About

BaniDB API

Active work ongoing under dev branch

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Contributing

Prerequisites

  1. Node (10+)
    • nvm can be used for mac/linux
  2. Docker

Optional

Installation

  • Run npm ci in the repository root

Running

  • Run npm run local in the repository root
    • This starts the khalisfoundation/banidb-dev image in a docker container
  • API will run on http://localhost:3001/v2/

Stopping

  • Run npm run docker:stop to stop the container
  • Run npm run docker:clean to remove the image

Vision Statement

BaniDB's vision is to create a single, universally accessible Gurbani Database for Sikh websites and applications. BaniDB is, and will continue to be, the most accurate and complete Gurbani database ever created for use by Sikhs around the world.

In order to make this vision possible, members of this collaborative effort work to ensure that the platform is selfsustaining, tested, and secure.

Precision and Recall

BaniDB is the most precise Sikh Gurbani database with over 43,000 corrections/changes (and counting!). It is simply the most accurate database in the world with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji data having been checked on numerous occaisions.

It is the only database in the world that is being standardized for lagamatras (spelling) and padh chhedh (word separation) versus the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee's (SGPC) published Gurbani pothis.

Furthermore, no change to the DB is approved without at least 3 peer reviews with full citations and audit trail. This exhaustive process ensures that no individual can tamper with Gurbani.

We have worked closely with Gursikhs and Sikh scholars around the world to build upon their previous work. These partners and collaborators include SHARE Charity UK, iGurbani, Gursevak, and others. This has allowed us to ensure we have high recall of Gurbani and Panthic sources typically sung in Kirtan or referenced in Katha.

A Living DB

BaniDB is a collective effort up of a group of dozens of volunteers who ensure that the DB continues to grow, and is properly vetted.

Secure

While BaniDB is a collaborative and collective effort, it is imperative that we also ensure it is an effort that secures the sanctity of Gurbani. As a result, we have chosen to take a controlled approach in order to allow for collaboration but also ensure fidelity of Gurbani data. We welcome others to get involved, but have seen too many instances of Gurbani being misused and altered to feel comfortable making the data completely open. This approach is modeled on the approach Sikhs have traditionally taken with Gurbani.

Get Involved

Interested in coding? Have a love for Gurbani? Want to help with Marketing? Whatever your passions, we would love to work with you. Reach out to us and join our active Slack Channel today!

Found a mistake in Gurbani? Have a better translation? Become a contributor to BaniDB! Visit: https://tinyurl.com/banidb-signup for instructions.

Feature Comparison

The table below outlines some stats about BaniDB, as of 01/14/2020.

 Source  Accurate   Corrections/Changes   Maintained   Multiple Raters per Change  SGPC Compatible Lagamatras & Padh Chhedh  DSGMC Approval 
 BaniDB            ✅         43,000+       ✅           ✅                               ✅✅              ✅             
 SikhiToTheMax Web  Uses BaniDB  Uses BaniDB   Uses BaniDB   Uses BaniDB                   Uses BaniDB       Uses BaniDB    
 SikhiToTheMax 2   80-90%     6,000+        ❌           ❌                               ❌❌              ❌             
 iGurbani          80-90%     1,000+        ✅           ❌                               ❌❌              ❌             
 Sikher            ????       ????          ❌           ❌                               ❌❌              ❌             
 Others            ????       ????          ✅           ❌                               ✅❌              ❌             

Current Users

See our Partner Page for information.

Gurbani Sources

Below is a list of sources used as ground truth for Gurbani accuracy. We have digitized sources via manual scanning, and have consolidated existing digital sources and uploaded these to www.vidhia.com to help facilitate sudhaee (correction) efforts.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

 Source   Source Type   Author   Publisher   Edition   Link 
 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Lareevar Sarroop   Primary   Multiple   SGPC   September 2009   No Link Available 
 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji   Primary   Multiple   SGPC   Unknown   [Link]
 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Shabadarth   Primary   SGPC   SGPC   October 2009   [Link]
 Panj Granthi   Primary   Multiple   SGPC   September 2010   [Link]
 Nitnem te Hor Bania(n)   Primary   Mulitple   SGPC   May 2017   [Link]
 Santhya Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Volumes 1-7   Secondary   Bhai Sahib Bhai Veer Singh Ji   Bhai Veer Singh Sahit Sadan   October 2007   [Link]
 Teeka Anek Bania(n) Volumes 1-3   Secondary   Bhai Sahib Bhai Veer Singh Ji   Bhai Veer Singh Sahit Sadan   4th edition, April 2008   [Volume 1] [Volume 2] [Volume 3]
 Nitnem Steek   Secondary   Professor Sahib Singh   Singh Brothers   29th edition, April 2012  [Link]
 Jap Ji Sahib Steek   Secondary   Professor Sahib Singh   Singh Brothers  36th edition, July 2011  [Link]
 Sukhmani Sahib Steek   Secondary   Professor Sahib Singh   Singh Brothers  40th edition, February 2012  [Link]
 Bhagat Bani Steek Volumes 1-5   Secondary   Professor Sahib Singh   Singh Brothers   13th edition, July 2011   [Volume 1] [Volume 2] [Volume 3] [Volume 4] [Volume 5]
 Bhagat Bani Steek   Secondary   Giani Bishan Singh   Bhai Partap Singh Sundar Singh   6th edition, May 1930   [Link]

Sri Dasam Granth Sahib

 Source   Source Type   Author   Publisher   Edition   Link 
 Das Granthi   Primary   Guru Gobind Singh Ji   SGPC   March 2006   [Link]
 Sri Dasam Granth Volumes 1-2   Secondary   Guru Gobind Singh Ji   Chattar Singh Jeevan Singh   Unknown   No Link Available 
 Akal Ustat   Primary   Guru Gobind Singh Ji   SGPC   5th edition, December 1995   [Link]
 Bachitar Natak   Primary   Guru Gobind Singh Ji   SGPC   7th edition, July 2000   [Link]
 Nitnem te Hor Bania(n)   Primary   Mulitple   SGPC   May 2017   [Link]
 Nitnem, Das Granthi, ate Hor Bania(n)   Secondary   Multiple   Hazoori Taksaal  2006  [Link]
 Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Steek Volumes 1-2   Secondary   Giani Bishan Singh Ji   Khalsa College Amritsar  1941  [Volume 1] [Volume 2] 
 Chandi Di Vaar Steek   Secondary   Pandit Narain Singh   Bh. Jvahar Singh, Kirpal Singh & Co   20th century   [Link] 
 Nitnem Steek   Secondary   Professor Sahib Singh   Singh Brothers   29th edition, April 2012  [Link] 
 Jaap Sahib Steek   Secondary   Professor Sahib Singh   Singh Brothers  17th edition, August 2003  [Link] 

Bhai Gurdaas Ji

 Source   Source Type   Author   Publisher   Edition   Link 
 Vaaran Bhai Gurdaas Ji   Primary   Bhai Gurdaas Ji   SGPC   November 2011   [Link] 
 Vaaran Bhai Gurdaas Ji   Secondary   Giani Hazara Singh Ji Pandit & Bhai Sahib Bhai Veer Singh Ji   Bhai Veer Singh Sahit Sadan   21st edition, June 2001   [Link] 
Vaaran Bhai Gurdaas Ji Steek   Secondary   Giani Harbans Singh   Khalsa Sahit Sadan   December 2004   [Link] 

Bhai Nand Lal Ji

 Source   Source Type   Author   Publisher   Edition   Link 
 Bhai Nand Lal Granthavali   Primary   Dr. Ganda Singh   Punjabi University Patiala   2009   [Link] 
 Ganj Namah Steek   Secondary   Bhai Veer Singh Ji   Bhai Veer Singh Sahit Sadan   2012   [Link] 

Sarabloh Granth, Amrit Keertan, and Rehatname

 Source   Source Type   Author   Publisher   Edition   Link 
 Sri Sarabloh Granth Sahib Ji Sampooran Steek Volumes 1-2   Primary   Santa Singh   Buddha Dal   June 2000   [Link] 
 Amrit Keertan   Primary   Multiple   Khalsa Brothers   40th edition,  July 2011   [Link] 

Translation Sources

Below is a list of sources used for translations. We have digitized sources via manual scanning and have consolidated existing digital sources.

 Source   Author   Publisher   Edition   Link 
BaniDB  BaniDB Volunteers and Partners  KhalisFoundation  Living   http://www.sikhitothemax.org 
Fareedkot Teeka Sant Giani Badan Singh Ji of Dera Sekhwan et al.  Wazir Hind Press  1928   No link available 
 Bhai Manmohan Singh   Bhai Manmohan Singh   SGPC   c1948   No link available 
Sikhnet  Bhai Ji Singh Sahib Babaji Singh Khalsa   Sikhnet   October 2008   https://www.sikhnet.com/news/siri-guru-granth-sahib-spanish 
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darpan Professor Sahib Singh   SGPC   c1965   No link available 
Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa  Sikhnet   2   https://www.sikhnet.com/siri-guru-granth-sahib-w-english-translation 

Metrics

 Date         Verified Changes  
 04/13/2024  46,810
 11/18/2020  43,649
 01/14/2020  43,042
 01/07/2020  42,540
 01/05/2020  42,005
 11/06/2019  41,544
 05/26/2019  41,250
 05/25/2019  41,000
 04/20/2019  40,750
 03/05/2019  40,500
 02/19/2019  40,250
 02/18/2019  40,000
 02/05/2019  39,750
 02/01/2019  39,500
 01/25/2019  39,000
 01/01/2019  37,792
 07/01/2018  35,674
 01/01/2018  7,937