Britannica Sources used in this answer

How is the Gurmukhi script connected to Sikhism?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Amritsar, India: Harmandir Sahib — Punjab The Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple; right), Amritsar, Punjab, India.

The Gurmukhi script is deeply intertwined with Sikhism, serving as the primary writing system for the religion's sacred literature. The name itself translates to "from the mouth of the Guru," reflecting its central role in recording the teachings of the Sikh Gurus.1

According to tradition, the second Sikh Guru, Guru Angad, standardized or popularized the script in the mid-16th century to ensure that sacred texts could be recorded accurately, addressing limitations in existing scripts. Its significance to the faith was solidified when it was used to record the Adi Granth—the central scripture of Sikhism—in 1604.12

Today, Gurmukhi remains the script used for the Guru Granth Sahib, which is revered as the 11th and final Guru of the Sikhs. Because of this historical connection, the Sikh community has been the primary driver in developing Punjabi as a modern standard language and establishing it as the official language of the Indian state of Punjab.32