This post will focus on:
- What is Panj Granthi?
- What is it's history and importance?
Panj Granthi is a compilation of various Baanis which were read daily by devout Gursikhs from the times of the Guru Sahibaan. Before Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji formulated the daily Nitnem for Sikhs at the Amrit Sanchar in 1699, many Gursikhs would read the Banis contained in Panj Granthi. Alongside Jap Ji Sahib, Shabad Hazare, Rehras Sahib, Sohila Sahib and Anand Sahib, the Pothi Sahib contained 5 main Baanis from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji:
1.Bavan Akhri
2.Sukhmani Sahib
3.Asa Di Vaar
4.Dakhni Oankaar
5.Sidh Gohst
In the Sampardai (traditional lineages of knowledge) it is explained that this Pothi Sahib originates from the times of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. Gursikhs did benti to Guru Sahib that it was not possible for every Sikh to obtain the complete handwritten Saroop of Sri Aadh Granth Sahib Ji. Hearing the request of the Sikhs, Guru Sahib instructed that small Pothis containing the main Baanis of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji be written and distributed in Sangat to be read daily. Bhai Gurdas Ji says in their 6th Vaar:
ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਲਿਖਿ ਪੋਥੀਆ ਤਾਲ ਮ੍ਰਿਦੰਗ ਰਬਾਬ ਵਜਾਵੈ॥
Worthy are the hands of the Sikh who writes Pothis of the Guru's hymns and plays the cymbals, the Mirdang (drum) and the Rabab in the company of Holy.
These Banis would be read daily by Gursikhs in Guru Sahib's Darbar. The Panj Granthi Pothi Sahib of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji is preserved at Gurdwara Alamgir Sahib (Ludhiana). Bhai Mani Singh Ji later formalised the Panj Granthi by adding Dasam Bani Doharas to Sri Rehras Sahib with the permission of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (various handwritten copies of Panj Granthi Sahibs from and after the time of Bhai Mani Singh Ji can be found at various Asthaans in India). In fact the start of Santhia itself, when a Gursikh read a line of Gurbani wrong in front of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, is also related to Panj Granthi as the Gursikh was doing Dakhni Oankaar Nitnem at the time. In recent history, Mahapurash such as Sant Giani Sundar Singh Ji Bhindranwale, Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Bhindranwale, Sant Giani Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale and many more were known to complete Panj Granthi Nitnem every day. Sant Giani Sundar Singh Ji would instruct all Kathavachak Singhs to have a minimum Nitnem of Panj Granthi alongside their daily 7 Baania Nitnem. These Uthankas can be found on our soundcloud page.