The Guru Granth Sahib Project

The Guru Granth Sahib Project

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.

Videos

Thursday
,
22
August
2024

Explore Chaubole

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.

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Thursday
,
18
July
2024

Explore Karhale

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.

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Thursday
,
20
June
2024

Explore Vanjara

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.

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Thursday
,
16
May
2024

Explore Antam Sanskar (Funeral Ceremony)

Funeral ceremonies are significant in human culture and differ significantly across regions and religions. In the Sikh culture, the funeral ceremony emphasizes the belief in life's impermanence, the significance of commemorating the departed...

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Thursday
,
25
April
2024

Explore Alahania (Mahala 3)

Just like the Alahania revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib, this composition revealed by Guru Amards Sahib also illustrates the impermanence of the material world and inspires the mind towards a perpetual connection with IkOankar (the Divine).

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Thursday
,
28
March
2024

Explore Alahania (Mahala 1)

Alahani is a mournful or sorrowful Panjabi folk song. When a person dies, friends and relatives usually visit the deceased’s family to share their sorrow and memories of their loved one’s life and deeds.

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Wednesday
,
1
September
2021

Explore Rag Asa

Under Rag Asa, Guru Teghbahadar Sahib has revealed one Sabad, which is recorded on page 411 of the Guru Granth Sahib. This Sabad comprises of two stanzas. The stanza of rahau is separate from these stanzas.

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Thursday
,
16
September
2021

Guru Teghbahadar Sahib in Rag Jaitsari - The Guru Granth Sahib Project

​​The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of three Sabads, Infinite-Wisdom, of Guru Teghbahadar Sahib in Rag (musical mode) Jaitsari. This ancient rag evokes a mood of happiness and bliss.

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Thursday
,
21
October
2021

Explore Rag Bilaval & Rag Tilang

The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of six Sabads, (Infinite-Wisdom) of Guru Teghbahadar Sahib. Three Sabads are in Rag (musical mode) Tilang, and three are in Rag Bilaval.

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Wednesday
,
17
November
2021

Explore Rag Ramkali & Rag Maru

The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of six Sabads, (Infinite-Wisdom) of Guru Teghbahadar Sahib. Three Sabads are in Rag (musical mode) Ramkali, and three are in Rag Maru.

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Thursday
,
16
December
2021

Explore Rag Dhanasari & Rag Sarang

The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of eight Sabads, (Infinite-Wisdom) of Guru Teghbahadar Sahib. Four Sabads are in Rag Dhanasari (a musical mode), and four are in Rag Sarang. 

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Thursday
,
20
January
2022

Guru Teghbahadar Sahib in Rag Jaijavanti & Rag Basant

The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of nine Sabads (Infinite-Wisdom) of Guru Teghbahadar Sahib. Four Sabads are in Rag Jaijavanti (a musical mode), and five are in Rag Basant. 

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Articles

Tuesday
,
10
October
2023

Stanza Structure in a Sabad

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.

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Monday
,
30
October
2017

"Be-gam-pura" – City’s name is "Sorrow-less-ville"

This Sabad, composed by Bhagat Ravidas ji in the Gauri rag, reflects a vision of a sorrowless realm, a state of being beyond pain and anxiety.

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Monday
,
30
October
2017

"Be-gam-pura" – City’s name is "Sorrow-less-ville"

This Sabad, composed by Bhagat Ravidas ji in the Gauri rag, reflects a vision of a sorrowless realm, a state of being beyond pain and anxiety.

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Tuesday
,
10
October
2023

Stanza Structure in a Sabad

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.

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Podcasts

Thursday
,
6
August
2026

Explore Savaiye Sri Mukhbakya I

Saviye Sri Mukhbakya (Mahala 5) I explores a kind of devotion that arises intuitively from love, awe, and lived experience—not from rigid intellectualism or empty ritualisms.

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Thursday
,
23
July
2026

Explore Din Raini

In the Guru Granth Sahib, Din Raini is a poetic form, like Barah Maha, Ruti, Thiti, and Var Sat, structured around traditional Indic units of time.

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Thursday
,
18
June
2026

Explore Thiti (Kabir Ji)

In this Thiti, Bhagat Kabir Ji uses the lunar fortnight calendar to guide us through an inner journey of remembrance, awareness, and transformation.

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Thursday
,
21
May
2026

Explore Bani Bhagat Jaidev Ji

The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to announce the annotation of two Sabads by Bhagat Jaidev Ji, one of the fifteen Bhagat contributors to the Guru Granth Sahib.

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Friday
,
10
April
2026

Explore Sabads by Guru Arjan Sahib under the titles Anjuli & Anjulia

The word ‘anjuli’ refers to the gesture of cupping or folding the hands. It can signify prayer, supplication, seeking blessings, acceptance of the Divine will, or a gesture of salutation.

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Thursday
,
5
March
2026

Explore Birhare

The word ‘birhare’ comes from ‘birha,’ meaning separation, or the pain of separation. ‘Birhare,’ meaning ‘songs of separation,’ is a poetic form that gives voice to this pain of separation.

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Thursday
,
24
April
2025

Explore Var Sat (Mahala 3) 1/2

‘Var Sat’ (seven days) is commonly known as ‘Satvar’ or ‘Satvara.’ Satvara is a classical and popular poetic form based on the seven days of the week.

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Wednesday
,
14
May
2025

Explore So Purakhu

So Purakhu is a collection of four Sabads, the source of Infinite-Wisdom, out of which Guru Ramdas Sahib has revealed two Sabads, and one each by Guru Nanak Sahib and Guru Arjan Sahib.

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Thursday
,
29
May
2025

Explore Var Sat (Mahala 3) 2/2

In this composition, Guru Amardas Sahib highlights that IkOankar (the Divine) is the Creator of all existence. It portrays how individuals who cling to temporary possessions and relationships remain trapped in the cycle of birth and death.

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Wednesday
,
11
June
2025

Explore Rag Ramkali & Rag Maru

Rag Ramkali evokes compassion, and Rag Maru is associated with enthusiasm and zeal.

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Thursday
,
26
June
2025

Explore Bani Bhagat Beni Ji

The Guru Granth Sahib Project has released annotations on all three Sabads (compositions) by Bhagat Beni Ji, one each set in Rags Srirag, Ramkali, and Prabhati. Each composition reflects unique emotions—serious reflection, compassion, and deep devotion.

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Wednesday
,
9
July
2025

Explore Rag Asa

Rag Asa is a musical mode that evokes hope, yearning, and the desire to move from darkness toward light. In this composition, our attention is turned inwards, and we are offered not just a moment for reflection but the possibility of transcendence.

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