1 BdM N^nak. 29
2 is in itself a complete exposition of the Sikh faith.
3 Every orthodox Sikh has it by heart, and repeats it
4 each morning. The Granth Sahib is written for the /
5 most part in old Punjabi and Hindi, but Persian,
6 Marahti, and Gujarati are also_ represented. The
7 "character employed is that known as Gurumukhi,1
8 the invention of which is attributed to Guru Angad.
9 The hymns are not arranged in their natural order,
10 but according to rdgs, or musical measures, and this,
11 combined with the mixture of languages and dialects,
12 and the fact that there is no separation of words,
13 renders their correct interpretation by no means easy.1
14 The Sikhs are not as a rule highly educated, and
15 there is little doubt that inability to read their
16 scriptures has contributed to the decadence in recent
17 times of their religious zeal. The original com-
18 pilation is said to be preserved at Kartarpiir ; but
19 the oldest copy now in use is that which is enshrined
20 in the Har Mandar, or Golden Temple, at Amritsar,
21 where it is daily read aloud. The Granth Sahib is
22 highly reverenced by the Sikh community, and a
23 copy of it is still carried at the head of every Sikh
24 regiment.2
25 1 See Appendix E.
26 2 To each regiment of Ran jit Singh's army "at least one
27 'Grunt'hee,' or reader of the scriptures, was attached, who, when
28 not paid by the government, was sure of being supported by the
29 men. The Grunt'h was usually deposited near the 'jhunda' or
30 flag, which belonged to the regiment, and which represented its
31 headquarters." (See Cunningham's History of the Sikhs, p. 185.)