Gurmat Sangeet: Origin, History and Development
What this domain tests
This domain covers the historical emergence of Gurmat Sangeet, the Gurus' direct role in shaping kirtan, and the raag architecture of the Guru Granth Sahib. Questions typically ask who introduced which practice, why the Adi Granth's raag arrangement matters, and how the rabab-Mardana tradition relates to later Sikh kirtan.
Core sequence
- Guru Nanak Dev ji sang bani with Bhai Mardana, whose rabab became the emblem of shabad kirtan; the bani itself is composed within raags, not outside them.
- Guru Angad Dev ji consolidated Gurmukhi, aiding accurate preservation and transmission of bani.
- Guru Amar Das ji's Anand Sahib is set in Raag Ramkali; kirtan was tied to sangat and pangat.
- Guru Ram Das ji composed the Lavan in Raag Suhi and founded Amritsar, centring kirtan at the sacred pool.
- Guru Arjan Dev ji compiled the Adi Granth in 1604, arranging shabads under raag headings and preserving ghar indications; kirtan at Harmandir Sahib became a model.
- Guru Hargobind Sahib's period is associated with the taus and with kirtan in the Miri-Piri context.
- Guru Tegh Bahadur ji's bani in the SGGS is also raag-bound; Guru Gobind Singh ji's court at Anandpur sustained kirtan and instrument traditions, though his compositions are not part of the SGGS raag sequence.
Worked example
Question: Why is the 1604 compilation a musical event, not only a textual one? Answer: because the shabads are organized by raag, with ghar numbers for rhythmic setting; therefore the default performance frame is raag-based kirtan. Reasoning: raag headings, ghar notation, and the Harmandir Sahib practice all point to prescribed melody and rhythm.
Traps
Do not say Guru Nanak invented the raags; he used existing raags for revealed bani. Do not assign all 31 raags to one Guru. Do not confuse the SGGS raag sequence with the later 10-thaat classification.