"Shri" which denotes its holiness for Sikhs.
The Guru Granth Sahib became the Guru of the Sikhs and successor to
Guru Gobind Singh on October 1708, when the 10th Guru made Sri Guru
Granth Sahib the 11th and final eternal Guru.
The Guru Granth Sahib was compiled by Guru Arjan and Guru Gobind Singh.
The Adi Granth is often used to refer to the Guru Granth Sahib. The Adi
Granth is actually the original composition of the Guru Granth Sahib
which Guru Arjan compiled in 1604. This term is often used
interchangeably so it is important to note the context within which it
is used.
The
Granth was made a living guru by the last of the living Gurus, Guru
Gobind Singh in 1708. Guru Gobind Singh said before his demise that the
Sikhs were to treat the Granth as their next Guru.
The Guru Granth Sahib contains holy ideas and thoughts of great saints
from other religion, castes, and ethics. Some of these are Kabir,
Tulsidas, Ravidas.
When
one visits a Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship where the Guru Granth
Sahib is always present), The Guru Granth Sahib rests on a small throne
in the main part of the Darbar Sahib or the Royal Court of the Guru.
The platform is always covered by an ornate canopy. Sri Guru Granth
Sahib is written in the Gurmukhi script and contains many languages
including Braj, Old Punjabi, Khariboli, Sanskrit and Persian.
The
Guru Granth Sahib contains over 5000 Shabhads or hymns which are
poetically constructed; and set to classical forms of music Ragas; can
be set to predetermined musical Talas (rhythmic beats).
