A.D) that Bhai Banno during his journey to and from Mangat and by traversing a distance of 1 kos each day, made a copy of the Holy Book by engaging 12 scribes. In the copy of the Holy Book thus made, he included in it some additional compositions. On his return to Amritsar, he presented to Guru Arjan Dev both the volumes of the Holy Book and told the Guru about the additions he had made. On seeing the additional, compositions included in the Holy Book, the Guru told him to keep those additions confined to his copy only and not to put them in the original Holy Book.

The author of Gur-Bilas (written in 1718 A.D) also gave the names of the additional banis included by Banno. He has also stated that the following changes were made by Banno in the Compositions of the Bhagats - (1) In Rag Sarang, where the Guru had included one verse of Surdas only, Banno included the whole of the stanze realting to it. (2) At the end of Rag Maru, added a stanze of Mira Bai, beginning with the verse “man hamaro bandhio gun”. In addition to these changes, he stated that Banno had incorporated the following Compositions at the end of the Holy Book, which were
stated to have been composed by Guru Nanak Dev-

1. Jit dar lakb mubammada
2. Baye atisb - 16 sloks.
3. Rattan maal
4. Rab mukam ki sakb

Giani Gian Singh (who died in 1921 A.D), however, did not give any details of the changes made in the Holy Book. He only Wrote: “He made a copy of the Holy Book on hiS’ way to Mangat, and also included in it a few additional Shabads of Guru Nanak’ Dev and the Bhagats.”

Matter of Utter Surprise

One is utterly surprised, how the scribes of Banno could manage to include, in the copy being made, the spurious compositions and make other alterations, when the copying work was being strictly supervised by Bhai Gurdas? Was Bhai Gurdas not checking what type of copying work was being carried out? The book, Puratan

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