Writers of Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਗਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ;Hindi: गुरु ग्रन्थ साहिब;[ɡʊɾu ɡɾəntʰ sɑhɪb]), is the central religious text of Sikhism, considered by Sikhs to be the final sovereign Guru of the religion.[1] It is a voluminous text of 1430 Angs (pages), containing hymns of 36 saint mystics which includes Sikh Gurus, Sikh Bhagats, Sikh Bhatts and other Gursikhs.
Details
Name | Timeline | Background | Caste/Tribe/Profession | No. of Hymns |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bhagat Kabir | 14th Century | Born Muslim, later became Vaishnav Hindu | Julaha | 523 |
Bhagat Ravidas | 14th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Chamar | 41 |
Bhagat Namdev | 14th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Chimba | 62 |
Bhagat Trilochan | 14th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Vaishya | 5 |
Bhagat Ramanand | 14th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Brahmin | 1 |
Bhagat Sadhana | 14th Century | Muslim | Qassab (Butcher) | 1 |
Bhagat Parmanand | 14th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Brahmin | 1 |
Bhagat Jaidev | 14th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Brahmin | 2 |
Bhagat Dhanna | 14th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Jat | 4 |
Bhagat Bhikhan | 14th Century | Muslim | Sayyid | 2 |
Bhagat Beni | 14th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Brahmin | 3 |
Bhagat Pipa | 14th Century | Shaiv|Vaishnav Hindu | Rajput | 1 |
Bhagat Sain | 14th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Nai | 1 |
Bhagat Surdas | 14th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Brahmin | 2 |
Guru Nanak | 15th Century | Gurmukh from birth | Kshatriya | 950 |
Guru Angad | 15th Century | Shaiv Hindu, Became Gurmukh after gurship | Kshatriya | 63 |
Guru Amar Das | 15th Century | Vaishnav Hindu, Became Gurmukh after gurship | Kshatriya | 869 |
Baba Sundar | 15th Century | Vaishnav Hindu | Kshatriya | 6 |
Sheikh Farid | 12th Century | Sufi Islam | Sayyid | 123 |
Guru Ram Das | 15th Century | N/A - Gurmukh from birth | Kshatriya | 638 |
Guru Arjan | 15th Century | N/A - Gurmukh from birth | Kshatriya | 2312 |
Satta Doom | 15th Century | Muslim | Mirasi | 3 |
Balvand Rai | 15th Century | Muslim | Mirasi | 3 |
Bhatt Kalshar | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 54 |
Bhatt Balh | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 5 |
Bhatt Bhalh | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 1 |
Bhatt Bhika | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 2 |
Bhatt Gayand | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 13 |
Bhatt Harbans | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 2 |
Bhatt Jalap | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 5 |
Bhatt Kirat | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 8 |
Bhatt Mathura | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 14 |
Bhatt Nalh | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 16 |
Bhatt Salh | 15th Century | Hindu | Brahmin | 3 |
Guru Tegh Bahadur | 15th Century | N/A - Gurmukh from birth | Kshatriya | 116 |
Categorization of Authors
Generally, Scholars categorize authors of Guru Granth Sahib into four groups:
- Sikh Gurus
- Sikh Bhagats
- Sikh Bhatts
- Gursikhs
Sikh Gurus
Philosophically, Sikhs are bound to believe in Shabad Guru but general belief is that The Sikh Gurus established Sikhism over the centuries, beginning in the year 1469. There are 6 Sikh Gurus whose hymns are present in Guru Granth Sahib:
Sikh Bhagats
In above list, The Sikh Bhagats (Punjabi: ਭਗਤ, from Sanskrit भक्त) were holy men of various sects whose teachings are included in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Their bani come under title Bani Bhagtaan Ki. The word "Bhagat" means devotee, and comes from the Sanskrit word Bhakti, which means devotion and love. Bhagats evolved a belief in one God that preceded Bhagat Kabir selected the writings of The Great Hindu Bhaktis and Sufi saints.
Among above, below is the list of Bhagats:[2]
Sikh Bhatts
Many Hindu Saraswat Brahmins started follow the word of Guru Nanak Dev known as Bhatts. There are 11 Sikh Bhatts whose bani is included in Guru Granth Sahib:
Controversial Authors:Mardana and Tall
There are two more writers of present recension of Adi Granth which is matter of debate among various scholars: Bhai Mardana and Bhatt Tall.
As per various scholars:
- There are two hymns under title Mardana 1[3] is composition of Bhai Mardana but other refute the claim, as there is pen name Nanak is used inside the hymn[4] and Mardana is type of Shalok.
- Similarly, there is a Swaiya in name of Bhatt Tall,[5] which according to some scholars is Gurmukhi Typo as it is Kal i.e Bhatt Kalshar.[6]
References
- ↑ Keene, Michael (2003). Online Worksheets. Nelson Thornes. p. 38. ISBN 0-7487-7159-X.
- ↑ Bahri, H.; Bansal, G.S.; Puran, B.; Singh, B.; Singh, B.; Buxi, L.S.; Chawla, H.S.; Chawla, S.S.; Das, D.; Dass, N.; et al. (2000). "4. Bhagats and Saints" (PDF). Studies. 63 (2): 169–93. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
- ↑ Page 553, Adi Granth, Translation of Sant Singh Khalsa
- ↑ ਇਸ ਸਲੋਕ ਮੈਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਮਰਦਾਨੇ ਕੇ ਪੂਛਨੇ ਸੇ ਤਿਸ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਤਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਤਾ ਅਰੁ ਮਨਮੁਖਤਾ ਕੀ ਮਦਰਾ ਕਾ ਰੂਪੁ ਬਰਨਨ ਕਰਤੇ ਹੈਂ ਔਰੁ ਦੋ ਪਰਕਾਰ ਕੀ ਮਦਿਰਾ ਮਨਮੁਖੋਂ ਕੀ ਔਰੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖੋਂ ਕੀ ਕਹੀ ਹੈ॥ ਪ੍ਰਥਮ ਮਨਮੁਖੋਂ ਕੀ ਮਦਿਰਾ ਕਹਤੇ ਹੈਂ॥: Fareedkoti Teeka, Adi Granth
- ↑ ਟਲ' ਜੀ ਕਹਤੇ ਹੈਂ ਹੇ ਭਾਈ ਐਸੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੋਂ ਕੋ ਸਹਜ ਸੁਭਾਵਕ ਨਿਰੰਤਰ ਹੀ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਹੇ ਭਾਈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੋਂ ਕੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਕਰਨੇ ਤੇ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਦੁਖ ਜਾਤਾ ਰਹਿਤਾ ਹੈ॥੧੦॥: Page 1392, Teeka Fareedkoti, Adi Granth
- ↑ Page 1392: ਟਲ = ਹੇ ਟੱਲ! ਹੇ ਕਲ੍ਯ੍ਯ! ਹੇ ਕਲ੍ਯ੍ਯਸਹਾਰ!: Teeka by Professor Sahib Singh, Adi Granth