Explained: The saroop of Sikh Holy Book, and code of conduct for transporting one

It was the fifth Sikh master, Guru Arjan Dev, who compiled the first Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib in 1604, and installed it at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Later, the tenth Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, added verses penned by the ninth master, his father Guru Tegh Bahadur, and compiled the Bir for the second and last time. It was in 1708 that Guru Gobind Singh declared the Guru Granth Sahib the living Guru of the Sikhs.

“Guru Granth Sahib is a compendium of hymns written by six Sikh gurus,15 saints, including Bhagat Kabir, Bhagat Ravidas, Sheikh Farid and Bhagat Namdev, 11 Bhatts (balladeers) and four Sikhs. The verses are composed in 31 ragas,” said Giani Harpreet Singh, Akal Takht Jathedar.

The Guru Granth Sahib being taken to the Indian Air Force aircraft, in Kabul on Monday. (ANI)

What does the act of carrying the saroop on one’s head signify?

The installation and transportation of Guru Granth Sahib is governed by a strict code of conduct called rehat maryada. Under ideal circumstances, five baptised Sikhs are required to transfer the Guru Granth Sahib from one place to another. As a mark of respect, the Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib is carried on the head, and the person walks barefoot.

Whenever a devout sees the Bir of Guru Granth Sahib passing by, s/he removes her shoes and bows.

A ceremonial whisk is waved high over the Guru Granth Sahib either on the move or while reading from it.

Gurdwaras have a separate resting place for the Saroop, called ‘Sukh Asan Sthan’ or ‘Sachkhand’ where the Guru rests at night. This takes place at the end of the day when the holy book is ceremoniously shut and rested. In the morning, the saroop is again installed in a ceremony called ‘prakash’. Many tourists specially come to watch the prakash and sukha asan ceremony of the Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple.

Where are copies of the Guru Granth Sahib published?

There was a tradition among Punjabis, both Sikhs and Hindus, to copy the Guru Granth Sahib by hand and produce multiple copies. The Udasi and Nirmla sects also played a role in making handwritten copies of the Birs until the British introduced the printing press.

The British also published several small copies of the Guru Granth Sahib for their Sikh soldiers so that they could carry these with them in the battlefield.

Nowadays, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has the sole rights to publish the Birs of the Guru Granth Sahib, and this is done at Amritsar.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri receives the saroops of the holy Guru Granth Sahib at Delhi airport on Tuesday (Twitter/@HardeepSPuri)

What is done with old Birs?

Old and worn Birs of the Guru Granth Sahib are brought to Goindwal Sahib in Tarn Taran district, where they are cremated. These days, only printed Birs are cremated as the SGPC and other Sikh bodies have been trying to protect the few handwritten Birs that remain.

How many saroops were there in Afghanistan?

“There were 13 saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib in Afghanistan, of which six were already shifted to India earlier. Three have been shifted today (Monday) and now just three more remain in Afghanistan. Those too will be shifted soon,” said Chhabol Singh, member Karte Parwan Gurdwara Committee.

The previous seven saroops were transferred following an attack on Gurudwara Har Rai Sahib in Kabul on March 25, 2020, when an Islamic State gunman stormed inside and killed at least 25 Sikhs.

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