Page 35 - Gurmat Book 7

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Chapter 13: Structure of Sri Guru Granth Sahib

The Guru Granth Sahib Ji has a very intricate structure of Gurbani. It begins
with the word "Ek Onkar" – The All Pervading Being.

The Guru Granth Sahib contains 5877 hymns or Shabads. There are many

different musical structures in the Bani. The Bani is composed and organized in
31 Raags. Each Raag then has many kinds of verses. The first one is the Shabad

or Padas, then longer writings like Ashtpadis. The Ashtpadis are followed by

Chhants and then Vaars. In the end comes the Bhagat Bani. The Shabads also
have many formats. Each line is called a verse. Shabads are classified based on

how many lines or verses they have. The main idea of a Shabad is described in the
Rahao section- usually the first few lines.

Stanza in Punjabi Stanza Name in English Description

1. quk Tuk one verse/sentence

2. slok Salok 2 sentences. *This is true when only
ੋ
word in the title is ਸਲਕ
3. dupdw dupadas (du means 2) 2 verses/ sentences
4. iqpdw tipade (ti means three) 3 verses/ sentences

5. caupdw chaupadas (chau means 4) 4 verses/ sentences
6. pMjpdw panjpadas (panj means 5) 5 verses/ sentences

7. Cypdw/CMq chhepedas/Chhakka 6 verses/ sentences

8. AstpdI Ashtpadiaan 8 verses/ sentences
9. pEVI Paudi/ladder 6-8 sentences

10. soihlw Sohila 16 verses/ sentences
11. vwr Vaar a longer poem about the fight
between the good and evil

12. rhwau Rahaao the stanza with the central meaning

Stepping Stones PSL Gurmat Sikhia Book 7G 2023 Edition Page 33