Adi Granth - The Granth Arrives

The Granth Arrives

At Amritsar, Banno was received with due ceremony, though Guru Arjan was not a little surprised to see two volumes instead of one. Bhai Banno spoke truthfully: "Lord, there is nothing that is hidden from you. This second copy I have had made for the sake of the sangat" But the Guru put his seal only on the volume written by Bhai Gurdas's hand. He enjoined the Sikhs to own the Granth equal with the Guru and make no distinction between the two. "He who would wish to see the Guru, let him see the Granth. He who would seek the Guru's word, let him read the Granth with love and attention."

Guru Arjan asked his Sikhs where the Granth Sahib be installed. Bhai Buddha said, "You are omniscient, Master! But there is no place more suitable than the Harimandir." The Guru was happy to hear these words "like one who has sighted the new moon." He then recited the praise of the Harimandir: "There is nothing like it in all the three worlds. Harimandir is like the ship—the means for the people to cross over the worldly ocean triumphantly. A new joy pervades here every day. A sight of it annuls all sins."