GURU GRUNTH SAHIB: A
UNIVERSAL SPIRITUAL LIGHT FOR THE AGES
The global Sikh community, religious scholars and spiritual
leaders, the state, national, and international dignitaries,
and interfaith organizations are making special preparations
for a grand celebration to commemorate the landmark 400th
anniversary of the Prakash Ustav (installation of the original
Guru Grunth Sahib, the sacred scriptures of the Sikh faith)
at Harmandir Sahib, the holiest shrine and the Saint Peter's
and the Vatican of the Sikhs, at Amritsar, India in 1604.
Special declarations, proclamations and festive events will
launch the historic celebrations which officially begin
on September1, 2004.
The journey of the Sikh faith since its founding over 500
years ago, and since bestowing upon the Sikh community and
the world this spiritual treasure four hundred years ago,
has been extraordinary, momentous, and at times very difficult.
Along this journey, there have been events of incredible
darkness wrought upon the Sikhs by forces of evil and tyrants
and many defining moments of legendary courage, devotion,
and unmatched sacrifices for the preservation of the sanctity
of their faith and sacred Temple complex.
Today this journey of the fifth largest religion, embraced
by over 25 million followers, offers a window to their faith,
spirituality, beliefs, and traditions; and to the history,
culture, legacy, and the fiercely defiant Sikh spirit. We
witness with much gratitude, and thanks to the communication
revolution and international travel, that today the Sikh
faith and its traditions have spread to the farthest corners
of the Earth.
I am not a historian, scholar, or interpreter of the sacred
scriptures. From what I have heard, read, and understood
about the letter and spirit from the music, melody, and
the message, the life and times of the Messengers of the
faith, and meditation on the Shabad, the sacred, illuminating
Word and Light of Waheguru (the Wonderful Lord), I humbly
offer the following reflections and tribute on this historic
occasion and global celebration.
I have tried to imagine:
The challenging task: collecting the often jealously guarded
and scattered manuscripts of the sacred Bani (hymns) of
the first four Sikh Gurus and the several Moslem and Hindu
Saints of many castes and origins whose compositions were
carefully chosen to be enshrined in the Guru Grunth Sahib
before any compilation could begin.
The great attention to detail: meticulous arrangement of
over 5,867 compositions in poetry, musical (Raga) assignments
to each, language and spirit considerations before the monumental
task of preparing a central and exulted spiritual anchor
for their lives and faith. Many regional languages are represented,
but the final script chosen is Gurumukhi.
The awesome patience: devotion, humility, and seva (tireless
labor) of the enlightened and saintly scribe, the great
Sikh Saint Bhai Gurdas, whose own compositions though not
included in the completed scripture, had been hailed by
the Fifth Sikh Guru, Arjan Dev, as the Key to understanding
the Guru Grunth Sahib.
The Light and Spirit of the saintly Guru Arjan Dev, the
Fifth Nanak and celebrated Sikh Martyr, as he dictated the
Adi Grunth to his noble and beloved scribe and Sikh, Bhai
Gurdas, and the sense of unbound excitement at each step
leading to the completion.
The thoughts of the Guru, his devoted assistants, and disciples
at the completion of the holy task and the plans for the
auspicious installation of the sacred Adi Grunth at the
newly-built Harmandir Sahib (Temple of the Lord) located
in the middle of the sacred tank of Guru Ram Das, the Fourth
Nanak of the Sikhs, at Amritsar.
The boundless joy of the followers of the young faith gathered
for another first as they carried the Word and Light of
God enshrined in the sacred scripture with utmost reverence
and with festive trumpets; the ceremonial installation of
the Adi Grunth at the sanctum sanctorum of the Sikh soul:
the famous Durbar Sahib (The Court of The Lord).
The first Hukamnama (reading of hymn from the Grunth Sahib)
in the presence of a radiant Guru Arjan Dev and blessed
few Sikhs who were inside the Temple at that historic moment.
What grateful emotions must have greeted the faces and spirit
of the young Sikh nation? What spiritual imprints must have
departed from there in the hearts and souls of those present
to witness to this landmark spiritual event 400 years ago?
We know since then, under the Golden Domes of this Indo-Saracenic
architectural jewel have reverberated an unmistakable message
of Oneness, Universality, Equality, Human Dignity, Justice,
Righteous Living, Sanctity of All Faiths, and Service and
Goodwill towards all Mankind. The faith tradition and hymns
proclaim the "presence of Divine Light in every living
being." Generations of religious singers have had the
distinct honor to sing at this place of temporal and celestial
beauty and offer renditions in various Ragas in praise of
the One Creator and His indescribable glories, attributes,
and benevolence.
I have tried to imagine:
Millions of Sikhs and followers of other faith traditions
who have come to this shrine to offer their prayers and
petitions for their hopes and concerns or simply to have
a glimpse of a faith tradition and its magnificent edifice
which is "none like any other among other spiritual
places." What thoughts and feelings they have carried
to their diverse beliefs and distant places from their "pilgrimage
of spirit." My own spirit finds ecstasy, a sense of
awe, and thanksgiving with each step around this sacred
space that I have had the fortune to visit countless times
during my trips to India from the USA over the past 40 years.
My joy has always been tempered when I have remembered
the repeated desecration and destruction of the sacred Harmandir,
now popularly known as The Golden Temple since its restoration
and beautification by the Sikh Maharaja, Ranjit Singh, in
the nineteenth century. My spirit travels to thousands of
martyrs; brave souls who laid down their lives to defend
the honor of their Guru, Sikh nation, sanctity of human
rights and freedoms at this world famous monument and heritage
site. I remember with grateful reverence that I am walking
on hallowed ground; incredible acts of righteous defiance
and sacrifice have taken place here. This place is sanctified
by the martyrs, history, and the Sikh Gurus.
As I walk the Parkarma (ceremonial walkway surrounding
the Sarovar, the sacred tank) towards the main entrance,
I am listening to the sacred music from inside the Temple
filling the air around the vast spiritual complex. My spirit
is reminding me that this is not just another temple, it
is the House of my Living Guru: my Divine Teacher, Father
and Mother, and the Guardian and Mentor of my soul. The
Divine wisdom and illumination in the Guru Grunth Sahib
is not just a borrowed bridge between Eastern and Western
faiths and philosophies and not just a sacred book inspired
by other faiths and doctrines as some suggest, but is a
unique, revealed repository of Divine Light for all who
wish to learn, explore, and seek additional thoughts on
the One Universal Truth. I see before me a Temple in regal
golden splendor and a little of heaven captured in shimmering
reflection.
The sacred Guru Grunth Sahib enshrines the Eternal Wisdom
of ages in its 1430 pages and its spiritual richness and
relevance stands on its own independent testimony, revealed
and blessed to us by our Gurus, and personally installed
by a Divine Messenger, the Fifth Nanak of the Sikhs, Guru
Arjan Dev. The divinely-inspired compositions, all in poetry
are rich in imagery, inspirations, languages, and music;
offering an eternal song for the human soul. Covered in
brocade silks, the Shabad in Grunth Sahib is accorded the
status of royalty and exulted as a Living Guru. It is Divine
Light personified and sanctified. The Message and Messenger
as One proclaiming, advocating, and commanding us to embrace
humanity in a Circle of Light, Love, Service, Equality,
Dignity, Justice, and Brotherhood.
I am trying to imagine all the events in the history of
the sacred complex and the millions who have contributed
to its magnificence, spirit, and sanctity over the past
400 years. I cannot imagine any moment since the very first
that would have more global significance than the momentous
Quad-Centennial Celebration of the Prakash Ustav of Guru
Grunth Sahib on September 1, 2004. Not only this would be
one of the biggest gatherings in Amritsar and perhaps in
world history (over 3 million are expected, including many
leaders and dignitaries from several faiths), but this event
will be beamed and shared with billions across the world.
There has been no time in human history when wisdom and
Light of Guru Grunth Sahib have been more universally important
as right now.
This spiritual moment belongs to all mankind, as do the
Sikh Scriptures as a precious jewel among the collective
spiritual heritage of mankind. It is the Living Guru of
the Sikhs as commanded by the Tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh,
in 1708, but I believe it is a spiritual gift for all mankind
since the Guru reminds us: "O mortal, recognize all
humanity as One Race, One Brotherhood." I join millions
across the human continents in offering my humble salutations
to my Gurus and to the people of all faith traditions on
this landmark moment for the Sikhs and their faith. "May,
in the Name of One Universal Creator, there be peace and
goodwill among all people and all nations." As we celebrate
our shared spiritual heritage, may we find common sacred
ground amidst the tapestry of our faiths. May such celebrations
guide our spiritual destiny to witness Faith with Love.
Kanwal Prakash Singh
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA September 1, 2004
