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Dasam Granth
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The Dasven Patshah Da Granth , Dasam Granth , (Book of the Tenth Emperor), is a scripture of Sikhism, containing some of the texts composed by 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Some compositions of the Dasam Granth like Jaap Sahib, Tvai Prasad Sawaiye (Amrit Savaiye), and Benti Chaupai are part of daily prayers Nitnem of the Sikhs. These compositions are also part of Sikh baptism (Khande di Pahul).
Dasam Granth contains 1428 pages and is said to have some of the writings of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji.
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Encyclopedia
The Dasven Patshah Da Granth , Dasam Granth , (Book of the Tenth Emperor), is a scripture of Sikhism, containing some of the texts composed by 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Some compositions of the Dasam Granth like Jaap Sahib, Tvai Prasad Sawaiye (Amrit Savaiye), and Benti Chaupai are part of daily prayers Nitnem of the Sikhs. These compositions are also part of Sikh baptism (Khande di Pahul).
Structure
Overview
The Dasam Granth contains 1428 pages and is said to have some of the writings of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji. It contains Jaap Sahib, the Akal Ustat or praise of the Creator, the Bachitar Natak or Wonderful Drama, in which gives an account of his parentage, his divine mission, and the battles in which he had been engaged.
Then come three abridged compositions of the wars of Durga with demons, (Chandi Chritras: Chandi Chritra I, Chandi Chritra II, Chandi di Var). These were written to instill the spirit of war among Sikhs. The first stanza of the Sikh ardaas is from Chandi di Var.
Then follow the Gyan Parbodh, or awakening of knowledge; the Shabad Hazare; quatrains called Sawaiyas, which are religious 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 will "absolve the suffering, pain or fear of the person, who will even once recite this Bani"; the Zafarnama, containing the tenth Guru's epistle to the emperor Aurangzeb; and Hikayats, several metrical tales in the Persian language.
The Dasam Granth is said to have been compiled by Bhai Mani Singh a companion and disciple of the Guru, after the tenth Guru's death.
Contents
The Contents of the Dasam Granth are:
- Jaap (Meditation)
- Akal Ustat (praises of God)
- Bachitar Natak (autobiography of the Guru)
- Chandi Charitar I & II (the character of Goddess Chandi)
- Chandi di Var (a ballad to describe Goddess Chandi)
- Gyan Prabod (The Awakening of Knowledge)
- Chaubis Avtar (Narrative of 24 incarnations of Vishnu as ordered by God Almighty)
- Shabad Hazare (Ten Shabads)
- Swayyae (33 stanzas)
- Khalsa Mehma (the praises of the Khalsa)
- Shastar Nam Mala (a list of weapons)
- Charitropakhyan (various character of men and women [details both negative and positive])
- Zafarnama (epistle of victory, a letter written to Emperor Aurangzeb)
Language and Literary Quality
The Dasam Granth is all 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 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 Zafarnama 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 (and sometimes words without any meaning just to create a musical effect). 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.
Quotes from Dasam Granth
Internal evidence to the dates of compilation of different portions of various compositions
- ?????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?2490?
- (This work has been completed) in the year 1745 of the Vikrami era in the Sudi aspect of the moon in the month of Sawan, (July 1688 A.D.) in the town of Paonta at the auspicious hour, on banks of the flowing Yamuna. (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib in 'Krishnavtar')
- ?????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?????
- In Samvat 1745 (1688 A.D.), this 'katha' (composition) was improved and if there is any error and omission in it, then the poets may still improve it.755. (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib in 'Krishnavtar')
- ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ?405?
- The Granth was completed on Sunday, the 18th day of month of Bhadon, in 1753 Bikrami Sammat (September 14, 1696 A.D.) on the banks of river Satluj.(Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib in 'Charitropakhyan')
- ???? ?????? ??? ????????? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?860?
- This Granth has been completed (and improved) in Vadi first in the month of Haar in the year 1755 Bikrami (July 1698); if there has remained any error in it, then kindly correct it.(Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib in 'Ramavtaar')
- ????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?
- This (part of the) Granth has been prepared after revision in Paonta city on Wednesday in Sawan Sudi Samvat 1744 (August 1687 AD). 983.(Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib in 'Krishnavtar')
Condemnation of the concept in Hindu theology that God takes various incarnations
- ???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ????, ????? ??? ??? ???? ?????
- He hath Created millions of Krishnas like worms. He Created them, annihilated them, again created them, again destroyed them.
- ???? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?
- Somewhere He hath created millions of servants like Krishna. Somewhere He hath effaced and then created (many) like Rama. (pg.98)
- ??? ???? ???? ? ???? ???? ??? ??? ????????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?? (?. ?????)
- Ram and Rahim whose names you are uttering cant save you. Brahma, Vishnu Shiva, Sun and Moon, all are subject to the power of Death.1. .(pg.1349)
- ??? ???? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ? ?????????????? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?(????????)
- O God ! the day when I caught hold of your feet, I do not bring anyone else under my sight; none other is liked by me now; the Puranas and the Quran try to know Thee by the names of Ram and Rahim and talk about you through several stories, but I do not accept these
- ???? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???(??? ?????? ??.10)
- He, whose form and colour are not, how can he be called Shyaam (black)? .(p1349)
- ???? ???? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??????...??? ??? ?????? ?????? ??, ?? ?? ?? ????? ?????(33 ?????)
- Someone calls Him Ram or Krishna and someone believes in His incarnations, but my mind has forsaken all useless actions and has accepted only One Creator.12. (p.1352)
- ??? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?
- Brahma came into being under the control of time and taking his staff and pot his hand, he wandered on the earth; Shiva was also under the control of time and wandered in various countries far and near;
- ?????? ? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ? ????? ?……..???? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?? ?? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ?
- Thou hast meditated on millions of Krishnas, Vishnus, Ramas and Rahims. Thou hast recited the name of Brahma and established Shivalingam, even then none could save thee…….They cannot save themselves from the blow of death, how can they protect thee? They are all hanging in the blazing fire of anger, therefore they will cause thy hanging similarly. (pg111)
- ?? ? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?? ??? ?????(????.????)
- I do not adore Ganesha in the beginning and also do not meditate on Krishna and Vishnu; I have only heard about them with my ears and I do not recognize them; my consciousness is absorbed at the feet of the Supreme Lord.434.
- ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ? ???? ????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????
- He, whom Shiva etc. had been searching, but could not know His Mystery; O Shukdev ! relate to me the story of that Lord.2403.
- ?? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?
- If you consider Ram, the Lord as Unborn, then how did he take birth from the womb of Kaushalya? He, who is said to be the destroyer of death, then why did he become subjugated himself before death?
- ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ? ??? ??? ?? ????
- If he (Krishna) is called the Truth-incarnate, beyond enmity and opposition, then why did he become the charioteer of Arjuna? O mind! you only consider him the Lord God, whose Mysetry could not be known to anyone.13.
- ???? ??? ??????? ????????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?
- Krishna himself is considered the treasure of Grace, then why did the hunter shot his arrow at him? He has been described as redeeming the clans of others then he caused the destruction of his own clan;
- ??? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ? ??? ??? ??? ?? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ????? ????
- If he (Krishna) is said to be unborn and without a beginning, then how did he come into the womb of Devaki? He, who is considered without any father or mother, then why did he cause Vasudev to be called his father? 14.
- ???? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???????? ?????? ?
- Why do you consider Shiva or Brahma as the Lord? There is none amongst Ram, Krishna and Vishnu, who may be considered as the Lord of the Universe by you;
- ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ???????? ????
- Relinquishing One Lord, you worship many. Likewise Sukhdev, Prashar and Vyas were proven false due to pantheism. All have established hollow religions. I believe in One God who reveals Himself in multifarious modes.(15)
- ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?
- Someone calls Brahma as the Lord-God and someone tells the same thing about Shiva; someone considers Vishnu as the hero of the universe and says that only by remembering him, all the sins will be destroyed;
- ??? ????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ? ???? ?? ????
- O fool ! think about it a thousand times, all of them will leave you at the time of death. Therefore, you should only meditate on Him, who was in the past, is there in the present and will also be there in the future.16.
- ???? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?
- He, who created millions of Indras and Upendras and then destroyed them; He, who created innumerable gods, demons, Sheshnaga, tortoises, birds, animals etc.,
- ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ? ?????? ??? ??? ? ???? ???? ???? ? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ????
- And for knowing whose Mystery, Shiva and Brahma are performing austerities even till today, but could not know His end; He is such a Guru, whose Mystery could not be comprehended also by Vedas and Katebs and my Guru has told me the same thing.17.
- ??? ???? ? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?
- The Vedas and Ketebs could not comprehend His Mystery and the adepts have been defeated in practicing contemplation; Different kinds of thoughts have been mentioned about God in Vedas, Shastras, Puranas and smrities; (p1351)
- ?? ??? ???? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ? ???? ??? ??????? ?(?. ??????)
- How can He be said to come in human form? The Siddha (adept) in deep meditation became tired of the discipline on not seeing Him in any way…..Pause. (p.1348)
- ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ? ??? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ?4?1350 33 ?????
- Sheshnaga, Indra, Gandesha, Shiva and also the Shrutis (Vedas) could not know Thy Mystery; O my foolish mind! why have you forgotten such a Lord. 4.
Condemnation of Idol Worship
- ???? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?
- Someone worships stone and places it on his head. Someone hangs the phallus (lingam) from his neck. .(pg.42)
- ??? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ?
- Some fools worship the idols and some go to worship the dead. (pg.42)
- ??? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????
- O fool! Fall at the feet of Lord-God, the Lord is not within the stone-idols.99.(pg.111)
- ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????
- They also were overpowered by ‘mineness’ and exhibited the Lord in statues.13. .(pg.134)
- ???? ???? ?? ?? ? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?
- Worshipping the stones, they will not meditate on One Lord; there will be prevalent the darkness of many sects; Leaving the ambrosia they will desire for poison, and they will name the evening time as early-morning; .(pg.1142)
- ??? ??? ? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?? ?
- Why do you not pray to Him, who will be there in future and who is there in the present? You are worshipping the stones uselessly; what will you gain by that worship? (pg. 1289)
- ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ? ?? ?? ?
- Rice, incense and lamps are offered, but the stones do not eat anything. (pg.1349)
- ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ???? ??? ?? ?????..(??? ?????)
- Of what use is the worship of the stones with devotion and sincerity in various ways? The hand became tired of touching the stones, because no spiritual power accrued. O fool! where is the spiritual power in them, so that they may bless you with some boon. (pg.1349)
- ???? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ?
- Why do you worship stones? Because the Lord-God is not within those stones; you may only worship Him, whose adoration destroys clusters of sins; (pg.1353)
- ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ? ???? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ? ?? ?? ?
- You may even perform the austerities for an age, but these stones will not fulfill your wishes and please you; they will not raise their hands and grant you the boon; (pg.1353)
- ???? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ? ??? ?
- The hollow religion became fruitless and O being! you have lost years and years by worshipping the stones; you will not get power with the worship of stones; the strength and glory will only decrease; (pg.1353)
- ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ? ??? ??? ?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ????
- You had been wandering with bowed head in the temples of stones, but you realized nothing; O foolish mind! you were only entangled in your bad intellect abandoning that Effulgent Lord.26. (pg.1354)
- ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????? ????? ?? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???????? ?
- Someone has tied the stone-idol around his neck and someone has accepted Shiva as the Lord; someone considers the Lord within the temple or the mosque; (p1351)
- ?? ? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ????? (????????)
- They were the idol worshippers, and me the idol destroyer
Compilation
Giani Giani Singh claims that the "real" granth by the 10th Guru was in possession of Budha Dal and was lost in the Second Sikh Holocaust (1762)
The Dasam Granth is believed to have been compiled after the Guru's demise by Bhai Mani Singh in the year 1722 AD. Bhai Mani Singh tried to assemble all of the Guru's works from many different sources. Hand written copy of Dasam Granth Sahib is still available in Gurdwara Mehta - Dam Dami Taksal.
Regarding Bhai Mani Singh compiling the writings of Guru Gobind Singh, Giani Gian Singh in Panth Parkash writes
- ?????? ?? ?????? ???. ??? ???? ??? ?????....
- ?? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???.
- ???? ????? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ?? ???. 20.
- ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??. ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??.
- One day in 1778 Bikrami (1721 AD) the panth got together...
- Bhai Mani Singh accepted the orders of the panth
- And he collected the banees of the Dasam Guru.
- Compiled in one bind (the beerh) ends at Hikayat
Controversy
M.A. McAuliffe was the first scholar to raise questions about the Dasam Granth. He states:
"It is admitted that a knowledge of the religions of the people of India is a desideratum for the British officials who administer its affairs and indirectly for the people who are governed by them so that mutual sympathy may be produced. It seems, at any rate politic to place before the Sikh soldiery their Guru’s prophecies in favor of the English and the texts of their sacred writings which foster their loyalty."
Although selected Hindu myths are contained in the Dasven Granth, they are used merely in allegorical and metaphorical terms; Chandi di Var is commonly regarded as a narrative meant to rouse Sikh women to defend the faith; the Chaubis Avtar focuses on the warlike avatars only. Moreover, there is to this day much controversy among Sikhs and Sikh theocratic bodies regarding whether certain parts of the Granth were in fact originally part of the tome or added into it at a later time, making such parts illegitimate. There are indeed divergences of writing diction and style among some chapters with others. At any rate, Guru Gobind Singh, in addition to openly belittling Hindu gods and avatars as false and condemning the rites meant to worship them, did not look up to them in the slightest. As stated rather bluntly in the Krishan Avtar:
I do not seek the blessings of Ganesh,
I do not worship Krishna or Vishnu.
I do not recognise them.
I am engrossed in the loving devotion of my Lord alone.
The Lord of Death, Akal, is my refuge and He saves me from all tribulations.
(Krishan Avtar, 434)
As stated earlier, a widely accepted belief is that Bhai Mani Singh compiled much of the Dasven Granth on behalf of Guru Gobind Singh, contributing much of it by memory; The Guru may not have had absolute control of its formation. There are numerous other theories as to the assembly of the Granth.
From 1895 to 1897, different scholars and theologians assembled at the Akal Takht, Amritsar, to study the 32 printed Dasam Granths and prepare the authoritative version. They met at the Akal Takhat at Amritsar, and held formal discussions in a series of meetings between 13 June 1895 and 16 February 1896. A preliminary report entitled Report Sodhak (revision) Committee Dasam Patshah de Granth Sahib Di was sent to Sikh scholars and institutions, inviting their opinion. A second document, Report Dasam Granth di Sudhai Di was brought out on 11 February 1898. Basing its conclusions on a study of the old handwritten copies of the Dasam Granth preserved at Sri Takht Sahib at Patna and in other Sikh gurudwaras, this report affirmed that the Holy Volume was compiled at Anandpur Sahib in 1698 . Further re-examinations and reviews took place in 1931, under the aegis of the Darbar Sahib Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee they too vindicated the earlier conclusion (agreeing that it was indeed the work of the Guru) and its findings have since been published. Following were the members of the 1895-1897 Sodhak (Revision) Committee (along with their credentials) that was formed for analysis of Dasam Granth
- Bhai Manna Singh Hakim, Secretary Gurmat Granth Pracharak Sabha. Had knowledge of English, Persian and Gurmukhi grammar
- Bhai Narain Singh, Teacher and Persian Scholar
- Bhai Thakar Singh, Clerk Municipal Committee. Proficient in Persian and Gurmukhi. Had knowledge of 'Pingal' (science of poetry)
- Bhai Hazura Singh, Ragi Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar, and Secretary Sangat Lakar Mandi
- Bhai Dharam Singh, Member Khalsa Sat Sangat Sabha
- Bhai Sant Singh, Gurmukhi Teacher
- Bhai Darbara Singh, Proficient in English and Gurmukhi (Grandson of Giani Gian Singh)
- Bhai Jaidial Singh, Middle pass, Teacher MB Branch School
- Bhai Gurdial Singh, Gurmukh Person
- Bhai Kishan Singh and Bhai Ram Singh, Rice Dealers, Members Sat Sangat Sabha
- Bhai Narain Singh, Secretary Khalsa Sat Sangat Sabha
- Bhai Thakur Singh, Member Sat Sangat Sabha
- Bhai Partap Singh, Secretary Khalsa Vidyarathi Sabha
- Bhai Bhagwan Singh, Secretary Sangat Chaursti, Attari
- Bhai Harnam Singh, Member Khalsa Vidyarathi Sabha
- Bhai Harnam Singh, Clerk, Kila Gobindgarh
- Bhai Boorh Singh, Secretary Sangat Katra Kalan
- Bhai Tek Singh, Secretary Sangat Dauk Baba Sahib
- Bhai Ram Singh Attar
- Bhai Makhan Singh, Sweet Maker
- Bhai Gurdial Singh
- Bhai Ghanaya Singh
- Bhai Teja Singh
- Etc.
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