| Gatha | |
|---|---|
| byGuru Arjan | |
 Illuminated Guru Granth Sahib folio withnisan (Mul Mantar) in the penmanship ofGuru Gobind Singh | |
| Original title | Gatha |
| Written | 17th century |
| Language | Gatha |
| Subject | Spirituality |
| Genre | Religion |
| Meter | Salok |
| Lines | 24 |
| Preceded by | ਸਲੋਕ ਸਹਸਕ੍ਰਿਤੀ (Salok Sahaskriti) |
| Followed by | ਫੁਨਹੇ (Funhe) |
| Part of a series on the |
| Gurū Granth Sahib ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ |
|---|
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| Popular compositions |
| Other compositions |
| Various aspects |
| Poetical metres, modes, measures, and rhythms |
| Internal classifications |
Gatha (Punjabi: ਗਾਥਾ) is abani by the fifthSikh Guru,Guru Arjan Dev. It appears onang 1360-1361 ofGuru Granth Sahib - the holy scripture and living Guru of Sikhs.[1] Gatha is made of 24saloks.[2] The main theme of Gatha is the praise ofWaheguru and the importance of devotion toWaheguru.[3] Gatha is aSanskrit word translating to song or verse and refers to any composition out of theVeda. It also meanskatha (commentary).[4] It is also the name of the language the composition is written in.[5]
Gatha is written in a language baring the same name. Gatha, the language, uses words fromSanskrit,Pali,Prakrit, and other local languages.[6] Gatha, the language, was rejected byBrahmins and considered inferior to Sanskrit. Guru Arjan describe the language as hard and states that only those with rare caliber can understand it.[5] Another name for this language isSahaskriti.[3] The language is now considered dead.[7]
Gatha's first 8 saloks assert that a human life is only fruitful when a human doessimran and sits inSaadh Sangat (holy congression). It also asserts that a human is safe from all viruses and pain throughsimran. The 9-24 saloks state thatsimran can be achieved only throughSaadh Sangat and by staying in theSaadh Sangat faith is created inWaheguru and no virus can effect them. It also asserts that through theSaadh Sangat a human reaches such a level that those around them follow them and merge withWaheguru. The main theme of the composition is that a humans life is only worthwhile when they dosimran ofWaheguru and this is achieved in theSaadh Sangat.[8]
