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Unlock This CourseIn Guru Gobind Singh, the Khalsa and the Five Ks you saw that, before he died in 1708, the tenth Guru declared that there would be no more human Gurus. In The Ten Gurus you met the Adi Granth, the scripture first compiled by Guru Arjan in 1604. This lesson looks at that scripture in its final form, the Guru Granth Sahib.
Sikhs believe that the Guru Granth Sahib is not just a holy book. They believe it is the eleventh and eternal Guru. The Gurus in human form carried the same light, and Sikhs believe that this light now lives in the words of the scripture. That is why Sikhs call it the living Guru.
Key terms:
The scripture has authority for Sikhs because it holds the Gurus' own words. It is the final authority on Sikh belief: when Sikhs ask what they should believe or how they should live, they turn to the Guru Granth Sahib.
It is a compilation (a collection) of hymns. Most are by the Gurus in human form, and hymns by Guru Tegh Bahadur were added by Guru Gobind Singh. It also holds hymns by sants from different backgrounds, including Hindus and Muslims, such as Kabir and Sheikh Farid. Sikhs see this as a sign that truth is not limited to one group.
The hymns are arranged by the raga in which they are meant to be sung. Music is part of how Sikhs share the Guru's message, which you will see in The Guru Granth Sahib in Daily Life.
Because Sikhs treat the scripture as a Guru, they show it the respect they would show a king or a teacher. In a gurdwara, the Sikh place of worship, this includes the following.
What each of these features is for in the building is explained in The Gurdwara: Door of the Guru.
Sikhs worship God alone. They do not worship the book itself. They bow to the Guru Granth Sahib because it carries the Guru's teaching and light, in the same way that people stand when a respected elder or a judge enters the room. The respect is for the Guru and for the message.
All Sikhs accept the Guru Granth Sahib as their Guru. Sikhs may still stress different things. Some put most weight on the careful rules of respect, such as the cloths, the chaur and bowing. Others put most weight on reading it, understanding it and living by its teaching. Most Sikhs would say both matter, and that respect without understanding is not enough.
The Guru Granth Sahib gives Sikhs one scripture, one Guru and one set of teachings wherever they live. It links Sikhs today to the Gurus, and it is at the centre of every gurdwara. Its hymns come from people of different backgrounds, which supports the Sikh belief in equality.
(a) Outline two ways in which the Guru Granth Sahib is shown respect in a gurdwara. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why the Guru Granth Sahib is important for Sikhs. [6 marks]
(c) "The Guru Granth Sahib is just a holy book." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view, and your own opinion with reasoned arguments. [10 marks]
(a) It is placed on a takht, a raised platform, under a canopy (1), which shows that it is treated like a king or a teacher (1). A chaur is waved over it (1), as it was once waved over rulers, to show it has the highest authority (1).
(b) It is important because Sikhs believe it is the eleventh and eternal Guru, so they turn to it for guidance (1). It holds the Gurus' own words, which gives it authority over Sikh belief (1). It also holds the hymns of sants such as Kabir and Sheikh Farid, so it shows that truth is not limited to one group (1). Every copy has the same 1,430 pages, so Sikhs everywhere can read together (1). It begins with the Mool Mantar, which sums up what Sikhs believe about God (1). It links Sikhs today to the Gurus now that there are no more human Gurus (1).
(c) Plan. For: it is a book of hymns written by people and printed on paper; someone outside the religion may see it as a scripture like any other. Against: Sikhs believe Guru Gobind Singh made it the Guru, so it is a living Guru and not just a book; it is installed, fanned and bowed to as a Guru; it is the final authority on belief. Other views: some Sikhs stress the rules of respect, others stress understanding and living by its teaching. Conclusion: a possible conclusion is that to a non-believer it may look like a book, but for Sikhs the statement is wrong, because what matters is the Guru's teaching and authority that it carries.
In "Outline two ways" questions, name the way of showing respect and then say what it shows. A custom with no reason earns only half the marks.