Dasam Granth

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The Dasam Granth or Dasven Patshah Da Granth is a religious text containing many of the texts attributed to the tenth of the Sikh gurus, Guru Gobind Singh. It is primarily in Braj Bhasha with Avadhi, Hindi, Punjabi and Persian compositions too written almost all in Gurmukhi script, except, Fatehnama, Zafar Nama and Hikayat, which are in Persian script.[1]

The Dasam Granth is a separate religious text from the Guru Granth Sahib.[2]

Some compositions of the Dasam Granth such as Jaap Sahib, Tav-Prasad Savaiye and Benti Chaupai are part of the Nitnem or daily prayers and also part of the Amrit Sanchar or baptism ceremony.

Authorship

There are three major views on the authorship of the Dasam Granth:[3]

  1. The historical and traditional view is that the entire work was composed by Guru Gobind Singh himself.
  2. The entire collection was composed by the poets in the Guru's entourage.
  3. Only a part of the work was composed by the Guru, while the rest was composed by the other poets.

In his religious court at Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh had employed 52 poets, who translated several classical texts into Braj Bhasha. Most of the writing compiled at Anandpur Sahib was lost while the Guru's camp was crossing the Sirsa river before the Battle of Chamkaur. There were copiers available at Guru's place who made several copies of writings. Later, Bhai Mani Singh compiled all the available works under the title Dasam Granth. The traditional scholars claim that all the works in Dasam Granth were composed by the Guru himself, on the basis of Bhai Mani Singh's letter. However, some others dispute this claim, saying that the some of the compositions included in Dasam Granth (such as Charitropakhyan) are "out of tune" with other Sikh scriptures, and must have been composed by other poets.[4]

Historical writings

Following is in brief about Historical books after Demise of Guru Gobind Singh which mention that Compositions in present Dasam Granth was written by Guru Gobind Singh:

  1. Rehitnama Bhai Nand Lal mentioned Jaap Sahib is an important Bani for a Sikh.[5]
  2. RehitNama Chaupa Singh Chibber quotes various lines from Bachitar Natak, 33 Swiayey, Chopai Sahib, Jaap Sahib.[6]
  3. In 1711, Sri Gur Sobha was written by Poet Senapat mentioned Conversation of Guru Gobind Singh and Akal Purakh, and written three of its Adhyay on base of Bachitar Natak.[7]
  4. In 1741, Parchian Srvadas Kian quoted lines from Rama Avtar, 33 Swaiyey and mentioned Zafarnama with Hikayats.[8]
  5. in 1751, Gurbilas Patshahi 10 - Koyar Singh Kalal, mentioned Guru Gobind Singh composed Bachitar Natak, Krisna Avtar, Bisan Avtar, Akal Ustat, Jaap Sahib, Zafarnama, Hikayats etc. This is first Granth mentioned Guruship of Guru Granth Shahib.[9]
  6. In 1766, Kesar Singh Chibber mentioned history of Compilation of Dasam Granth by Bhai Mani Singh Khalsa on directions of Mata Sundri, as he was first who wrote history after death of Guru Gobind Singh.
  7. In 1766, Sri Guru Mahima Parkash - Sarup Chand Bhalla, mentioned about various Banis of Guru Gobind Singh and Compilation of Dasam Granth
  8. In 1790, Guru Kian Sakhian - Svarup Singh Kashish, mentione Guru Gobind Singh Composed, bachitar Natak, Krishna Avtar, Shastarnaam Mala, 33 Swaiyey etc.
  9. In 1797, Gurbilas Patshahi 10 - Sukkha Singh, mentioned compositions of Guru Gobind Singh.
  10. In 1812, JB Malcolm, in Sektch of Sikhs mentioned about Dasam Granth as Bani of Guru Gobind Singh.

Structure

The length of the modern printed version of Dasam Granth has 1,428 pages[10][11]

It contains Jaap Sahib, the Akal Ustat or praise of the Creator and the Bachittar Natak, which gives an account of the Guru's parentage, his divine mission and the battles in which he had been engaged.

Next come three abridged compositions of the wars of Durga, called Chandi, with demons (Chandi Chritras: Chandi Chritra I, Chandi Chritra II, Chandi di Var).

Following this is the Gyan Parbodh, or awakening of knowledge; the Shabad Hazare; quatrains called sawayyas, which are hymns in praise of God and reprobation of idolatry and hypocrisy; the Shastar Nam Mala, a list of offensive and defensive weapons used in the Guru's time with special reference to the attributes of the Creator; the Kabiovach Bainti Chaupai, which will "absolve the suffering, pain or fear of the person, who will even once recite this Bani";[citation needed] the Zafarnamah, containing the Tenth Guru's epistle to the emperor Aurangzeb; and hikayats, Persian language metrical tales.

Contents

Following are compositions included in Dasam Granth:

Compositions of Dasam granth
No. Bani Title Common Name Description
1 Jaap Jaap Sahib a meditational work.
2 Akaal Ustati 271 devotional verses on the divine.
3 Ath Bachitar Natak Granth Likhyate Bachitar Natak autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh, including his spiritual lineage.
4 Ath Chandi Charitar Ukati Bilas Likhyate Chandi Charitar 1 a discussion of the supreme goddess, Chandi.
As per internal references, it is based on the Sanskrit scripture Markandeya Purana.
5 Ath Chandi Charitra Likhyate Chandi Charitar 2 a discussion of Chandi
6 Var Sri Bhagauti Ji Ki Chandi Di Vaar a discussion of Chandi in Punjabi. Not based on any Purana,
but an independent narrative.
7 Ath Gyaan Prabodh Granth Likhyate Gyan Prabodh, Parbodh Chandra Natak (The Awakening of Knowledge)
8 Ath Bisnu Avtar Kathnang Vishnu Avtar, Chaubis Avtar a narrative of 24 incarnations of Vishnu that
comprises one-third of the Dasam Granth
9 Ath Brahma Avtar Kathnang Brahma Avtar Narrative on the seven incarnations of Brahma
10 Ath Rudra Avtar Kathnang Rudra Avtar an epic poem discussing Rudra.
11 Sabad patshahi 10 Shabad Hazare ten religious hymns criticising ritualistic practices by
renunciates such as sannyasins, yogis and vairāgīs as well as idolatry
12 33 Savaiye 33 stanzas
13 Khalsa Mahima Khalsa Mahima two poetic compositions praising the Khalsa
14 Ath Sri Shastar Naam Mala Purana Likhyate Shastarnam Mala "Garland of the Names of Weapons"
15 Ath Pakhyan Charitar Likhyate Charitropakhyan, Triya Charitar (various character of men and women [details both negative and positive]).
Includes Chaupai (Sikhism) (hymn of supplication)
16 Zafarnamah (epistle of victory, a letter written to Emperor Aurangzeb, includes Hikaaitaan)[12]

Some birs also include following compositions:

Role in Sikh liturgy

The compositions within Dasam Granth plays huge role in Sikh Liturgy, which is prescribed by Sikh Rehat Maryada:

  • Jaap Sahib is part of Nitnem, which Sikh recites daily in morning.[13][14]
  • Tav-Prasad Savaiye, again a bani of Nitnem, is part of Akal Ustat composition, which is recited daily in morning along with above.[13]
  • Benti Chaupai, is part of Sri Charitropakhyan, which is recited in morning as well as evening prayers.[14]
  • Jaap, Tav Prasad Savaiye and Chaupai are read while preparing Khande Batey Ki Pahul.
  • The first stanza of the Sikh ardās, an invocation to God and the nine Gurus preceding Gobind Singh, is from Chandi di Var.
  • As per Sikh Rehat Maryada, a stanza of Chaubis Avtar, "pae gahe jab te tumre", should be comprised in So Dar Rehras.[15]

Chandi di Var is important prayer among Nihang Sikhs.

Language and literary quality

The Dasam Granth is written in rhymed poetry. It was designed to be heard, so there is considerable repetition, and a variety of meters to hold the attention. The language of most of the Dasam Granth is largely Braj Bhasha veering towards Sanskrit at one extreme and simple colloquial Hindi at the other, although conventional Hindi is used marginally. The Braj dialect is a variety of medieval Hindi with a mixture of Sanskrit and Arabic words. The Zafarnamah and the Hikayats are in Persian using Gurmukhi characters and several passages in other works are in Punjabi. The 'author(s)' not only used this melange of languages but also coined words half Arabic half Sanskrit. Some of this kind of writing has great power and beauty.

From A Short History of the Sikhs, Ganda Singh & Teja Singh:

"In Hindi he developed a style, which for martial cadence, variety of form and richness of imagination...has remained unsurpassed since his times. In lines ranging from monosyllabic verse to long and multiplied swayyas and kabits, we seem to hear the torrential flow of hill streams or the galloping sweep of cavalry on the march. His intellect quivers in emotion and breaks out against superstition and hypocrisy into humour, irony or banter. His emotion...is raised to the highest pitch of ecstasy when he communes with God."

From Sikhan de Raj di Vithya (History of the Sikh Rule):

"This Granth is very difficult, and is composed in the Gurmukhi dialect in several kinds of verses. In it there is the description of several weapons of warfare, the rules of warfare, the shortcomings in the character of men and women, and some information on worship and religious knowledge. The descriptions of scenes of battle are couched in extremely vigorous staccato rhyme often reduced to lines of one word each. The battles waged by Chandi encounters with the hill chiefs at Bhangani and Nadaun are among the most stirring that exist.

Compilation

Letter of Bhai Mani Singh discussing the compilation of various banis of Dasam Granth

Giani Gian Singh claims that the full copy of the Dasam Granth was in possession of the Budha Dal, an 18th-century Sikh army, at the Battle of Kup and was lost during the Second Sikh Holocaust (1762)[16]

The earliest surviving full manuscript of the Dasam Granth dates to 1713,[12] although it appears not to have been publicly available. In 1721, Mata Sundri commissioned Bhai Mani Singh with compiling a volume of the Dasam Granth.[17] He completed his manuscript after collecting and sifting through material collected from a number of Sikhs. "Minor textual variation" exist between the early manuscripts.[12] During the 1890s the text was standardized into its current two-volume 1,428 page print version.[12]

See also

References

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  5. Rehitnama Bhai Nand Lal
  6. Rehitnama Chaupa Singh Chibber
  7. Sri Gur Sbha Granth, Poet Senapat, Piara Singh Padam
  8. Parchi Sevadas Ki, Poet Sevada, Piara Singh Padam
  9. Gurbilas, Patshahi 10, Koer Singh, Bhasha Vibagh, Punjabi University
  10. Page 52, The A to Z of Sikhism (Google eBook), W. H. McLeod, carecrow Press, Jul 24, 2009
  11. Page 6, Dasam Granth, Dr. S.S. Kapoor, Hemkunt Press
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Page 133, Sikhs in the Diaspora, Surinder Singh bakhshi, Dr Surinder Bakhshi, 2009
  14. 14.0 14.1 The Japu, the Jaapu and the Ten Sawayyas (Quartets) - beginning "Sarwag sudh"-- in the morning.: Chapter III, Article IV, Sikh Rehat Maryada
  15. iii) the Sawayya beginning with the words "pae gahe jab te tumre": Article IV, Chapter III, Sikh Rehat Maryada
  16. Giani Kirpal Singh (samp.), Sri Gur Panth Parkash, Vol. 3 (Amritsar: Manmohan Singh Brar, 1973), pp. 1678–80, verses 61-62
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External links