Lehal Library

Building of the Sikh Church 55 other pursuits in order to make an authentic compilation of the writings of his predecessors. He had his father's hymns with him. He persuaded Mohan (son of Guru Amar Das) to give him the collection of the writings of the first three gurus. He sent disciples to scour the country for copies that might have been made. He welcomed contributions from different sects of Hindus and Muslims for consideration. Then he install~d himself by the Ramsar tank, which was well removed from the noise and bustle of the bazaars of Amritsar, and devoted himself entirely to the task. The selection was made by the Gum (his own contribution being the largest) and taken down by Bhai Cordas. While the Guru was busy with his work, a report was sent to Akbar that Arjun's sacred anthology had passages vilifying Islam. On his wa> north. the Emperor stopped en route and asked to see the compilation. Bhai Buddha and Gurdas brought a copy of the existent manuscript and read some of the hymns to Akbar. The emperor, bis fears dispelled, made an offering of fifty-one gold mohurs to the sacred book and gave robes of honour to the two disciples and sent one for Guru Arjun. At the Guru's request, he also remitted the annual revenue of the district to ameliorate the condition of the peasants, who had been hard hit by the failure of the monsoon. In August 1604 the work was completed and the Granth Sahib, the holy volume, was formally installed in the temple at Amritsar. Bhai Buddha was appointed the first reader or granthi. The Granth reflected the faith of Nanak in its entirety. Apart from the writings of the gurus, it contained a selection of the compositions of the poet-saints from all parts of northern India, both Muslim and Hindu of all castes, including the 'untouchables' Its hymns were of a high poetic order, its language intelligible to the illiterate peasant, its ethics simple and direct. The Granth became the most powerful factor in spreading the teachings of the gurus among the masses.25 In the last hvmn 23 For details of the composition of the Granth and the controversy regardmg the authentic version. see Appendix 2.