THE world’s largest Bir of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is currently being put together to enter the Malaysia Book of Records.
Undertaking this effort is the Gurdwara Sahib Puchong temple, also known as the Persatuan Penganut Agama Sikh Puchong Selangor.
The book consists of 1,490 pages with holy scriptures stuck on both sides of a page. When fully opened, it measures nearly 13 feet in width and four feet in length, while weighing some 700kgs.
The temple committee members said each page of the book is sold at RM1,000 and they are seeking donors to sponsor.
“So far we have only managed to ‘sell’ 70 pages which are worth RM70,000,” said the temple vice-president III cum religious advisor Sarban Singh.
Book cleaning: The temple committee members led by Sarban (second from left) sticking the holy scriptures properly onto the pages and clearing any ‘air bubbles’ in between.
“This is why we are hoping to reach out to the Sikh community with this opportunity for them to come forward and be a sponsor.”
Sarban said the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is their 11th (final) and eternal living Guru which compiles teachings from all the previous 10 Sikh gurus.
Each donor or sponsor who contributes before July 30 will have their names printed in some 20,000 copies of a booklet that will be distributed out to devotees.
He said the booklet is meant to thank devotees who have contributed to the construction and completion of the temple’s new premises in Bandar Puteri Puchong.
The temple’s vice-president IV in-charge of operations Dr Daljit Singh said the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is treated as the Sikh’s ‘Bible’.
“We have to recite prayers before opening the book and it is always carried on the head as a form of respect to our guru.
“Also, we would either put up a canopy or drape cloth over to protect the book,” said Dr Daljit.
The Parkash Dihara ceremony, which is when the book is officially ‘opened’ for worship for the first time, will be held on Sept 1.
Temple president Awtar Singh said by embarking on creating the largest book in the world, he hopes it will become an attraction and encourage the younger generation to know more about the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
“Anyone who wishes to view the book can do so at the main darbar of our Gurdwara in Bandar Puteri, where we have two sample pages there,” he said, adding that they are also writing to the Guinness Book of Records for their endorsement.
The Gurdwara address is No. 5473A in Persiaran Bandar Puteri.
This Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji project is endorsed by the Gurdwara Council of Malaysia, with a launch held on April 13 this year attended by Human Resources Minister Datuk S. Subramaniam, Senator Datuk G. Palanivel and Seri Serdang assemblyman Datuk Satim Diman.
Previously, the temple has also made it three times into the Malaysia Book of Records for making the biggest capati in 1997, the largest ladoo in 2007 and the largest variety of vegetarian dishes just last year.
Those who wish to donate can address their cheques to Persa-tuan Penganut Agama Sikh Puchong at 42, Jalan BPU 6, Bandar Puchong Utama, Puchong.