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
,
13
March
2025

Explore Barah Maha (Mahala 5)

In celebration of the Nanakshahi Sikh New Year, The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of Barah Maha, a composition revealed by Guru Arjan Sahib in Rag Majh.

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Thursday
,
20
February
2025

Explore Thiti (Mahala 1)

Thiti refers to a lunar calendar day—a count from the first to the fifteenth day based on the moon's phases. As a poetic form, Thiti is based on the fifteen lunar days of the Indic calendar months.

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Thursday
,
16
January
2025

Explore Bani Bhagat Surdas Ji

Bhagat Surdas Ji is one of the fifteen Bhagat contributors to the Guru Granth Sahib, whose composition is recorded on page 1253. The line urges the mind to forsake the company of those who have turned away from IkOankar (the Divine).

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Thursday
,
19
December
2024

Explore Var Sat (Kabir Ji)

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.

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Tuesday
,
26
November
2024

Explore Patti (Mahala 3)

The essence of this composition is revealed in the stanza of rahau (pause). In it, worldly accounting (entanglements) is described as useless.

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Thursday
,
17
October
2024

Explore Patti (Mahala 1)

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.

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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.

READ More ⟶
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.

READ More ⟶

Podcasts

Thursday
,
20
March
2025

Explore Barah Maha (Mahala 5)

On 14 March, in celebration of the Nanakshahi Sikh New Year, The Guru Granth Sahib Project released the annotation of Barah Maha, a powerful composition revealed by Guru Arjan Sahib in Rag Majh.

LISTEN NOW⟶
Wednesday
,
12
March
2025

Explore Bani Bhagat Ramanand

In this Sabad, Bhagat Ramanand Ji highlights the significance of remembering the all-pervading IkOankar (the Divine) rather than worshipping the idol of any deity.

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Thursday
,
27
February
2025

Explore Thiti (Mahala 1)

Thiti refers to a lunar calendar day, counted from the first to the fifteenth day based on the moon's phases. As a poetic form, Thiti is structured around the fifteen lunar days of the Indic calendar months.

LISTEN NOW⟶
Wednesday
,
12
February
2025

Explore Janam & Nam Sanskar

In Sikh tradition, the Birth & Naming Ceremony compositions nurture a sense of connection, love, and gratitude with IkOankar (the Divine).

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Thursday
,
23
January
2025

Explore Bani Bhagat Surdas Ji

Bhagat Surdas Ji, one of the fifteen Bhagat contributors to the Guru Granth Sahib, has a composition recorded on page 1253. This line encourages the mind to abandon the company of those who have turned away from IkOankar (the Divine).

LISTEN NOW⟶
Thursday
,
26
December
2024

Explore Var Sat (Kabir Ji)

‘Var Sat,’ commonly called 'Satvar' or 'Satvara,' is a poetic form based on the seven days of the week. It is a unique literary style that connects each day of the week with a specific idea, emotion, teaching, or reflection.

LISTEN NOW⟶
Wednesday
,
3
July
2024

Explore Sabads On the Theme of Amrit (Initiation) Ceremony

Amrit Ceremony is a fundamental and an essential rite for a seeker to join the Khalsa Panth. Through this the seeker is given ‘amrit’ and the core principles and values of Sikhi are explained to them.

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Wednesday
,
10
July
2024

Explore Anand Sanskar 1/2

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.

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Thursday
,
25
July
2024

Explore Karhale

The term 'karhale' is derived from the Rajasthani and Sindhi word 'karhal,' which means camel.

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Wednesday
,
7
August
2024

Explore Anand Sanskar 2/2

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.’

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Wednesday
,
21
August
2024

Explore Lava

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...

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Thursday
,
5
September
2024

Explore Chaubole

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.

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