Gurmukhi alphabet. Historically, students used a wooden tablet, known as patti in Panjabi, to practice writing the alphabet. The Guru Granth Sahib includes many compositions based on the alphabet.
In this Sabad, Bhagat Sain Ji sings the ‘Arti’ of the transcendent Supreme Being, IkOankar (the Divine). He emphasizes that the true 'Arti' of IkOankar is not a ritualistic act of adorning a platter with incense, lamps, and ghee.
Chaubole is typically described as a poetic form governed primarily by meter and lines, usually four, as a song with four segments, or as a verse containing four languages.The theme of the Chaubole composition by Guru Arjan Sahib is love.
The term 'karhale' is derived from the Rajasthani and Sindhi word 'karhal,' which means camel. Historically, traders loaded their goods on camels to sell in distant lands, enduring long, arduous journeys.
This composition is revealed by Guru Ramdas Sahib (1534-1581 CE) in Rag Sirirag and is recorded on pages 81-82 of the Guru Granth Sahib. It has six stanzas of five lines each. With every stanza, there is an additional stanza of rahau of two lines.
The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of four separate Sabads (compositions) revealed by Guru Arjan Sahib on the theme of Birth.
Initiation Ceremony is an important part of many religious traditions worldwide. It often marks a significant milestone in a seeker’s life and is a way of formally admitting a seeker into the religious community.
According to Bhai Vir Singh and the scholars of Shabdarth, ‘Ghoria’ are songs of blessings, sung when the bridegroom mounts the mare.
In this Sabad, Bhagat Pipa inspires the seeker to experience the all-pervading IkOankar within oneself rather than searching for IkOankar outside in physical spaces.
Bhagat Sadhna is one of the fifteen Bhagat contributors to the Guru Granth Sahib and one of the saint-poets of the Medieval period in South Asia.
Delve into the profound wisdom behind the word 'anand,' as the Guru emphasizes that genuine bliss originates from eternal Wisdom, guiding seekers toward a joyful transformation.
While reading the Guru Granth Sahib, we encounter various stanza structures within a Sabad, often indicated through corresponding titles on the Sabad. This diversity in stanza structures arises due to variations in the number of lines in the stanzas.
While reading the Guru Granth Sahib, we encounter various stanza structures within a Sabad, often indicated through corresponding titles on the Sabad. This diversity in stanza structures arises due to variations in the number of lines in the stanzas.
Gatha refers to a song or verse, rooted in the word gai, to speak, sing, or recite. It can also refer to a profound discourse with the self beyond simple praise or devotion.
The essence of this composition is revealed in the stanza of rahau (Pause). In it, worldly accounting (entanglements) is described as useless.
Patti is a poetic form rooted in the Gurmukhi alphabet. Traditionally, students in Punjabi culture used a wooden tablet, called a patti, to practice writing letters.
Patti is a poetic form rooted in the Gurmukhi alphabet. Traditionally, students in Punjabi culture used a wooden tablet, called a patti, to practice writing letters.
In Maru Kaphi, Guru Nanak Sahib reflects on the grief caused by separation from IkOankar, showing that even with worldly comforts, one remains unhappy without this connection.
In this Sabad, Bhagat Sain Ji sings the ‘Arti’ of the transcendent Supreme Being, IkOankar (the Divine). He emphasizes that the true 'Arti' of IkOankar is not a ritualistic act of adorning a platter with incense, lamps, and ghee.
The Guru Granth Sahib contains many Sabads related to the wedding ceremony, in which themes of happiness, blessings, and teachings are conveyed through vocabulary related to the wedding.
The term 'karhale' is derived from the Rajasthani and Sindhi word 'karhal,' which means camel.
The ceremony of ‘Anand Karaj’ (blissful task) is very important in ‘Anand Sanskar’ (blissful ceremony). ‘Anand Sanskar’ is considered complete only with the ceremony of ‘Anand Karaj.’
These four stanzas are four stages of a seeker’s union with IkOankar (the Divine). They depict the seeker’s spiritual journey. These four stanzas are also sung when the Sikh bride and groom circumambulate four times around the Guru Granth Sahib to...
Guru Arjan Sahib’s Chaubole focuses on love, teaching that true devotion to IkOankar (the Divine) brings constant joy. A lover fully immersed in this love is ready to sacrifice everything for the Beloved.
In this Sabad, Bhagat Sain Ji sings the ‘Arti’ of the transcendent Supreme Being, IkOankar (the Divine). He emphasizes that the true 'Arti' of IkOankar is not a ritualistic act of adorning a platter with incense, lamps, and ghee.