Some people say that Bhai Banno ji took Guru Granth Sahib ji to get the binding done and that Guru ji sent him to Lahore. It is believed by some that he made the second copy on the way. Whether this is fact or not, the truth is that Bhai Banno ji made the second copy. In both versions of history, it is the greatness of the Satguru that shines through. In 1661 (Vikram), 1704 CE, the 1st Sudhi of Bhadron (August/September), the Guru Granth Sahib ji’s writing and binding was complete. There was a great celebration then. The Sangat of many lands came to visit Guru Granth Sahib ji. The Sikhs got the news and were really happy. They were happy to see Guru Granth Sahib ji. Some wanted to make copies and have the “Prakash” (illumination) done in their villages.
Bhai Banno ji and other Sikhs were sitting with Guru ji in the Divaan. Sri Hargobind ji, 9 years old, was sitting with his father. Guru ji was like the moon siting among the stars. Guru ji gave wisdom to the Sikhs: “this world is an ocean in which everyone is drowning. The Guru Granth Sahib ji is the ship. Whoever connects his/her mind with Guru Granth Sahib ji, they will cross this ocean. The body of the Satguru cannot be in two places at once; nor the same time at once. Guru Granth Sahib ji is the heart of the Guru; it is the soul of the Guru. They will be immortal and will be able to be in every country and at every time. The Guru Granth Sahib ji is higher than my body. Respect them like Parmeshwar. Worship them with sandalwood and saffron. Light incenses near them and offer them fragrant flowers. Whoever makes copies of Guru Granth Sahib ji, make sure the Bani is written accurately. The vowels and letters should be correct. Recite the Bani with faith and accuracy. Just as I have checked the letters, do not write more or less than the original. Whoever adds or takes away any of the Bani will be a fool. Do not make up your own poetry and add it to Guru Granth Sahib ji. If someone is a poet, write another Granth, separate from Guru Granth Sahib ji. There will be one, although, the strongest in the 14 worlds, there will be no other one like him. He will tolerate his own power. He will not use his powers. He will sit on my throne. He will think of others only. He will give his head for the well-being of others. He will come forth and show his patience. His Bani will be added to Guru Granth Sahib ji. There will be no other to add their Bani. Whoever worships Guru Granth Sahib, their wishes will be fulfilled. They will receive Mukti and not be beaten by the Jumms. The praise of Akaal Purakh, which the Quran and Puranas state; the Vedas and Shastras talk about; Shaishnaag and Sharda cannot find the end of; everyone states as indescribable; who is the greatest and the support of all; the names of Akaal Purakh have been sung in Guru Granth Sahib ji. The Name and the Named are one. This is the idol of Sri Kartar. The Gurbani is the same as Akaal Purakh. One should respect Guru Granth Sahib ji to the best of their abilities. You will be rewarded as much as you show respect. Use sandalwood and light incenses with saffron. Wave Chaurs over them. Tie a canopy above them. Meet Guru Granth Sahib ji everyday and then eat food or do your work. Recite the Gurbani or listen to it. Make the wisdom dwell in your heart. Wherever you see Guru Granth Sahib ji, stand up and fold your hands. Bow with a humble mind. Tell others of the wisdom of the Bani. Whoever does Katha, Keertan or writing of Guru Granth Sahib ji, does Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib ji, listens to the Bani, their bonds will be broken. They will receive Mukti. Their tasks will be completed. For specific tasks, have the Paath done and distribute Karah Prashaad at the Bhog (completion). The person doing Ardaas should stand up and fold their hands while doing the Ardaas. Their wishes should be stated. That wish, which should be a good thing, will be fulfilled. Ask for the goodness of all, “Sarbat da Bhalla.” If a Sikh dies, do the Paath of Guru Granth Sahib ji in the home. Give clothes to the Paathis and Guru Granth Sahib ji. Give food to the Paathis. Langar should be distributed to the Sangat. Do as much as your abilities allow you to. Give money too, if you can. That Sikh will be in joy in this world and in the next world. What else can I say? Everything can be fulfilled by reciting Bani. The Saints and Mahants should not ask for worldly things. They should only see Akaal Purakh with love. They should do Simran of Satnam, day and night. Their sins will be washed away. They will not see the Jumms. They will come to me in Sach Khand.”
Guru ji was sitting at Ramsar when Bhai Banno ji brought the 2nd Guru Granth Sahib ji. Guru ji said this wisdom there. This was for the good of the Sikhs. The binding was done. Guru ji asked Baba Bhudda ji: “where should Guru Granth Sahib ji illuminate? Where is the place that would be befitting?” Baba Bhudda ji said, folding his hands: “who is wiser than you? If you are still asking me, in the middle of the Amritsar Sarovar, the Harmandhir Sahib is the most beautiful place for Guru Granth Sahib ji. The Sangat will listen to and read Gurbani around Guru Granth Sahib ji. Just like Vishnu sits on Shaishnaag in the ocean and looks beautiful; Harmandhir Sahib is Vaikunt, Guru Granth Sahib ji should be illuminated in the centre. It will look like Vishnu in the centre.” Guru Arjan Dev ji was happy to hear this and said: “you are right Baba ji. That is the best place. Harmandhir Sahib is in the middle of Sudhasur (Amritsar) Sarovar. There is no other place like it in all three worlds. Guru Granth Sahib ji is the most beautiful and so is Harmandhir Sahib. Guru Granth Sahib ji is filled with the names of Akaal Purakh. The two supreme things will be together now. Day and night, the praises of Akaal Purakh will be sung. Bhai Gurdas ji, the Darbar of Guru Ramdas ji will grow. Its glory will grow. No pain and trouble will come close to the one who bathes in the Amritsar. The Harmandhir is the form of Hari. The Sikhs will do Seva with devotion there. Laxmi will always serve here as well. There will be no shortages here. Whoever comes here with faith and does Ardaas, their Ardaas will be fulfilled. Today we will stay in Ramsar. In the morning, we will go to Sri Harmandhir Sahib with Guru Granth Sahib ji.” Everyone ate and slept the night. Everyone slept on the floor, in respect of Guru Granth Sahib ji. Guru Arjan Dev ji slept on the floor as well. Guru Granth Sahib ji were on a bed. Guru ji thought in his heart: “who should do the Seva of Guru Granth Sahib ji? There are many from the Bedis, Trehans, Bhallas and Sodhis. Who should be the Granthi? They are all proud of their families though, and so will not be able to do the Seva. This status should be given to the one that does Seva and is without any pride. The Seva should be given to the one who can do it with devotion. That person should be given the status.” He thought about who has met Guru Nanak Dev ji. Baba Bhudda ji was the highest. He had been with Guru Nanak Dev ji. In this way, Guru ji went to sleep.
Guru ji woke up at Amritvela. Baba Bhudda ji and Bhai Gurdas ji woke up as well. They were drenched with the love of Guru ji. Everyone bathed at Ramsar and sat under the Beri Tree where Sukhmani Sahib was first recited by Guru Arjan Dev ji. Guru ji sat in samadhi for an hour as well as the others. Guru ji said at the first light of the sun: “Baba Bhudda ji, take Guru Granth Sahib ji’s bed on top of your head. Walk towards Harmandhir Sahib and everyone will follow.”
Baba Bhudda ji picked up the Peera (platform) of Guru Granth Sahib ji and Guru Arjan Dev ji waved the Chaur over them. They all walked towards the Sri Harmandhir Sahib ji. Many conches, Narsinghas, Dhundhabs and Shehnais played as they walked. Everyone shouted out Jaikaras. Sri Hargobind ji, the handsome one, was with his father, behind Guru Granth Sahib ji. It was the most beautiful sight. They all came to Harmandhir Sahib, the Sach Khand. The Raagis sang in Raags in high pitches. Guru Granth Sahib ji’s Manji, with Guru Granth Sahib ji was placed in the middle of Harmandhir Sahib ji. Guru ji sat beside Guru Granth Sahib ji. The Asa Di Vaar was in progress.
When Asa Di Vaar was complete, Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “Bhudda Sahib, kholho Granth. Laiho avaaz sunih sabh Panth - Baba Bhudda ji, open the Granth and read the Bani for the Panth to hear.” Baba Bhudda ji heard the command and said: “true is your word.” Baba Bhudda ji opened the Guru Granth Sahib ji with great respect. He saw the Shabad that his eyes first laid upon and read it out loud for all to hear:
Soohi Mahalla 5..
Hari has come himself to complete the tasks of the Saints, Ram came himself to do the work..
The land is beautiful, the pool is beautiful; inside it, is the Amrit water, Ram came as the Amrit..
Amrit water was filled, the tasks were all completed, the wishes were all fulfilled..
There were Jai Jai Kaars in the whole world, all of the troubles are gone..
The complete, unborn, indestructible One, whose praises are sung by the Vedas and the Puranas..
He has kept his own greatness, Nanak has done Simran of the Name..1..
(SGGS 783)
Everyone bowed after hearing this. The Sangat knew that the Hari Parmeshwar was there. Guru Arjan Dev ji did the Chaur. Baba Bhudda ji did the recitation of Japji Sahib after the Hukamnama. The Sangat said: “Dhan.” They listened to the Gurbani with love. After Japji Sahib was complete, the Sangat shouted out Jaikaras and bowed their heads. Guru Arjan Dev ji was very happy. He was happy that Guru Ramdas ji was happy with him and that the tasks were all complete. The Guru Granth Sahib ji was complete that contained the glory of Akaal Purakh. Guru ji came out of Harmandhir Sahib and the Sangat sang the praises of Guru Arjan Dev ji. From the dimensions of Vishnu, Shaishnaag, Shiva, Brahma, Ayodhya and the other places like Dwarka, Akaal Purakh left all those places and came to Harmandhir Sahib. The court of Guru Ramdas ji has the greatest glory. All of the powers came to live there as well. There was no other place like Harmandhir Sahib in Kaliyuga. There was and will be no other place like this. The master of the 3 worlds was here. The dimensions of the Devatas are lower than this place. The glory of all of the dimensions came to the sanctuary of Guru Ramdas ji’s feet. “Guru Ramdas ji is Dhan,” said the Devatas. All of the four gifts are received from here.
When it was evening, Baba Bhudda ji asked Guru ji: “where should the Guru Granth Sahib ji stay at night? Tell us what your command is. The Sikhs will keep that tradition.” Guru ji said: “this is the court of Akaal Purakh. The Guru Granth Sahib ji is the Avatar of Akaal Purakh. Keertan Sohila should be recited at night. Take Guru Granth Sahib ji while singing Shabads. Take them to the place where I stay, near the Sarovar. They shall rest where I sleep. Take them there with respect. When it is 2 am the Harmandhir Sahib should be washed with milk. Lay down carpets after. Light a ghee lamp inside the Harmandhir Sahib. At around 3 am, the Raagis should start Asa Di Vaar. Sing many shabads in various Raags. When it is 5 am, Guru Granth Sahib ji should come to Harmandhir Sahib. After Asa Di Vaar is complete, open Guru Granth Sahib ji and read the Hukamnama. Do this everyday.” After saying this, Guru ji sat down. It was night time and Guru ji listened to the Kanra ki Chownki in Raag Kanra. There was an Ardaas after the Chownki. Keertan Sohila was read. Everyone got up and did Ardaas. Baba Bhudda ji took the Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib ji and placed them upon his head. Guru Arjan Dev ji waved the Chaur. The conches were played. Many instruments played, just as kings would enter or leave a room, Guru Granth Sahib ji was taken to the place where Guru Arjan Dev ji stayed. There was a beautiful bed there. The cloths were beautiful with flower garlands. They were bordered with golden zarri. Guru Granth Sahib ji was placed upon the bed. Guru Arjan Dev ji laid down on the floor. Till today, there is a mat laid out in that room on the floor, in remembrance of Guru Arjan Dev ji. Guru ji would sleep there. Only sometimes would he go to his home. This was the Katha of how Guru Granth Sahib ji was written. Kavi Santokh Singh ji has stated it to the best of his abilities. Whoever listens to or reads this Katha, their wishes will be fulfilled. They are coloured in the love of the Guru. They receive Aatam Gyaan.