Mahan Kosh
Encyclopedia
Guru Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh, known by its more popular name of Mahan Kosh, is a Punjabi language
encyclopedia
which was compiled by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha
over fourteen years. It was the first Punjabi
encyclopedia and is considered a groundbreaking work in terms of its impact and its level of scholarship.
covering religious and historical terms in the Sikh canon. Each entry records the etymology
and different meanings of a term "according to its usage at different places in different works" alongside textual quotations.
When words of Perso-Arabic or Sanskrit
origin appear they are reproduced in their original scripts to inform readers of their correct pronunciation and connotation.
on words occurring in Sikh historical texts as well as in the Guru Granth Sahib
because it would promote literacy and critical studies in Punjabi.
On May 12, 1912 he resigned his postion in Nabha State
and began work on the project. His original patron, Maharaja Brijindar Singh of Faridkot State
, who had earlier sponsored scholarly work on the Guru Granth Sahib
died in 1918. His other patron, Maharaja Ripudaman Singh was forced to abdicate his throne in 1923. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh
of Patiala State
then offered to underwrite the entire expense of printing. Kahn Singh finished the work on February 6, 1926 and printing began on October 26, 1927 at the Sudarshan Press in Amritsar
, owned by the poet Dhani Ram Chatrik. The first printing, in four volumes, was finished on April 13, 1930. The Languages department of Punjab, Patiala then published Mahan Kosh in one volume and it has gone through three editions, the latest released in 1981.
The Punjabi University
in Patiala has translated it into English
.
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia is a type of reference work, a compendium holding a summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge....
which was compiled by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha
Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha
Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha was a Sikh lexicographer and encyclopedist. His most influential work, Mahan Kosh, inspired generations of scholars after him...
over fourteen years. It was the first Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
encyclopedia and is considered a groundbreaking work in terms of its impact and its level of scholarship.
Dictionary
Mahan Kosh has 64,263 entries arranged in the alphabetical order of the Gurmukhi scriptGurmukhi script
Gurmukhi is the most common script used for writing the Punjabi language. An abugida derived from the Laṇḍā script and ultimately descended from Brahmi, Gurmukhi was standardized by the second Sikh guru, Guru Angad Dev Ji, in the 16th century. The whole of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji's 1430...
covering religious and historical terms in the Sikh canon. Each entry records the etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
and different meanings of a term "according to its usage at different places in different works" alongside textual quotations.
When words of Perso-Arabic or Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
origin appear they are reproduced in their original scripts to inform readers of their correct pronunciation and connotation.
Publication
While studying two existing titles, Pandit Tara Singh Narotam's Granth Guru Girarth Kos (1895) and Hazara Singh's Sri Guru Granth Kos (1899), Kahn Singh realized there would be great value in a lexicographyLexicography
Lexicography is divided into two related disciplines:*Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries....
on words occurring in Sikh historical texts as well as in the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
because it would promote literacy and critical studies in Punjabi.
On May 12, 1912 he resigned his postion in Nabha State
Nabha State
Nabha State, with its capital at Nabha, was one of the Phulkian princely states of the Punjab. The state was established in 1763 after the capture of Sirhind by the Sikh Confederacy. With the capture of Sirhind, most of the old imperial province was divided amongst the Phulkian chiefs...
and began work on the project. His original patron, Maharaja Brijindar Singh of Faridkot State
Faridkot State
Faridkot State, with its capital at Faridkot, was a Princely state of Punjab. The state was established in 1763, ruled by a Jatt Sikh Brar dynasty and was an offspring of Kotkapura. Faridkot was occupied by Ranjit Singh of Sikh Empire in 1803 but had to be returned to the former rulers in 1807 on...
, who had earlier sponsored scholarly work on the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
died in 1918. His other patron, Maharaja Ripudaman Singh was forced to abdicate his throne in 1923. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala from 1900 to 1938.- Biography :...
of Patiala State
Patiala State
Patiala State was a princely state in India.The history of Patiala state starts off with the ancestor of the Sikh Patiala Royal House, Mohan Singh being harassed by neighbouring Bhullars and Dhaliwals . They would not allow Mohan to settle there. He was a follower of Guru Hargobind and the Guru...
then offered to underwrite the entire expense of printing. Kahn Singh finished the work on February 6, 1926 and printing began on October 26, 1927 at the Sudarshan Press in Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, owned by the poet Dhani Ram Chatrik. The first printing, in four volumes, was finished on April 13, 1930. The Languages department of Punjab, Patiala then published Mahan Kosh in one volume and it has gone through three editions, the latest released in 1981.
The Punjabi University
Punjabi University
Punjabi University, located at Patiala, is one of the premier institutions of higher education in Punjab, India. Panjabi University teaches and researches in science, engineering and technology, humanities, social sciences, performing arts and sports....
in Patiala has translated it into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.