The Adi Guru Durbar was compiled
originally by the 5th Sikh Guru, Akali Guru Arjan Dev in 1603 at
Amritsar. Then, in 1705, at a later date, Akali Nihang Guru Gobind
Singh Ji at Damdama Sahib, adding his father's 115 Shabads (Hymns)
and one Dohra (Verse) of his own, gave the Adi Guru Granth Sahib
it’s final eternal form.
Akali Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj
A painting done in the Persian style of the great Sikh
Guru who compiled the Adi Guru Granth with his scribe Bhai Gurdas
Ji
It was this Adi Guru Durbar, alongside Khalsa Panth,
that the Guru vested Guru-ship in, before he departed from this
world in 1708. Adi Guru Granth Sahib contains the writings of seven
Sikh Gurus including writings of a number of Hindu and Muslim Bhagats
(Holy men), Sikh devotees and 'Pats' (Bards) of Guru Arjan Dev's
court.
Adi Guru Durbar is traditionally considered to embody
'Shant Ras' (essence of peace) as opposed to the
'Bir Ras' (warrior essence) of Dasam Guru Durbar
and Sarbloh Guru Durbar.
In 1857, Singh Kavi spoke of the Adi Guru Durbar as
a revelation of Sanatan Dharma:
‘To save the world Gurudev Guru
Nanak has taken human form in Kal Yuga.
The proper Sanatan Dharma of ancient form [times] he has revealed
in words [Adi Guru Durbar] to be One.
Revealed was the moon [ie. light in the midst of darkness of
ignorance] the [Adi Guru] Granth which in a instance, dispelled
all the armies of sin.’
(‘Siri Guru Nanak Abinandan’, Singh Kavi, 1857,
Pa.211)
Adi Guru Durbar
A photograph of a hand-written 'Larivaar Swaroop'
(continuous writing) version of the Adi Guru Durbar at Durbar Sahib,
Amritsar
The text itself is written in 'Gurmukhi'
(translates as "hand of the Guru") script,
and utilises languages such as Sanskrit, Persian,
Arabic, Praakit, Punjabi
and other local dialect found in Northern India during the time
of the compilation.
