Voices
The Guru Granth Sahib is unique among scriptures: alongside the Sikh Gurus, it gathers the words of fifteen Bhagats — saints of many regions, castes and faiths — and the court Bhatts. Browse the scripture by the voice that speaks.
The Gurus
Guru Nanak Dev Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ1469–1539 · First Guru
The founder of the Sikh path. Born at Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib), he travelled across South Asia and beyond teaching the oneness of God, the equality of all people, honest living and remembrance of the Name. His compositions — Japji, Asa Ki Var, Sidh Gosht and more — open and shape the Guru Granth Sahib.
12,181 lines
Guru Angad Dev Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਅੰਗਦ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ1504–1552 · Second Guru
Successor to Guru Nanak, he gave the Gurmukhi script its standard form and gathered the first Guru's hymns. His own contributions appear mostly as saloks woven through the Vars.
295 lines
Guru Amardas Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਅਮਰਦਾਸ ਜੀ1479–1574 · Third Guru
Composer of Anand Sahib, the Song of Bliss. He strengthened the institution of langar (the free communal kitchen) and worked tirelessly against caste and the seclusion of women.
9,999 lines
Guru Ramdas Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਜੀ1534–1581 · Fourth Guru
Founder of the city of Amritsar and author of the Lavan, the four wedding hymns of the Anand Karaj. His verses sing of longing and humble devotion to the Guru.
6,560 lines
Guru Arjan Dev Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜਨ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ1563–1606 · Fifth Guru
Compiler of the Adi Granth (1604) and the most prolific contributor to it. He composed Sukhmani Sahib, completed the Harmandir Sahib, and became the first Sikh martyr. His hand shaped the scripture as we know it.
24,887 lines
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਗ਼ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਜੀ1621–1675 · Ninth Guru
His spare, luminous saloks on detachment and even-mindedness sit near the close of the Granth. He gave his life in Delhi defending the freedom of conscience of a community not his own.
591 lines
The Bhagats
Bhagat Kabir Ji
ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀc. 1440–1518 · Banaras
A weaver-saint of Banaras whose fearless couplets demolish hypocrisy in both Hindu and Muslim practice and point to the formless One within. He is the most represented of the Bhagats in the Guru Granth Sahib.
3,385 lines
Bhagat Namdev Ji
ਭਗਤ ਨਾਮਦੇਵ ਜੀ1270–1350 · Maharashtra
A calico-printer and ecstatic devotee from Maharashtra whose songs of intimate, all-absorbing love for God range across many raags of the Granth.
751 lines
Bhagat Ravidas Ji
ਭਗਤ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਜੀ15th–16th c. · Banaras
A cobbler-saint of Banaras and a disciple of Ramananda, he envisioned 'Begampura' — a city without sorrow or rank. His verses are treasured for their dignity and their vision of a society without hierarchy.
462 lines
Sheikh Farid Ji
ਸ਼ੇਖ ਫਰੀਦ ਜੀ1173–1266 · Punjab
Baba Farid, a revered Sufi of Punjab, whose piercing couplets on humility, patience and the brevity of life were lovingly preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib — a Muslim voice within the Sikh scripture.
318 lines
Bhagat Trilochan Ji
ਭਗਤ ਤ੍ਰਿਲੋਚਨ ਜੀb. 1267 · Maharashtra
A contemporary and companion of Namdev, his hymns warn against dying with the mind fixed on wealth or family rather than on the Divine.
57 lines
Bhagat Beni Ji
ਭਗਤ ਬੇਣੀ ਜੀMedieval
A devotee whose few but profound hymns dwell on the inner discipline of yoga and the futility of outward show without remembrance of God.
89 lines
Bhagat Dhanna Ji
ਭਗਤ ਧੰਨਾ ਜੀb. 1415 · Rajasthan
A Jat farmer of Rajasthan whose simple, trusting devotion — famously offering his food to God before eating — became a byword for faith that asks for little and receives much.
31 lines
Bhagat Jaidev Ji
ਭਗਤ ਜੈਦੇਵ ਜੀ12th c. · Bengal
The Bengali poet of the Gita Govinda; two of his hymns of intense devotion are included in the Granth.
23 lines
Bhagat Bheekhan Ji
ਭਗਤ ਭੀਖਨ ਜੀ16th c.
A Sufi saint whose two shabads reflect on the ageing body and the healing Name.
16 lines
Bhagat Sain Ji
ਭਗਤ ਸੈਣ ਜੀMedieval
A barber in royal service whose single hymn celebrates loving devotion as the truest worship.
11 lines
Bhagat Pipa Ji
ਭਗਤ ਪੀਪਾ ਜੀb. 1425 · Rajasthan
A king who renounced his throne to become a devotee; his hymn teaches that the God sought outside is found within the body itself.
7 lines
Bhagat Sadhna Ji
ਭਗਤ ਸਾਧਨਾ ਜੀMedieval · Sindh
A butcher by trade whose one hymn is a moving plea for grace, trusting that God lifts even the lowliest who turn to Him.
12 lines
Bhagat Ramanand Ji
ਭਗਤ ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ14th–15th c. · Banaras
A great teacher of the devotional path and, by tradition, the guru of several Bhagats; his one hymn declares the Lord found within, ending all wandering in search.
16 lines
Bhagat Parmanand Ji
ਭਗਤ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀMedieval · Maharashtra
A devotee whose single hymn counsels against pride and cruelty and urges remembrance of God.
10 lines
Bhagat Surdas Ji
ਭਗਤ ਸੂਰਦਾਸ ਜੀ16th c.
Represented by a single line in the Granth, traditionally associated with the celebrated blind poet-singer of Krishna devotion.
9 lines
The Bhatts
Bhatt Kalh Sahar
ਭੱਟ ਕਲੵ ਸਹਾਰOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
283 lines
Bhatt Nalh
ਭੱਟ ਨਲੵOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
84 lines
Bhatt Gayand
ਭੱਟ ਗਯੰਦOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
80 lines
Bhatt Mathura
ਭੱਟ ਮਥੁਰਾOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
64 lines
Bhatt Jaalap
ਭੱਟ ਜਾਲਪOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
31 lines
Bhatt Keerat
ਭੱਟ ਕੀਰਤੁOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
40 lines
Bhatt Bhikha
ਭੱਟ ਭਿਖਾOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
19 lines
Bhatt Bhalh
ਭੱਟ ਭਲੵOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
4 lines
Bhatt Balh
ਭੱਟ ਬਲੵOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
26 lines
Bhatt Salh
ਭੱਟ ਸਲੵOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
12 lines
Bhatt Harbans
ਭੱਟ ਹਰਿਬੰਸOne of the eleven Bhatts — bards and scholars who came to Guru Arjan's court and, moved by what they found, composed the Svaiyye in praise of the Gurus that appear toward the close of the Guru Granth Sahib.
12 lines
Other voices
Satta and Balwand
ਸਤਾ ਤੇ ਬਲਵੰਡਿ16th–17th c.
Two court musicians (rababis) of the Gurus, whose Var in Raag Ramkali praises the greatness of the first five Gurus and the light passed from one to the next.
90 lines
Poet Alam
ਕਵੀ ਆਲਮ62 lines
Baba Sundar
ਬਾਬਾ ਸੁੰਦਰ16th c.
A great-grandson of Guru Amardas; his composition Ramkali Sad recounts the third Guru's serene last teaching on death.
38 lines