This page features photographs of various puraatan saroops—early hand-written manuscripts—of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. These historic saroops can generally be classified into two main categories:
- Aad Beerh: The term Aad signifies “first” or “original,” referring to the earliest compilations of the Guru Granth Sahib. These manuscripts trace their lineage to the original Beerh prepared in 1604 by Bhai Gurdas Ji, under the direct supervision and final approval of the Fifth Nanak, Guru Arjan Dev Ji. This foundational scripture is regarded as the first formal canon of Sikh scripture. Aad Beerhs are distinct in that they do not include the Bani (sacred hymns) revealed by the Ninth Nanak, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. It also does not include Raagmala in its appendix.
- Damdami Beerh: In 1703, the Tenth Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, compiled the final and complete form of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Gurdwara Damdama Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib. This authoritative compilation is known as the Damdami Beerh. It includes the Gurbani revealed by the Ninth Nanak, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. It does not contain Raagmala, Rattan Mala, Hakikat Raah Mukam, or Shiv Naabh Ki Bidhi in its appendix. Importantly, Guru Sahib preserved the sanctity of the scripture by ensuring that the added Gurbani of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was incorporated before the closing seal of the scripture, known as “Mundaavani Mahalla 5.”
The tatkara (contents) of an ancient hand-written saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji concludes with Mundaavani and contains no appendix compositions thereafter.
The tatkara (contents) of an ancient hand-written saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji concludes with Mundaavani and contains no appendix compositions thereafter.
The tatkara (contents) of an ancient hand-written saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji concludes with Mundaavani and contains no appendix compositions thereafter. The following ang (holy page) states that the saroop is a copy of the Aad Beerh authorised by Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
An ancient manuscript of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji concludes with Mundaavani, with no appendix. The original scribe included the mangal and title “Ik Oankar Satgur Prasaad – Mundaavani Mahalla 5”, but a later scribe erased them, leaving only “Mundaavani Mahalla 5.”
An ancient hand-written manuscript of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Takhat Sri Harmandir Ji, Patna Sahib, features an appendix added by the scribe containing compositions labelled as Kachee Baanee—texts not recognized as Gurbani—appearing both before and after the appended Raagmala. The final composition, titled Siahi Di Bidhi, begins with “Ik Oan-kaar Satgur Prasaad” and describes how the scribe prepared the ink used for scribing the manuscript. (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
The tatkara (contents page) of an ancient handwritten saroop from Takhat Sri Harmandir Ji, Patna Sahib, lists the scribe’s appendix compositions discredited as Kachi Baanee—not recognized as Gurbani—such as Raag Ramkali Ratan-mala, Aasan Saadh Niraalam, and Hakeekat Rah Mukam, all appearing before the appended Raagmala. (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
The tatkara (contents page) of an ancient handwritten saroop from Takhat Sri Harmandir Ji, Patna Sahib, features an appendix added by the scribe, containing Hakeekat Raah Mukaam—a composition discredited as Kachi Baanee (not Gurbani)—placed before the appended Raagmala. (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)
An ancient handwritten saroop from Takhat Sri Harmandir Ji, Patna Sahib, contains only Raagmala in its appendix. According to the scribe’s note, it was written in 1874 CE (1931 Bikrami). (Photo courtesy of www.RagmalaBaniHai.info)