The Guru Granth Sahib is the sacred scripture of Sikhism and, since 1708, the eternal Guru of the Sikh community. It is a compilation of devotional poetry, hymns, and spiritual teachings by Sikh Gurus and saints of various traditions, treated as a living guide and object of reverence in Sikh life and worship.
Guru Granth Sahib is a Punjabi honorific phrase: Guru means 'teacher' or 'guide' (from Sanskrit gu-ru, 'one who dispels darkness'); Granth means 'book' or 'scripture' (from Sanskrit grantha); Sahib is a title of respect meaning 'master' or 'sir.' Together, it translates literally as 'Master Book, the Guru.'
Shruti (revealed scripture) — Both represent divine revelation captured in text; however, Shruti denotes what was 'heard' by ancient rishis, whereas the Granth is a compiled record of Guru-utterance and bhakti poetry, emphasizing the guru-disciple relationship.
Qur'an — Both are revered as God's word made accessible through human vessels and are treated as guides for the community; the Qur'an is understood as God's direct speech, while the Granth is the Gurus' mystical utterance in response to God.
The Word (Logos) — Both point to a divine principle expressing itself in language; the Granth embodies divine wisdom accessible through the Gurus' voices, paralleling (but not identical to) the Christian understanding of sacred utterance.
Dharma texts and the Dharmadhatu — Both are understood as repositories of liberating teaching; the Granth, like Buddhist scriptures, is a guide to realizing unity with the Divine, though they differ in structure and cosmological context.
Sikhs approach the Guru Granth Sahib with utmost reverence—removing shoes, bowing, and covering the head before it in the Gurdwara. Daily devotional reading (nitnem) draws on its verses; the practice of Akhand Path (unbroken continuous recitation) marks celebrations and transitions. In this encounter, the seeker does not merely study text but meets the living Guru, allowing its words to guide conscience, ethics, and the inward journey toward Ik Onkar (One Creator).
What does Guru Granth Sahib mean?
It means 'Master Book, the Guru'—sahib being an honorific. In Sikhism, it is not merely a book but the eternal spiritual guide of the community, containing the divine wisdom transmitted through the ten Sikh Gurus and other saints.
Is the Guru Granth Sahib the same as the Bible or Qur'an?
While all three are sacred texts guiding their communities, the Guru Granth Sahib is unique in being formally designated the Guru (teacher) itself since 1708, rather than a record about a prophet or apostles. Its authors span multiple faiths and castes, emphasizing universal divine truth.
Who wrote the Guru Granth Sahib?
It was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev (the fifth Sikh Guru) and completed in 1604; it contains hymns by the ten Sikh Gurus and devotional poetry by saints of Hindu, Muslim, and other backgrounds. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, formally installed it as the eternal Guru of the Sikhs in 1708.
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