On this page, you can see photos of various puratan saroops (old handwritten volumes) of Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The saroops can be divided into three broad categories – Bhai Gurdaas Ji’s Beerh, Bhai Banno Ji’s Beerh and Damdami Beerh.
These are the most commonly available puratan Beerhs. The primary differences between these three Beerh categories are
- Beerhs tracing their origin from Bhai Gurdaas Ji’s Beerh have no Raagmala and no Baani of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
- Beerhs tracing their origin fromBhai Banno Ji’s Beerh have no baani of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. They have Kacchi Baani including Meera Bai’s baani and Surdaas’ baani which is not considered Gurbani. In these Beerhs, Mundaavani is followed by Kacchi Baani Jit Dhar Lakh muha(n)madha, Salok Mahalla 1 Bia aatas aab, Rag Ramkali Ratan Mala, Hakikat Rah Mukam Raja Sivnat Ki and then at the end is Raagmala
- Beerhs tracing their origin from theDamdami Beerh have no Raagmala. The Baani of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is present in these Beerhs.
The index page of an ancient Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which states Mundaavani is the closing Bani.
An ancient Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which ends only with Mundaavani and Salok
Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which shows in the index that it ends with Mundaavani (courtesy of ‘Mundaavani’ by Giani Gurdit Singh)
An ancient Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib which shows in it’s index that the closing is Mundaavani. The following ang (page) states that the Saroop has been copied from the Aad Beerh (original Volume) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan Dev Ji from Kartarpur.
A Saroop scribed in Kartarpur in 1742 CE which ends with Mundaavani & Salok.
Patna Sahib Beerh (Volume) ends with Mundaavani – the calligraphy is exceptional – the picture shows a note by the scribe saying the beerh has been copied and checked against the Aad Granth birh scribed by Bhai Gurdas ji.
The Baba Ala Singh Burj ‘Khaas Beerh’ – it includes the nishan (signature) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji – the pictures shows the closing ‘ang’ ending with “tan man theevai hariaa.”
A Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji discovered in Manger (ਮੰਗੇਰ) in Bihar that dates to 1732 and ends with Mundaavani.
A Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that ends with Mundaavani.
A Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji discovered in Manger (ਮੰਗੇਰ) in Bihar that dates to 1732 and ends with Mundaavani. It has the Nishaan of the Ninth Guru.
A puratan saroop from Takht Sri Damdama Sahib that ends with Mundaavani.
A Saroop found at Takht Sri Patna Sahib that ends with Mundaavani
An old saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, dated 1695 CE from Dehradoon which was given to Baba Ram Rai when Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji went to Delhi. The Saroop shows after the ‘Salok Mahala 5’ it is written “Ehte Aad Granth Da Bhog Hai” (“The Bhog of Aad Granth is here”) in the same ink, despite Raagmala being written on the continuing page. (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
A puraatan saroop from Patna Sahib showing discredited compositions (ਕਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ) before and after Raagmala. The composition at the end is entitled “Siahi Di Bhidhi” which explains how the ink and begins with “Ek Oankaar Satigur Prasaad” (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
The contents page (ਤਤਕਰਾ) of a puraatan saroop from Takht Patna Sahib showing the descrited compositions (ਕਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ) ‘Raag Ramkali Ratan-mala’, ‘Aasan Saadh Niraalam’, and ‘Hakeekatrah mukam’ written before Raagmala. (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
A puraatan saroop from Patna Sahib showing the discredited composition (ਕਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ) entitled “Hakeekatrah mukam” before Raagmala. (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
The contents page (ਤਤਕਰਾ) of a puraatan saroop from Takht Patna Sahib showing the discredited compositions (ਕਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ) ‘Ratan-mala’, ‘Hakeekatrah mukam Shiv Nabh Ki” written before Raagmala. (Photo courteosy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
A puraatan saroop from Patna Sahib showing the discredited composition (ਕਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ) before Raagmala. (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
The contents page (ਤਤਕਰਾ) of a puraatan saroop from Takht Patna Sahib showing the descrited compositions (ਕਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ) ‘Ratan-mala’, ‘Hakeekatrah mukam Raaje Shiv Nabh kii” written before Raagmala. (Photo courteosy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
The contents page (ਤਤਕਰਾ) of a puraatan saroop from Takht Patna Sahib showing the descrited compositions (ਕਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ) ‘Ratan-mala’, ‘Hakeekatrah mukam Raaje Shiv Nabh kii” written before Raagmala. (Photo courteosy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
A puraatan saroop from Patna Sahib showing the discredited composition (ਕਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ). (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
A puraatan saroop from Patna Sahib showing the discredited composition (ਕਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ) entitled “Ghost Maliaar Naal…”, “Ratan-Mala” (which is shown to be Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s composition), and “Hakeekat Raah Mukaam Raaje Shiv Nabh Kee” before Raagmala. (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
A puraatan Saroop from Sri Damdama Sahib which has only Raagmala at the end. The date that the Saroop was written is recorded as the late 19th century. (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)