Sikh hymns
Gurbani
(
Punjabi
:
???????
, pronunciation:
[??baː?iː]
, lit. the Guru's words) is a Sikh term, very commonly used by
Sikhs
to refer to various compositions by the
Sikh Gurus
and other
writers of Guru Granth Sahib
. In general, hymns in the central text of the Sikhs, the
Guru Granth Sahib
, are called
Gurbani
. Among
Amritdhari
Sikhs, a few texts from
Dasam Granth
which are read as
Nitnem
, like
Tav-Prasad Savaiye
and
Chaupai
, are also considered
Gurbani
. In Adi Granth, Gurbani is a sound which comes directly from the Supreme and the text is a written form of the same in worldly language and scripts. It is also called
Guru’s Bani
.
[1]
Gurbani are explanations of qualities of the Primal Lord and Soul which a Sikh should comprehend and with which they can attain the supreme state.
Sikh historical writings, unauthentic writings or apocryphal compositions written under the names of Sikh Gurus and other writings by
Sikhs
are not considered Gurbani and are referred to as
Kachi Bani
(???? ????; meaning
adulterated verses
).
[2]
Etymology
[
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]
Gurbani
is composed of two words: 'Gur' and 'Bani'. Gur has multiple meanings depending on context. In
Guru Granth Sahib
,
Gur
is used for multiple meanings, as per context of hymn. The common use of
Gur
is either for wisdom and internal conscious mind (referred to as Chitta or Antar Atma).
[3]
Thereby Gurbani either means
the speech of wisdom
or
the speech of conscious mind
.
Gurbani is directly received from inside after attaining a Supreme state, whereas the Granth or textual form is worldly language of the same. Gurbani is also referred to as
Dhur Ki Bani
(??? ?? ????; meaning
the speech from the Supreme house
). In the Adi Granth, it is considered a source of spiritual knowledge which illuminates the mind and gives internal bliss. The one who comprehends Gurbani is also described as an Amritdhari. Gurbani is a source of truth with which the internal filth and sins get eradicated and one who find Gurbani sweet is in supreme state.
Extracts from
Guru Granth Sahib
are called Gutkas (?????; meaning
small books
) containing sections of Gurbani. These Gutkas can vary from just a few pages to hundreds of pages and are used by the Sikhs to read these Banis on a daily basis.
Compilation
[
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]
Gurbani is not seen as mere intellectual, spiritual writings conjured by the
Sikh gurus
,
bhagats
,
bhatts
, and
gursikhs
, but rather as divine word revealed by the creator itself.
[4]
As per Guru Arjan regarding the origin of gurbani:
[4]
"Bani originated from the
Primordial One
(
dhurki bani
), and removes all anxiety."
?
Guru Arjan,
The Sikh View on Happiness: Guru Arjan’s Sukhmani
(2020), page 36
Nitnem compositions
[
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]
The hymns of the
Japji Sahib
,
Jaap Sahib
,
Tav-Prasad Savaiye
,
Chaupai Sahib
and
Anand Sahib
should be read before sunrise daily according to the
Sikh Rehat Maryada
. These are recited by initiated Sikhs at
Amritvela
(before 6 AM).
Rehras
is read in the evening around sunset or after a day's work and finally
Kirtan Sohila
is read before going to bed. Doing
Nitnem
is also commonly referred as doing
paath
.
[5]
Japji Sahib
,
Anand Sahib
, and
Kirtan Sohila
are a part of
Guru Granth Sahib
.
Jaap Sahib
,
Tav-Prasad Savaiye
, and
Chaupai Sahib
were all compiled by
Guru Gobind Singh
and found in the
Dasam Granth
.
Rehras
is a mix with hymns from both Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth. A Sikh may add more
Gurbani
to their Nitnem and if done frequently that
Gurbani
becomes a part of their
Nitnem
.
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]
- ^
??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ?????
Servant Nanak chants the Glorious Words of the Guru's Bani; through them, one is absorbed into the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||4||5||: Page 494, M5
- ^
The Sikh Encyclopedia
: APOCRYPHAL COMPOSITIONS
- ^
??????? ,Mahankosh, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha
- ^
a
b
Nayar, Kamala Elizabeth; Sandhu, Jaswinder Singh (2020).
The Sikh View on Happiness: Guru Arjan’s Sukhmani
. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 36.
ISBN
9781350139886
.
- ^
Singha, H.S. (2008).
Sikh Studies, Book 7
(Fifth Impression ed.). New Delhi: Hemkunt Press: Sikhism a complete introduction. p. 88.
ISBN
9788170102458
.