Part 2 of Chapter 3 of Victory and Virtue
Structure of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib
Within it’s 1430 pages, the Shabads of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib are arranged in thirty-one Ragas, the traditional Indian musical measures and scales. Within the Ragas, they are arranged by order of the Sikh Gurus, with the Shabads of the Hindu and Muslim Saints following. The Shabads are written in various meters and rhythms, and are organized accordingly. For instance, Ashtapadi – eight steps, or Panch-padi – five steps.
The Siri Guru Granth Sahib is written in Gurmukhi script, but the Shabads were written in many different languages including Panjabi, Sanskrit and Persian.
Historical Volumes of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib
KARTARPUR VAALI BIR: As described above, Guru Arjun dictated the Adi Granth to Bhai Gur Das. This first volume, or Bir, was made in Amritsar and later transferred to Kartarpur, where it remains today. The opening lines are in the hand of Guru Arjun, and it bears the signature of Guru Hargobind at the end. There are several blank pages, left by Guru Arjun to hold the writings of Guru Teg Bahadur.
BHAI BANNO VAALI BIR: After completing the Adi Granth, Guru Arjun asked one of his Sikhs, Bhai Banno, to take the manuscript to Lahore to have it bound. During this journey, Bhai Banno had a copy made for his own use. He inserted a few Shabads of his own choosing, however. This version remains with his descendents.
DAMDAMA VAALI BIR: This is the volume dictated by Guru Gobind Singh at Damdama Sahib to Mani Singh. In it, Guru Gobind Singh included the Shabads of Guru Teg Bahadur. The volumes of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib which preside over our Gurdwaras now are copies of this edition.
Using the Gurmukhi Bir and the English Translation
In the West, it has become common to use the English translation of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib in Gurdwara programs and Akhand Paaths, because many of the Western Sikhs are not fluent in Gurmukhi. This has served to bring many to the Feet of the Guru who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to experience the Shabad Guru. It should be noted, however, that it is ideal to install the full Gurmukhi Bir in the Gurdwara in order to fully experience and develop a relationship with the Guru. The English translation can be installed on a separate Palki on the side and serve to illuminate the sangat in the meaning of the Words of the Guru. The English translation may be used during an Akhand Paath in which the participants are not fluent in Gurmukhi. Howev er, if a special Gurdwara program is being planned, the English Akhand Paath days can be accomodated so that the full Gurmukhi Bir of Siri Guru Granth Sahib presides.
A Sikh is encouraged to learn to read Gurmukhi so as to deepen his or her experience of Gurbani and so that the full body of the Guru may be installed in the Gurdwara.
If one wishes to secure a Gurmukhi Bir of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, s/he may contact the Office of the Bhai Sahiba of Sikh Dharma.
Rajinder Singh says:
A raga is a complex structure of musical melody used in Indian classical music. It is a set of rules of how to build a melody which can ignite a certain mood in the reciter and listeners.
The Sikh holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, is composed in and divided by 60 ragas or melodies. This is a combination of 39 single raags and 21 “Mishrat” raags [a raag composed by combining two or three raags (melodies) together to create an entirely new and independent raag or melody]. Each melody sets a particular mood for the hymn, adding a deeper dimension to it. Each raga is a chapter or section in the Guru Granth Sahib starting with Asaa raag. All raags in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji are named as “Raag”.
Raags are used in Sikh music simply to create a mood, and are not restricted to particular times. A mood can be created by the music of the raag regardless of the time of day. The Guru Granth Sahib is incorrectly thought by many to have just 31 raags or melodies.
Please find below the list of raags and their associated page, in order of appearance, within the Guru Granth Sahib:
1. Aasaa – 8
2. Gujari – 10
3. Gauri Deepaki – 12 (Mishrat Raag)
4. Dhanasari – 13
5. Gauri Poorbi – 13 (Mishrat Raag)
6. Siri Raag – 14
7. Majh – 94
8. Gauri Guarairi – 151 (Mishrat Raag)
9. Gauri – 151
10. Gauri Dakhani – 152
11. Gauri Chaytee – 154 (Mishrat Raag)
12. Gauri Bairagan – 156 (Mishrat Raag)
13. Gauri Poorbi Deepaki – 157 (Mishrat Raag)
14. Gauri Majh – 172 (Mishrat Raag)
15. Gauri Malva – 214 (Mishrat Raag)
16. Gauri Mala – 214 (Mishrat Raag)
17. Gauri Sorath – 330 (Mishrat Raag)
18. Aasaa Kafi – 365 (Mishrat Raag)
19. Asavari – 369
20. Aasaa Asavari – 409 (Mishrat Raag)
21. Devgandhari – 527
22. Bihagara – 537
23. Vadhans – 557
24. Vadhans Dakhani – 580
25. Sorath – 595
26. Jaitsiri – 696
27. Todi – 711
28. Bairari – 719
29. Tilang – 721
30. Tilang Kafi – 726 (Mishrat Raag)
31. Suhi – 728
32. Suhi Kafi – 751 (Mishrat Raag)
33. Suhi Lalit – 793 (Mishrat Raag)
34. Bilaval – 795
35. Bilaval Dakhani – 843
36. Gond – 859
37. Bilaval Gond – 874 (Mishrat Raag)
38. Ramkali – 876
39. Ramkali Dakhani – 907
40. Nut Narayan – 975
41. Nut – 975
42. Mali Gaura – 984
43. Maru – 989
44. Maru Kafi – 1014 (Mishrat Raag)
45. Maru Dakhani – 1033
46. Tukhari – 1107
47. Kedara – 1118
48. Bhairao – 1125
49. Basant – 1168
50. Basant Hindol – 1170 (Mishrat Raag)
51. Sarag – 1197
52. Malhar – 1254
53. Kaanara – 1294
54. Kalian – 1319
55. Kalian Bhopali – 1321 (Mishrat Raag)
56. Parbhati Bibhas – 1327 (Mishrat Raag)
57. Parbhati – 1327
58. Parbhati Dakhani – 1344
59. Bibhas Parbhati – 1347 (Mishrat Raag)
60. Jaijavanti – 1352
Gopal Basant Singh says:
Mue graciuSa Ta Na Ma @ Aon{Isht} conséquence. Apana Prayer Prannee must read Sundays better in gain blue turban tie Ah¬