Is Guru Granth Sahib Revealed By God? - Responding to Challenges to Sikhi

By Manvir Singh Khalsa

Q: The Quran claims to be a Revelation from God. However, neither the Guru Granth Sahib nor the authors claim it to have been revealed by God. So how can a Sikh claim their Scripture to be a Divine Revelation from God?

A: Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee is a Divinely Revealed Scripture. There are many occasions when this is made clear in Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee:

ਜੈਸੀ ਮੈ ਆਵੈ ਖਸਮ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਤੈਸੜਾ ਕਰੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਵੇ ਲਾਲੋ ॥
"O (Bhai) Lalo! As the Lord’s word comes to me so I deliver it."
(Ang 722, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji)


Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-gurus/14854-guru-granth-sahib-revealed-god-responding.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14854

Gurbaani has been revealed by Vaheguru through the human living Gurus. Vaheguru spoke through Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. Even Guru Nanak Sahib Ji states that his Guru is the ‘Shabad’, the Divine Word. Guru Ji says:

ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥
"The Divine Word is the Guru, and my mind in reflective meditation, the disciple"
(Ang 943)

Guru Amar Daas Sahib jee, the Third Nanak, goes one step forward in describing Gurbaani, the Shabad, the Divine Word, as the embodiment of the Truth, the embodiment of Vaheguru (the wondrous Lord) Himself:

ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਹੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
"Hail, Hail, the Word of the Guru, which is the embodiment of the Formless Lord Himself; there is none other, nothing else to be reckoned equal to it."
(Ang 515)

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਤਿ ਸਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਣਹੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਆਪਿ ਮੁਹਹੁ ਕਢਾਏ ॥
“O Gursikhs! Know that the Baani, the Word of the True Guru, is true, absolutely true. The Creator Lord Himself causes the Guru to chant it.”
(Ang 308)


Where there is the Word of God, there is God Himself. Where is there is the Truth, there the True One pervades:
ਸਚ ਖੰਡਿ ਵਸੈ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ॥
"In the realm of truth (where truth pervades), there pervades the Formless Lord."
(Japji Sahib, Ang 8)

Guru Arjan Dev Sahib jee, the Fifth Nanak, reiterates the message of the First Nanak that whatever is written in Gurbaani, the message of the Shabad Guru, is not from the Guru himself but it is direct from Vaheguru:

ਹਉ ਆਪਹੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਮੈ ਕਹਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਹੁਕਮਾਉ ਜੀਉ ॥
"I myself know not what to say; all I speak is what the Lord commands."
(Ang 763)

Through Gurbaani, the Shabad, the Divine Word, Vaheguru speaks to us. The Formless Vaheguru communicated to the world through speaking through the Ten bodies of Guru Nanak Sahib jee. Now the Formless communicates to us through the Written Divine Word. The Guru is the embodiment of Vaheguru Himself.

If we still have doubt whether Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee is just a mere "Book", then Guru Arjan Dev Sahib jee’s voice speaks to us through Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee and says:

ਪੋਥੀ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਕਾ ਥਾਨੁ ॥
"The Divine Scripture (Sri Granth Sahib) is the meeting place where one can meet the Transcendent Lord God."
(Ang 1226)

The Guru is saying that it is not just a "book", but recognises it as the ‘meeting place to meet the Transcendent Lord God’.


--------------------
Manvir Singh Khalsa

Source: Discoversikhi.com GURBANI | REHAT | HISTORY Q&A Section

 
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A very nice post, however i would like to add by saying that the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a mere summarized view of gods power and is not what you call "direct" in a sense of from god. If gods knowledge could be placed in a book, why would it only fit in a few hundred pages? It wouldnt, however, the gurus did their best by writting down what they could, a reflection of gods knowledge and love.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14854
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14854

With that said, "direct" in some ways, other ways no,

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru ji Ki Fateh,

I dont get you comment. Did you even try and understand the article by Veerji Manvir Singh ji?

Your remarks:
- "mere summarized view"?

-"s not what you call "direct" in a sense of from god" ?

-"however, the gurus did their best by writting down what they could". ?

Are you saying in the last comment that the Sikh Gurus were not capable of assimilating the divine word and subsequently to write it down in Sri Guru Granth Sahib?
Do you even know what a Sikh Guru is?

The question to ask is WHAT is NOT revealed/inspired by IK ONG KAAR?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14854

Tejwant

Obviously or i would not comment. The Sikh gurus did write down and assimilate the divine word of god. What I’m saying is that mere humans could never fully understand gods power as we are just mere specks of dust to him (if you don't understand that, then read some of the bible). Of course I know what I Sikh guru is, I have been practising sikhi for over a year now.

"Your remarks:
- "mere summarized view"?
-"s not what you call "direct" in a sense of from god" ?
-"however, the gurus did their best by writting down what they could". ?

Are you saying in the last comment that the Sikh Gurus were not capable of assimilating the divine word and subsequently to write it down in Sri Guru Granth Sahib?
"

As per my previous post, You are saying that Sikh Guru's were not capable of assimilating the divine word. Please explain.

Your reply contradicted what you previously stated.!

No thanks, I do not need to read the Bible. I think its you who are confusing the teachings in the Bible verses the divine words in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.!

BTW Veerji, Its good that you are a practising Sikh.

Did i say that they those words or did you insert them yourselves. Anyways, sure you don't need to read the bible, however it helps to understand other peoples beliefs.

Anyways, gods power can't all be summed up in one book or script. In case you havnt noticed, i'm philosophizing on this subject, so please do not take offense, just add to the topic Kaur-1

As regards to your first comment, Please read your initial reply to answer your question.

As regards to your second comment, for your info, I attended a Catholic School in a Muslim country for many years and therefore do have some degree of knowledge in these religion and culture!..

As regards to your last comment, yes I do agree Gods Power, as you put it, cant be summoned up in one Holy Book, in the Sikh faith, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, as Sikhs treat their holy scriptures "Guru/Shabad Guru".



But lets not divert from the original reason for posting this article:

Original post:

"Q: The Quran claims to be a Revelation from God. However, neither the Guru Granth Sahib nor the authors claim it to have been revealed by God. So how can a Sikh claim their Scripture to be a Divine Revelation from God?

A: Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee is a Divinely Revealed Scripture. There are many occasions when this is made clear in Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee:

ਜੈਸੀ ਮੈ ਆਵੈ ਖਸਮ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਤੈਸੜਾ ਕਰੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਵੇ ਲਾਲੋ ॥
"O (Bhai) Lalo! As the Lord’s word comes to me so I deliver it."
(Ang 722, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji)

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Gurbaani has been revealed by Vaheguru through the human living Gurus. Vaheguru spoke through Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. Even Guru Nanak Sahib Ji states that his Guru is the ‘Shabad’, the Divine Word. Guru Ji says:

ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥
"The Divine Word is the Guru, and my mind in reflective meditation, the disciple"
(Ang 943)

Guru Amar Daas Sahib jee, the Third Nanak, goes one step forward in describing Gurbaani, the Shabad, the Divine Word, as the embodiment of the Truth, the embodiment of Vaheguru (the wondrous Lord) Himself:

ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਹੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
"Hail, Hail, the Word of the Guru, which is the embodiment of the Formless Lord Himself; there is none other, nothing else to be reckoned equal to it."
(Ang 515)

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਤਿ ਸਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਣਹੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਆਪਿ ਮੁਹਹੁ ਕਢਾਏ ॥
“O Gursikhs! Know that the Baani, the Word of the True Guru, is true, absolutely true. The Creator Lord Himself causes the Guru to chant it.”
(Ang 308)


Where there is the Word of God, there is God Himself. Where is there is the Truth, there the True One pervades:
ਸਚ ਖੰਡਿ ਵਸੈ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ॥
"In the realm of truth (where truth pervades), there pervades the Formless Lord."
(Japji Sahib, Ang 8)

Guru Arjan Dev Sahib jee, the Fifth Nanak, reiterates the message of the First Nanak that whatever is written in Gurbaani, the message of the Shabad Guru, is not from the Guru himself but it is direct from Vaheguru:

ਹਉ ਆਪਹੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਮੈ ਕਹਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਹੁਕਮਾਉ ਜੀਉ ॥
"I myself know not what to say; all I speak is what the Lord commands."
(Ang 763)

..............."

Read the original post above for the rest.