Religious Texts and Scriptures
This domain examines the composition, structure and authority of Sikh scripture. Questions test which compositions are in Guru Granth Sahib, who compiled it, how it is organised, and what is authoritative versus merely revered.
Structure and compilation
- Guru Granth Sahib is the eternal Guru; the standard printed text has 1,430 pages and is arranged in 31 ragas.
- It opens with the Mul Mantar and includes Japji Sahib, then shabads by the Gurus and Bhagat Bani (Kabir, Ravidas, Namdev, Sheikh Farid and others).
- Guru Arjan compiled the Adi Granth in 1604; Bhai Gurdas was the scribe. Guru Gobind Singh prepared the Damdami Bir at Damdama Sahib in 1705 and installed it as Guru at Nanded in 1708.
- Dasam Granth is a separate collection and is not part of Guru Granth Sahib. Bhai Gurdas's Vaaran and Bhai Nand Lal's works are revered but are not Gurbani.
- The Rehat Maryada is a code of conduct, not scripture.
Worked example
A question asks: "Can a shabad by Kabir appear in Guru Granth Sahib?" Answer yes. Bhagat Bani is included, and authorship does not determine placement: shabads are arranged by raga. Kabir's compositions sit alongside those of the Gurus, which supports the Sikh teaching that divine wisdom is not restricted to one community.
Traps that cost marks
- Claiming Guru Nanak compiled the whole Granth.
- Including Dasam Granth inside Guru Granth Sahib.
- Confusing Bhai Gurdas the scribe with Bhai Nand Lal the poet.
- Saying Guru Granth Sahib is written only in Punjabi; it contains Braj, Sanskrit, Persian and regional forms.
- Treating the Rehat Maryada as revealed scripture.