Guru Granth Sahib

India Religion

June 16, 2005

A commemorative postage stamp on the Adi Granth (Guru Eternal), holy religious scripture of Sikhism, compiled by Guru Arjun Dev ji :

Issued by India

Issued on Jun 16, 2005

Issued for : The Department of Posts is privileged to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Guru Granth Sahib.

Credits :
Stamp, Sheetlet, Miniature Sheet & FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 1000 Paisa

Print Quantity :
Stamp : 0.8 Million
Miniature Sheet : 0.2 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About :

Guru Granth Sahib, a symbol of the essence of India’s composite culture which has an overwhelmingly unifying fragrance, presents a beautiful panorama of Indian spiritual thought, culture and languages. The hymns set in musical measures, seem to waft along the waves of melody, uplifting the listener to a realm beyond the constraints of regional, religious or social boundaries. The collective religious and spiritual wisdom of the Indian society, derived from the teachings of Namdev of Maharashtra, Dhananand Pipa of Rajasthan, Ramanand and Ravidas of Banaras, Jai Dev of Bengal, Shaikh Farid of the North Western find region place in the Holy Granth, along with the teachings of the six Sikh Gurus.
Compiled in 1604 AD by Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Granth Sahib, in all its 1430 pages, enshrines the inner divine experiences in the banis (hymns) of the Gurus and other spiritual leaders and saints and is aptly known as the Guru Eternal.
Guru Granth Sahib preaches equality and rejects the caste system. Based on the thought of Guru Nanak reverberating from his hymns; the institutions of Sangat (holy congregation) and Pangat (pre-kitchen-langar) were established. These institutions continue to flourish.
The Holy Granth prescribes simple acts to be followed, by the elite as well as laity, which are Kirat Karna (to work with one’s own hands), Nam Japana (constant remembrance of the divinity in man and all around) and Vand Chhakana (sharing of the material gains with the needy).
It defies the definition of a high place that is usually lent to religious scriptures viz. “Scriptures are meant to be Quoted, not to be Questioned or doubted”.
The teachings of the Holy Granth uphold the dignity and honour of man. The message of Guru Granth Sahib can be described in these words, “Man is one, there is no such thing as Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, Eastern or Western. Man is man and man is one”. Guru Granth Sahib, a rare creation of high spiritual as well as ethical values, has stood the test of time.
Text : Based on material given by the proponents.