Rattan Singh Jaggi  been honoured with the lifetime fellowship by the Punjabi Sahitya Akademi in April 2007.

A five-volume commentary on Guru Granth Sahib, prepared by eminent Sikh scholar Rattan Singh Jaggi and released by the SGPC here today may kick off a fresh debate in the Sikh circles.

In the 26-page introduction, the author has raised a question whether the hymns in Guru Granth Sahib, devoted to Guru Nanak Dev, were authored by him (the first Sikh Master) or his co-authors also made some contribution.

Quoting historical documents, Jaggi said this question needs thorough research and the answer to this vital question will have to be found from the womb of history.

He said the old scriptures have pointed out that the hymns recited by Guru Nanak Dev used to be jotted down by his staunch followers who accompanied him. Jaggi also pointed out that unfortunately no handwritten manuscript of Guru Nanak is available and hence it was difficult in which script he used to write.

However, he said, Guru Nanak was undoubtedly an educated person. Guru’s hymns established beyond doubt that he was acquainted with the prevailing script in Punjab .

Talking to The Tribune, Jaggi said he had put forth the historical facts with honesty. The entire work was completed with great dedication and mission. He had also used rare primary sources to accomplish the gigantic task.

Jaggi claimed that though many Sikh scholars had already prepared commentaries on Guru Granth Sahib in Punjabi, Hindi, English and other languages, this effort was unique as it had been prepared after careful study of material available right from the Faridkoti commentary till date.

Jaggi has used simple and easy language to bring the whole thing in the easy grasp of the reader. Jaggi has also provided the appropriate religious terminology along with complete meanings.

This work, running into 3,500 pages, will fill a need of all those interested in the study of the Granth.

Jaggi has also contributed the much-acclaimed commentary on the Dasam Granth and presented the Encyclopedia of Guru Granth Sahib and the Encyclopedia of the Sikh Panth.

PHN Editors Note: Dr Jaggi is no stranger to controversy as one of the first commentators on the Dasam Granth in the 1960's his theories have created big debates on the subject.

Comments (29) >>

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Ravinder Singh said:

Seriously what is the SGPC doing? I mean sure there should be freedom of speech but this is just ridiculous. Instead of focusing on real problems they are trying to dismantle Sikhsim from the inside, they are true mahant's. How can this be tolerated any further?

November 15, 2007

aamsikh said:

this is what happens when these so called bookish type scholars try to take away the devotional part and try to take Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji only as a book. Guru Sahib Ji is not for putting in library shelf , taken out when needed and then putting back.must be regarded as living Guru.

November 16, 2007 | url

Gurteg Singh said:

It is a shame that these so called "eminent scholars" start unnecessary controversies about the unparalleled message of Guru Granth Sahib . But this is the first time some one is trying to tell us that Guru Nanak was an "educated" person. The great Guru Nanak who had the light of the formless Lord does not need a certificate of his qualifications from some one who has been educated in worldly universities up to a certain "Degree" All these so called Chairs in the universities headed by these pseudo scholars are in most cases doing more damage than good to Sikhism. Let us never forget that our enemies will do everything possible to raise doubts about any and all aspects of Guru Granth Sahib but it pains us to see that people like Jaggi would also join them in this conspiracy. SGPC is today controlled by RSS and Indian agencies.

November 16, 2007

gurmukh said:

check jaggis background i think he is a converted chrtistian. That will explain everything

November 16, 2007

Ajit Singh Matta said:

Guru Nanak Devji does not require a cerficate from so called eminent scholar Mr. Jaggi. He is the person who is creating contraversies. All these so called Scholars re in most cases doing more damage than good to Sikhism.

November 16, 2007

sajjan singh said:

It is unfortunate that in the name of research the so called scholars are ruining our heritage and culture. what authority he is having to comment on Guru Granth Saheb ji and Guru Nanak Dev ji ? Can he tell us who was is father? (this only can his mother tell). In the name of research they are bringing shame to the sikh community. This type of scholars should be immediately banned.Instead of taking action on the scholar , SGPC is releasing the book from the panthic platform, appproving the book, (it is a shame that the book was not throughly checked before release). Can any one dare to release such a comment of the Quran/Bible ? This is how a controversy is created to get cheap popularity among the so called secular research scolars. Where is Prof. Darshan Singh ji ? Where is Bhai Prof, Ranjeet Singh ji ? What are other panthic leaders doing at this juncture ? why the book was not checked by the panthic leaders before release ? if any, checking is done, let the sangat know about it. The book should be banned till the clearance is given by the panthic committee clearance with their signature ?

November 16, 2007

jagar singh said:

the only prayer ,i have made to satguru ,is to give some 'buddhi '' to his sikhs.they flare up at any contradictory ideas to their understanding.do we believe that everything in Guru Granth sahib is originating from the gurus?the original is with prithiyas which they refuse to show.the contradictory ideas which occur at places could not have been gur's.why are we not open to discussion on logic and facts in place of flaring up?looks like i have to continue with my prayer to the Great Lord.

November 16, 2007

Dr. Mandeep Singh said:

mera eh veechar hai keh jadon vee kise sacche insaan yaan sacchee cheez utte ungli utthayee jaandee hai taan us insaan ya us sachayee te koi farq nahin painda balkee oh sachayee hor wadh charh ke ubbhar dee hai. aue mera eh vee manana hai ke eh sikh vee sanu guru nanak ne hi diti hai.....ke kise vee cheez nu bina soche sajhe na manno..........unha ne vee brahmanan de janeo nu kabool nahin see keeta. kise nu vee dr jaggi nu bina soche hoe nahin dutkarna chaheeda, balki we have enough sikh scholars who can dissect his thesis and prove him wrong. this would in turn prove to strengthen the tenets of our religion.

November 16, 2007

Gurinder "G" said:

It is TIME to bring true sikh scholars forward. People like Jaggi have one thing in common how to make money!!! SGGS was dictated by Fifth Guru and written by Bhai Gurdass ji and then later dictated by Guru Gobind singh ji, If the hyms were not written by Guru Nanak dev ji then fifth Guruji would have corrected it, because full credit of Gurbani shabads is given to other Bhagats in SGGS. So, Now People like JaGGI who has limited brain development in comparsions to Guru's is going to shed some light. What kind of Light? These mortals are stuck in maya ( lust, greed ,egao) to them only thing it matters is money and fame. So, people stop to depend upon stupid greedy sikh leaders. Its time to put real leaders forward like chardi kala jatha people, people who have devoted their time in studying sikhism with their true hearts. NOt people like JaGGI who are influenced by other governments and religious people. People we have to Challenge these kind of False scholars., who have just grown their breads to disguise themselves as siikhs ..................

November 16, 2007

Devinder Pal Singh said:

Jaggi's comments are sure going to raise a lot of controversy. However I would like to ask him a question did he raise that question towards any other thing which he accepted not by written word but by word of mouth?

November 16, 2007

Rajinder Singh Arshi said:

We have an extremely weak and visionless leadership. A complete reform is needed of SGPC. Even if the idea behind research, like the one undertaken and executed by Jaggi, is genuine it does throw the doors open for unscrupulous scholars to continually raise issues and dismantle the teaching of Sikh Gurus for their own benefit and egos. If any genuine research is to be undertaken, there should be machinery put in place to ensure that the end result must benefit the interests of Sikhism and the persons involved must not be motivated by money. Alas! this is a task that an body like SGPC is well placed to undertake. However, it is continually failing in its duty to be custodians of Sikh Heritage and its Spiriitual Treasures. We cannot depend on SGPC but do we have alternatives? If so what? It will be interesting to explore these. May Guru Nanak bless us all with the wisdom to safeguard our rich heritage.

November 16, 2007

s sidana said:

Dr.jaggi there are many questions above for you to answer before you ask for anything from sikhs and sikh-scholars. A. what is your educational qualifications, B edu-qualifications in punjabi/ gurmukhi script & gurbani OR YOU A SCHOLAR IN ANY ONE OF THESE , C. Do you know are the three digrees of punjabi & sikhism do yopu know the names even. D. do you have any such digree from any university/institute sikhs approved sanstha OR missionary. E. Are you holder of any digree/cetificates in GIANI,VIDWANI &/OR BUDHIMANI DIGREES FROM PUNJAB UNIVESITY/PUNJABI UNIVERSITY,PATIALA? F. IN WHAT SUBJECT DID YOU QUALIFY AS DOCTORATE/DOCTOR(DOCTOR IN MEDICINES),or PhD IN ANY SUBJECT OR YOU ARE JUST LLMP/RMP(COMPOUNDER)? G. WEATHER YOUR Dr''S DIGREE QUALIFIES YOU FOR DISCUSSION ON SGGS-PUNJABI &/ SIKHISM OR SIOKH HISTORY? H. WHAT' ARE THE NAMES OF YOUR BOTH PARENTS,PLACE OF BIRTH DATE O B ETC. AND THEIR RELIGION WHEN YOU WERE BORN TO THEM. I. THE FACT WILL COME OUT FROM YOUR EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS THE LANGUAGES YOU KNOW(WELVERESED IN RTEADING,WRITING AND UNDERSTANDING) OF THE LANGUAGES u KNOW. J. IF YOU 'RE NOT WELVERSED IN PUNJABI,URDU,PUSHTO(PAKHTOON-LANGUAGE-PAKHTOON),GUJRATI,SINDHI,KHADI-BOLI,MAHARASHTRAN,BENGALI M,ARWADI(MARWARI) & THE INDIAN LOCAL LANGUAGES + PERSIAN AND FARSI ETC.ETC.. yOU ARE NOT A THINKABLE PERSON TO BE CALLED A SIKH SCHOLAR & OR GURBANI SCHOLAR. K. ALONGWITH OTHER ABOVE QUESTIONS, I 'LL ASK TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORDS USED IN SGGS as: DANA---& DANAA IN PUNJABI BOTH WORDS SPELL SAME,BUT PRONONCIATIONS AND MEANING ARE DIFFERENT IN SGGS. ALSO SIHARI (S) & ONKAD _ IS USED FOR WHAT PURPOSES,SOMEWHERE ITS TO MAKE A PAD CHHED ONLY & OMETIME IT WAS USED TO READ as is A& hAS THE DIFFERENT MEANINGS LIKE MOHIH(HOMIH-PRIDE/EGO) OTHER TIMES ITS MEANS MOHI(mujhe,MENU).CAN YOU READ AND UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY ? i DON'T BELIEVE FROM YOUR ADDS FOR GREED AND NAME SKAE,YOU HAD STARTED THIS FUDE PER YOUR ADS IN 1960 ON DSAM GRANTH & WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF YOUR RESEARCH=NOTHING EXCEPT A IN FIGHT. I'M SURE YOU ARE CONVERTED BRAHMINWADI PERSON OR NON-SIKH WHO WANTS HIS NAME-FAME AND MONEY.

November 16, 2007

Gurinder said:

Already for couple of hundered years philosophy of sikhism is being dissovled by government agents who have been disquised as sikhs. PEOPLE WE NEED CLEAR ANSWERS, WHAT REFERENCES HE USED, IS IT IS OWN THEORY, HYPOTHESIS, . I would like to point out that christian missionaries also working quite hard to TARGET sikhism. WE NEED TO KNOW WHO IS FUNDING THESE KIND OF FALSE RESEARCH AND WHO IS BEHIND ALL OF THIS.

November 16, 2007

TARSEM SINGH BHARAJ said:

WE MUST THANK MR. JAGGI FOR ISSUING A CERTIFICATE THAT GURU NANAK WAS A LEARNED PERSON. SOME BODY HAS SAID THAT MR. JAGGI IS A CONVERT CHRISTIAN IN GARB OF SIKHISM OTHERWISE NO SIKH WOULD CHALLANGE SGGS. COMMENTARY ON SGGS MEANS IS A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE AUTHORITY OF GURU ARJUN DEV WHO AFTER SPENDING YEARS ON COMPILING SGGS. SOME TIME BACK DR. PASHORA SINGH HAD CHALLENGED THE VERY EXISTENCE OF KATARPURI BIR TO PLEASE HIS GORA MASTER MR. Macleod . TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT SGGS ONE SHOULD BE MASTER OF 8-10 LANGUAGES. SUCH SCHOLARS ARE ARE SPIRTULLY BLIND AND INTELECTUALLLY CORRUPT , LACK HONESTY AND HISTORICAL INSIGHT. SGPC HAS COMPLETLY FAILED, IT SHOULD HAVE CHECHED THE DOCUMENT BEFORE RELEASING IT . I THINK SGPC HAS NOT LEARNED LESSON FROM MR. PASHAURA SINGH AND MR. PIAR SINGH. SRI GURU GRUNTH SAHIB (SGGS) SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED A SUBJECT OF STUDY. ON ONE HAND SIKH TREAT SGGS TO BE A LIVING GURU AND ON THE OTHER SIDE IT IS PUT TO TEST. ANY COMMENTARY ON SGGS IS A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO OUR GURUS. ANY RESEARCH ON SIKH SCRIPTURES SHOULD BE AUTHORISED BY A HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE. FOR CHEAP POPULARITY OUR SO TO SCHOLARS DELIBERATLY CREATE CONTROVERSY."Badnaam honge to kiya naam na hoga "( ਬਦਨਾਮ ਹੋਂਗੇ ਤੋ ਕਿਯਾ ਨਾਮ ਨਾ ਹੋਗਾ )।

November 16, 2007

Chaudhry Rajinder Nijjhar said:

Hi, What was in the Original Birr that was dictated by each Nanak and the Bhagats in person may look odd but there is nothing odd in God. In the Tent where Satguru Arjun Dev Ji sat voices of more than one person were heard by the scribe Bhai Gurdass Ji and on enquiring, he was told the fact that each one come and dictates His Own Bani making Ad Granth a DHUR KI BANI not dictated by Satguru Arjun Dev Ji alone. Bhai Bunno Managat Jatt and his associates copies this brought two BIRRs instead of one. Because the copies One was not dictated by Each Jot, so it was called a KHARI BIRR and people were discouraged to read that Copy. But today, these BIRRs are ATT KHARI and only blind to spirit read them without understanding. It has become business for Granthis, a breed worse than the greedy Brahmins.

November 16, 2007 | url

Manny Singh said:

I have met number of so -called Gursikhs, who are recent converts from Hindus or other sub-casts may be as conspirators of enemies of Sikh Panth, who talk so rubbish abouts Sikhism and Sikh Gurus and do such acts that bring bad name to sikhs. I think this guy Jaggi is one of them. Siks sholud be very careful about such miscreants. Sikhs should either ignore them or establish such organizations who could keep wactch on them and bring them to book legally.

November 16, 2007

Raj Karega Khalsa said:

the problem we have today is a very simple one. sikhi is something which has to be yearned for, accepted, and practised. instead we come to sikhi as pitchers which are already full. we are already full of science, philosophy, academia and worldly knowledge which is irrelevant so we look at sikhi and try and fit it into a little box.. when it is actually our mind which is too narrow to encompass something so Divine as Gurbani. anybody or anything internally or externally which acts to question Gurbani is something which must be met with the greatest of faith, truth, love and most importantly Naam

November 16, 2007 | url

Paul Singh said:

These so called Scholars like Jaggi or any one else sail in the same boat, for them Sikhism , Sikh writings are just for discussion and presentations in seminars in universities and university cofee house/canteens. For them it is just another topic for their so called research work getting another P.hd. student enrolled in their cap and that is how the universities count their intelligence. In practical life they are far from reality whether it is Jaggi or any of his colleagues from Punjabi University . Where were all these scholars hiding in 1980's and 1990's. and what a pitty that these are being recognised by our "Mini Parliament" - THE SGPC -controlled by a bunch of hand picked illetrates.

November 17, 2007

Taranjeet said:

Waheguru Sab da bhala karay, te Dr. Jaggi nu sadbudhi devay. Its a cheap publicity stunt! for name fame and above all money(traay guna vich bhatkana is nu he kehnday han)

November 17, 2007

Manjit Singh Kwatra said:

There were nine Gurus after Guru Nanak Dev Ji they never questioned the ethnicity of Guru NanakeDev Ji’s writings. Who is Jaggi? Faith is the basis of religion. If you have complete faith in your guru then what difference does it make Who said what?? Time to time controversies prevail but the truth remains. Keep your faith in Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Truth will always prevail. aad Such Jugag Such……………Do not let people like Jaggi both you. They come & go. Manjit Kwatra

November 18, 2007

jasbir singh said:

When we bother what these Manmukh people says, they get rich,famous,known , and that is what they need, so we should not bother what they say. Waheguru bless Jaggi , to JAAG because he is asleep in MAYA.

November 18, 2007

Rajdeep Singh Pannu said:

Punjabi Sahitya Academy and Shromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee should be utterly ashamed of their utter stupidty and utter ignorance and utter lack of commonsense. Punjabi Sahitya Academy should call him back and give Mr. Jaagi Lifetime Fellowship of the BIGGEST IDIOT and BIGGEST FOOL in the annals of Sikh Historians. Nobody can top Mr. Jaggi, a Low life Scum.

November 19, 2007

s sidana said:

Here the talk is for sggs & reasearch on gurus's writings what jaggi is saying what a LADY WITH HAIR CUT AND WITHOUT A DOPUTTA ON HER HEAD(just on her sholders like pakistani punjabans) WAS TALKING WITH THEM,WHAT YOU/WE ALL SIKHS COULD EXPECT FROM THESE KORAHIYAS. JUST WITH A LITTLE KNOW LEDGE OF one subject is not a mastery in the spiritualism. Is jaggi a master or doctrate in any of the Languages used in SGGS ? I doubt it, WHY DID N'T HE ANSWERED MY ABOVE CPMMENT & QUESTIONS FOR HIM. AS NO ONE CAN GURU'S/AKAL PURAKH JI DI MEHMA DESCRIBE,BUT THESE MONEY MINDED BRAHMAN-WADIS CAN MAKE WORSE FOR THE SIKHS. nO SILKH LEADERS HAVE ANY right to decide blindly and print jaggi-like book and sgpc can't answer. Now they say we did not read it.Look at the sgpc parbandhaks what education they have. One time bibi jagir kaur also had done the samilar ERROR.( I did not read it & it was suggested by the lawer of sgpc to siogn it ,I did it).

November 19, 2007

Silly people said:

Religion - what a fraud!!!

November 19, 2007

Hardev Kohli said:

Dr. Jaggi has reached to his conclusion or comments, it does not mean that his conclusion is final. We have abbundence of scholars who can work on this subject and come to a different conclusion. This way we can have better understanding of how and why our Guru Jis gave us this gift of SGGS to us. We should take any descent positively and find opportunities to enhance our understanding. We are fortunate to have many scholars amungst us and should use their findings to come to a global view. We cannot deny that many self made scholars have jumped to many different conclusions and have tried to create confusions among sikhs we do read these type of write ups very often such as eh Shiva Bar Mohe.., We all know that a research project has to be done in a special way and the coclusion has to pass many tests before it is acceped. Even then it can be challanged and processed repeated to test any other conclusions. Let our scholars do their job, if we do not like it, then we have to prove otherwise. Name Calling or critisizing helps no body except lost energy in futile. I believe that a joint study by our eminent scholars is overdue. Any interpretations which does not cocur with core values given to us cannot be true. Hardev Kohli

November 20, 2007

RAJINDER SINGH PHULL said:

EVERYBODY ALREADY SAID TO JAGGY , BYNOW HE ALREADY LOST HIS DEGREES & HE GOT A NEWONE & IE IDIOT, I AGREE ALL THE WAY.NOW LET ME QUESTION SGPC, WHAT QUALIFICATION THEY SHOW HERE TO RELEASE THIS BOOK.WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE BEING USED BY SGPC . JUST VEDANTI & MAKKAR HAD COUPLE OFF MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT IT & RELEASED. THEY SHOULD SETUP A COMMETIE OR DEPARTMENT WHO SHOULD BE WORKING FULL OR PARTTIME & STUDYING THESE KINDS AND OTHERS LITERATURES BEFORE BEING RELEASED. LIKE PROF, DARSHAN SINGH & BHAI PINDERPAL SINGH AND OTHERS LIKE THEM SHOULD BE HIRED TIME OT TIME.THIS WORK DONE BY JAGGI SHOULD TAKE ATLEAST 6-12 MONTHS OF STUDY HIS WRITINGS. WHATEVER I CAN SAY SGPC SYSTEM IS ALSO FAILED. THEY ARE FAILED TO PROTECT RELIGON , HISTORY ,TEACHINGS OF GURUS, $SO ON. THNK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE. RSPHULL

November 21, 2007 | url

KULWANT SINGH said:

GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI SAY - ANG 1029 THE TRUE GURU SNAPS THE NOOSE OF DEATH, FOR THAT GURMUKH WHO CONTEMPLATES THE ESSENCE OF REALITY, CHEATED BY FALSEHOOD, THE SELF-WILLED MANMUK WALKS ALONG MANY PATHS, he may be highly educated, BUT HE BURNS IN FIRE. THE GURU IS THE GREAT GIVER OF THE NAAM, THE NAME OF THE WAHEGURU CHANTING THE NAAM SUBLIME PEACE IS OBTAINED. ANG NO.1288 THE LEARNED AND EDUCATED ARE CALLED TO ACcOUNT FOR THEIR ACTIONS WITHOUT THE they are judged false they become miserable and suffer hardship.

November 22, 2007

Gurmukh said:

When enemy attack what we do, do we smile and say you are most welcome and hurt us. Before he can do any harm to you u should knocked him down.

November 23, 2007

1WiZ said:

Why would be read a 3500 page book, when we can read our 1430 page Guru. Guru ji is the jagdi jyot.....trust me...when I go to the Gurudwara...I see lights around Guru ji...which has made me realize...there is more than meets they eye......more of the unseen...when we think of Guru as jyot.....we begin to have all sorts of experiences in the presence of the Guru. Don't listen to this guys' B.S.......and there version of Sikhi....it will take you to Hell not Sach Kandh... Just remember to keep the faith in the Guru alive..........and the Guru will show you things you can't even imagine!!!!

November 28, 2007

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