Panj Granthi

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A handwritten Panj Granthi manuscript (nitnem pothi) belonging to Mata Malooki (died 1701), wife of Ram Rai

A Panj Granthi (Gurmukhi: ਪੰਜ ਗ੍ਰੰਥੀ, romanized: Paja grathī, lit.'five books') is a small booklet which contains five hymns chosen from Guru Granth Sahib.

Description[edit]

The Guru Granth Sahib is very sacred so it can only be recited in a prescribed ritualistic manner. Small anthologies called Gutka Sahib or Panj Granthi began to be made for recitation of certain hymns in private setting. They are usually small and easily fit in the hand of a person. Nowadays, the title 'Panj Granthi' has become a misnomer as a Panj Granthi may include more than five hymns from Guru Granth Sahib. A parallel booklet known as 'Das Granth' also exists which exclusively contains chosen compositions from Dasam Granth.[1][2][3][4]

Das Granthi[edit]

Das Granthi (Gurmukhi: ਦਸ ਗ੍ਰੰਥੀ, romanized: Dasa grathī, lit.'ten books') is a small religious booklet containing only few selected compositions from Dasam Granth. Das stands for Ten and Granthi stands for booklet. It means Booklet of 10th Guru of Sikhism. This booklet was created for beginners and lay readers for reading these compositions in daily liturgy for proper understanding.[5][6][7]

There is no standardization of this booklet and various sects in Sikhism have their own versions. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee contains eight texts namely, Jaap, Bachitra Natak, Chandi Charitra I, Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10, Akal Ustati, Chandi Charitra 2, Gian Prabodh and Chandi di Var.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Sikh View on Happiness: Guru Arjan's Sukhmani. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 223. ISBN 9781350139886.
  2. ^ W. H. McLeod. The A to Z of Sikhism. Scarecrow Press. p. 51. ISBN 9780810863446.
  3. ^ India Office Library, Reinhold Rost, James Fuller Blumhardt. Catalogue of the Library of the India Office: pt. 1. Sanskrit books. Eyre & Spottiswoode, printers. p. 37.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ A Memoir of Pre-Partition Punjab: Ruchi Ram Sahni, 1863–1948. OUP India. p. 340. ISBN 9780199091300.
  5. ^ Page 330, Punjab District and State Gazetteers: Compiled and published under the authority of the Punjab government, 1900
  6. ^ Page 62, Struggle of the Sikhs for Sovereignty, Surjit Singh Gandhi
  7. ^ Page 180, The Guru Consorts, Mahindara Kaura Gilla, Radha Publications
  8. ^ The Sikh Encyclopedia