The correct option is (b).
Explanation
The development of the Gurmukhi script was a significant step in the consolidation of the Sikh Panth. It provided a distinct medium for recording the spiritual compositions of the Gurus, separating the Sikh tradition from the Sanskrit-dominated Brahmanical tradition and the Persian-dominated administrative culture.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. The invention and standardization of the Gurmukhi script are attributed to the second Sikh Guru, Guru Angad, not Guru Nanak. While Guru Nanak composed hymns, it was Guru Angad who formalized the script, modifying the pre-existing Landa scripts used in Punjab to create a distinct alphabet for the Sikh scriptures.
- Statement 2 is Correct. Guru Angad compiled the compositions of Baba Guru Nanak in the newly standardized Gurmukhi script. This act was crucial in preserving the authenticity of the hymns and making them accessible to the common people in their vernacular language, Punjabi, rather than Sanskrit.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect. The Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of Sikhism) is written in the Gurmukhi script. While the language of the hymns (Gurbani) includes a blend of various dialects known as Sant Bhasha (including Punjabi, Braj, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Persian vocabulary), the script used to write the text is exclusively Gurmukhi.
Key Takeaway:
Guru Angad standardized the Gurmukhi script to compile Guru Nanak's hymns. The Guru Granth Sahib is written entirely in the Gurmukhi script, regardless of the linguistic diversity of the verses.