Chapter 8

Installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Harlmandir Sahib, Amrltsar

When was the Holy Book Compiled?

According to ‘Suraj Parkash’ (written in 1776 A.D), Guru Arjun Dev, on completion of the compilation of the Holy Book, took it to Sri Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, and installed it there.

The Guru used to come to Harimandir Sahib from his residence in the early hours of morning every day, spend the whole day there by listening to the Holy Word from Bhai Gurdas. The Sikhs also used to come with him and stay there whole day long. The news began to. spread that Sri Guru Arjun Dev had compiled the Holy Book and installed it in Sri Harimandir Sahib. The Sikhs began to pay visit to Sri Harimandir Sahib from far and wide.

Kavi Santokh Singh, author of ‘Sooraj Parkash’ gave the date of completion of the Holy Book as 1661 Bikrami, Bhadon Steti 1, corresponding to August 16, 1604. According to Gur-Bilas of Sixth Guru (written in 1718 A.D), Bhai Gurdas put his signature on the Holy Book, and the aforesaid date in the Table of Contents. Giani Gian Singh in his book, ‘History of Guru Khalsa’, (Gian Singh died in 1921 A.D) has been careless enough to have vaguely stated that the Holy Book was completed in the month of “Savan” 1661 Bikrami, i.e. sometimes in July 1604 A.D. So, we accept the date as given by other two historians, i.e. August 16, 1604. The date was given in the Table of Contents of Original Copy of the Holy Book, scribed by Bhai Gurdas. This Original Copy is in Posssession of the descendants of Baba Dhir Mal, grandson of Guru Horgobind, the

109