Granths

Granths are written works that function as sacred or authoritative texts in certain Indian religious and linguistic traditions. The term granth comes from Sanskrit and is used in Punjabi and other languages to mean a book or manuscript. In religious usage, granth denotes a scripture or canonical text, and the word is applied to a range of spiritual and philosophical writings.

In Sikhism, the most significant granth is the Guru Granth Sahib. This scripture originated as the Adi Granth, compiled in the early 17th century, and was later expanded. After the ten human Gurus, the Guru Granth Sahib was established as the eternal Guru of the Sikhs, a status that emphasizes its central role in worship, guidance, and liturgy. The text mainly contains hymns praising God and conveying spiritual and ethical teachings, composed by Sikh Gurus and other saints.

Another important Sikh granth is the Dasam Granth, attributed to Guru Gobind Singh. Its contents, including compositions on warrior ethics and cosmology, are the subject of ongoing debate among Sikh communities, with some treating it as scripture and others distinguishing it from the Guru Granth Sahib in terms of canonical status.

Beyond Sikhism, granth is a broader term used for Hindu and Jain scriptures and for Sanskrit treatises. The term also appears in the context of the Grantha script, a writing system used historically to render Sanskrit texts in parts of South India, illustrating the word’s broader linguistic and literary roots.