Gurmukhi: The Gurmukhi text Sri Guru Granth Sahib used on
SriGranth.org is in two forms: (1) Original without any punctuations from
taken the Gurbani-CD and (2) with added punctuations by Bhai Baljinder Singh. The
Gurbani-CD text is the one in its original form, as is in the printed volumes of
Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Sri Guru Granth Sahib was compiled originally by Guru
Arjan Dev ji in 1604. At that time, there was no custom of using punctuations in
the text. Out of utmost respect for the holy scripture, the punctuations can not
be added to the text that is used for customary publications. However, for easy
reading and understanding of Gurbani, the punctuations are helpful and are often
used in the Teekas. Bhai Baljinder Singh has thus created that part of Sri Guru
Granth Sahib text in Gurmukhi, by adding punctuations into the original text
from Gurbani-CD, which is then made available as an option on
SriGranth.org.
Hindi: The availability of Hindi (Devnagri) text of Sri
Guru Granth Sahib as an option on SriGranth.org has been possible due to
the efforts of Dr. Thind who did the conversion to Hindi from Gurmukhi
text.
Roman: The transliteration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib text
into common English alphabet has also been done by Dr. Thind. With this option,
persons who know English (but do not know Gurmukhi or Hindi) can read Guru
Granth Sahib as would be read in Punjabi.
English: There are two English translations of Sri Guru
Granth Sahib available on SriGranth.org, one by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa,
MD; and the other by Bhai Manmohan Singh ji.
Punjabi: This is a modern Punjabi translation of the Sri Guru
Granth Sahib by Bhai Manmohan Singh.
Teekas: Sri Guru Granth Sahib Teeka by Professor
Sahib Singh: In the printed form, this is a ten volume
commentary/translation with explanation in Punjabi on Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
This was originally published during 1962-64. The work is collectively known as
Guru Granth Darpan (darpan = exposition). Professor Sahib Singh (1892-1977), was
a grammarian and theologian, who held a number of academic positions, and who
produced a succession of learned works and commentaries on the Sikh sacred
texts. Professor sahib Singh served for many years at Khalsa College, Amritsar,
where he did luminous scholarly work, and after retiring from there he became
principal of the Shahid Sikh missionary College and later as principal at the
Gurmat College, Patiala. Professor Sahib Singh was known for
his diligent pursuit of scholarship. Between 1927 and 1977, about 50
publications were published by him. These included his monumental 10-volume
commentary (Teeka) on Sri Guru Granth Sahib, published during 1962-64. This is
by far the most fundamental and scholarly work of its kind. Professor Sahib
Singh was also responsible for a most original and earlier work on Gurbani
Viakaran (Gurbani grammar). Professor Sahib Singh was also a scholar of Sanskrit
and that knowledge of him is reflected in his publications, particularly in the
Gurbani grammar, which since its publication (1932) has been the most
fundamental reference work of this kind.
Freed Kot Wala Teeka:
This earliest Gurmukhi Teeka (commentary/explanation in Gurmukhi) of Sri Guru
Granth Sahib, was prepared under the patronage of the princely ruler (Raja) of
the state Faridkot (in Punjab, India), by a number of Sikh
scholars/pundits of the time. The language used in the Teeka in a variation of
Hindi, although the script is Gurmukhi. The first draft prepared by Giani Badan
Singh was ready by 1883. It was then revised by a group of scholars (Mahant
Sumer Singh as chairman) representing a wide variety of schools of thought
current among the Sikhs. The printing of this work started in 1896-1918. This
Teeka is thus important for being the earliest. Bhai Baljinder Singh has been
instrumental in making the electronic version of this work that is then made
available on Srigranth.org with his permission.
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