Guru-ta-Gaddi is a significant Sikh religious ceremony observed on November 3rd. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru installed the Sri Guru Granth Sahib as Guru stating that Guru Granth Sahib would be the Guru or Guiding Force from that moment onwards. This day is celebrated today as “Guru Gaddi Day” each year. Guru Gobind Singh gave the message on November 3rd, 1708, in Nanded, Maharashtra, India. Guru Gobind Singh Ji established Khalsa and bestowed the Guru status to Guru Granth Sahib, elevating it to the status of the eternal Guru.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib
The Sri Guru Granth Sahib has 1,430 pages of spiritual teachings and melodies. It has 36 contributors in all. There are compositions from 30 saints from many religions, countries, and ages, in addition to six Sikh Gurus. These songs are written in one of 60 various musical scales known as Raags. Raags are particularly specific musical scales. Different Raags are intended to be performed at different times of day or seasons.
The Japji Sahib, which was composed by Guru Nanak, is the first part of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It also contains writings from the first five Sikh Gurus, as well as the ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur. In addition, Guru Arjan included a number of shabads written by Muslim and Hindu saints that were tuned to the same frequency.
The final and eternal Guru of Sikhs
When Guru Gobind Singh Ji died in 1708, he passed over the Guruship to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This marked the end of the Sikhs' bodily Gurus. Guru Gobind Singh Ji announced that the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, which contained the Word of God, would be the Guru for all time. He said,
“O Beloved Khalsa, let any who desire to behold me, behold the Guru Granth. Obey the Granth Sahib, for it is the visible body of the Guru. Let any who desire to meet me, diligently search its Bani.”
Thus, the Word of God, manifested as Guru in Nanak and travelled through Guru's ten incarnations, was then returned to its original form as the Bani, the Shabad. This marked the beginning of the Shabad Guru's reign as the Sikh community's spiritual light and guide.
*Based on an article published in Sikh Dharma on 8th July 2020