Reflection and tribute on the landmark 400^th anniversary celebrations of the Prakash Ustav (ceremonious installation) of the original Guru Granth Sahib at the holiest Harmandir (now famous as the Golden Temple) at Amritsar, India on September 1, 2004. Sikhs honor their Granth as an Eternal Living Guru personified, and the heart and soul of their faith. Sikhs hail Guru Granth Sahib as a universal spiritual treasure for all mankind.

Photo: Tribune

An illuminated Golden Temple ahead of the quadricentennial celebrations of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib, in Amritsar on August 30. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma (Tribune) Photo: Tribune

The Dalai Lama at the Golden Temple on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the Guru Granth Sahib's installation in Amritsar on September 1, 2004. Photo: Tribune

The year was 1469, and in the dusty village of Talwandi in the Punjab,
In a caste-ridden, Moslem-ruled, and terribly divided Hindustan,
A Divine Messenger was born to spread a hopeful, universal message:
Oneness, Equality, Dignity, and Brotherhood of all God’s children.

His followers named this humble Teacher: Guru Nanak.

In Word and Song, Nanak reaffirmed and proclaimed: There is One God;
A Supreme Reality, an Eternal Truth; Father and Mother to all Creation;
The sanctity of life, all faiths and traditions across the human horizon;
He revealed the path to know God; manifested within and all around.

His poetic utterances: “Shabad: Word”, reveal the Divine Wisdom of Ages;
Enshrined as a Spiritual Treasure in the Sikh holy book, the Adi Granth
Beside the hymns of his successors, Hindu bhagats, and Muslim saints;
Each reaffirming, a unity-in-spirit about basic precepts on matters of faith.

The Fifth Nanak, Arjan Dev, installed the interfaith revolutionary Granth
At the holiest Harmandir in 1604 as a spiritual anchor for the young faith;
The hymns of the Ninth Nanak, Teg Bahadur, later added to the original
By the Tenth Guru, Gobind Singh, with a final command to his followers:

Honor Guru Granth Sahib as the Living Guru, a spiritual Guide henceforth;
Meet the Guru personified; witness the Wonderful Lord in the Shabad;
Meditate and celebrate, serve and sacrifice, and discover in Naam-Simran
God’s benevolence and greatness mirrored across the Word and the Song.

Sikhs since 1708, have proudly celebrated the Shabad: as their Eternal Guru,
Descended from heavenly Realm in exulted poetry as 5,894 hymns; all keyed
To magnificent music that transports the soul to a higher plateau and vision;
Bathing their mind and spirit in affirming universal textures and rhythms.

Believe that all Divine inspirations originate in Satguru’s Heavenly Temple;
The Word as Eternal Song, reverberating throughout His countless galaxies,
Star-studded corridors, cosmic enclaves, unseen worlds, limitless blue skies,
Spreading radiance, ecstasy, music, and melody in all imaginable directions;

The Granth: a tapestry of spiritual thoughts and visions of the sacred,
Honors the entire spectrum of Divine Wisdom, Revelations, and Truth;
Accepts all faiths, spiritual philosophies as unique paths to One destination;
Advocates their rightful place; respects as our collective spiritual heritage:

Defense of sacred rights, human dignity as an act of faith, conscience;
Courage to face and destroy evil that terrorizes and injures the human soul;
Wisdom to embrace, recognize, and celebrate: “All humanity as One Race;”
In faith, stretching a Canopy of Hope and Peace across all human continents.

With a kindred spirit, thread all humanity in a Circle of Brotherhood;
Dispel ignorance and bigotry; confront injustice, prejudice, and intolerance;
Dismantle walls that divide people and faith from faith, culture from culture;
Discover God’s Presence in the rich mosaic of all Songs and Scriptures:

Recognize and know, all spiritual paths lead to our common Cosmic Center;
Witness God’s Universe and Majesty; His beautiful and welcome Mansions,
Sanctuaries paved with prayer, peace, and pure Light for all living beings;
Come to the sacred, Divine Mystery and matters of faith, with an open spirit.

The Sikh Guru Granth Sahib is a composite treasury of languages and cultures;
A repository of Wisdom that transcends Frontiers, Ages, and Messengers;
A bridge that spans diverse spiritual shores; a Vessel that ferries the seeker;
A Teacher that demands: see “God’s Light and Presence in every living being.”

Satguru leads everyone past the temporal hurdles; offers Eternity to all,
For “No one is outside the Circle of God’s Love, Mercy, and Compassion;”
Waheguru alone delivers mortals from earthly and hereafter fears and cycles;
Scriptures offer a glimpse of His Magnificence, spiritual insights and direction:

Praise the Infinite and Immaculate God with service offerings at His Altar;
Find humanity in respecting unfamiliar ideals, cultures, and traditions;
Affirm humanity by assuring justice, equality, and freedom of fellow beings;
Live spiritual lessons through works that make a difference for God’s Children.

Faith leaders gathered on this anniversary to honor The Granth at the Golden Temple;
A return visit to Nanak’s travels to their “Cathedrals of Spirit,” in the 15th century;
Beyond the colorful pageantry, welcome opportunity, intense pride, and proclamations;
Such gatherings need to honor the true mandate of the faith and the noble Granth.