Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth.
Sandeep S Bajwa
Dasam granth is about Guru Gobind Singh's poems. It include these
books he has written
Title Number of verses
1. Akal Ustat 272.
It is collection of many subjects which were composed at different
times and then compiled together. God is called Akal Purukh who is
both creator and destroyer.
2. Bachitra Natak 471.
This work is sort of autobiography of the guru. It was written
at Anandpur when guru was 26 years old. The Guru describes Bedi Vansh
of
Baba Guru Nanak and his Sodhi vansh. His earlier life, etc. It is a
combination of mythical, historical and realistic description.
3. Chandi Charitra
first version 233
second version 262
It is based on Markande Purana, and are in Hindi.
4. Chandi di var 55.
Var shri Bhagauti ji di
It is in Punjabi, story is based on Purana. the first 25 verses form
the invocation to the holy sword. The next six serves as a background.
The rest of the poem describe the thrilling battle scenes.
5. Chaubis Avtar 1201.
In this work 25 incarnations of Brahman, Vishnu, Rama,
Krishna and Arjan are described in 1201 verses. The avtars
fought against the evil doers. It is in Hindi.
6. Fatah Nama 24.
A short letter containing couplets in persian addressed to Aurungzeb.
7. Gian Probodh 336.
It is in Hindi containst verses about praises of God, the formless
colorless, casteless and creedless.
"Na Rangam, na rupam, na jatam na patam"
8. Hikayat 756.
These stories are almost on the lines of Pakhyan Charitra in
Persian language.
9. Jap 199.
Jap means worship. It is a morning prayer of the Khalsa just as
Japji of Guru Nanak. Guru give 950 names of God in this.
Language is Hindi and Sanskrit.
10. Mir Mahndi 10.
It deals with the incarnation of Mir Mahndi of Shia sect of Islam.
11. Pakhian charitra 7569.
The Guru knew man's weakness, arises from three sources,
Zan, Zar, Zamin, which is Woman, money and land. Guru wished to
check the tendency of his sikhs towards women. He desired to
sublimate their sex impulse into a lofty and exalted channel of
Dharma Yudh or holy war. The Guru says Do not fall into the
hand of a woman. Do not become a slave to lust. Do not fall
a victim to strange women, and lost this world and next. This does
not apply to chaste wife and noble women. There are 78 stories
devoted to the intelligence, bravery and devotion of women, 28
stories discuss man's deceit and cunning in relation to women, 10
stories deal with the folly of drinking, opium-eating and gambling and
300 stories describe folk tales.
12. Ram Avtar including Krishna Avtar 4370.
Krishna Avtar was composed in Paonta in 1688, little before
the battle of Bhangani. It contains heroic and parental sentiments.
Ram Avtar was composed in 1698, just like Krishna Avtar.
13. Shabad Patshai Das 10.
These ten verses insist on worship of the one God only. Worship
none but the creator, not the creation.
14. Shastar Nam Mala 1323.
It describes various weapons of war.
such as this verse
Aus Kripan, khando. kharag, tupak, tabar aur tir;
saif, srohi, sehathi, yahi hamare pir.
15. Swayyas 33.
The Guru dwells on the worship of formless God. He says "The
yogis and sanyasis and masands simply loot people without uplifting them
spiritually"
16. Zafar Nama 111.
It is a persian poetry. It was composed in Malwa at the darkest
hour of Guru's life. His army was completely wiped out. His two elder
sons were killed in the battle of Chamkur. His younger sons were
executed at Sarhind. In the ZafarNama Guru chides Aurungzeb for his
faitlessness and treachery. He calls Emperor oath-breaker. He warns
him
of the consequences of his tyrannous acts.
17. Miscellaneous 59.
Total 17,294.
Here is what Hari Ram Gupta in "History of Sikhs vol-1, page 347) says:
Dasam Granth of Guru Gobind singh consists of divine prayers, tales
of heroism and morality from ancient Indian literature of old sages,
saints, savants and seers. The Dasam Granth is not a purely religious
book. It is collection of religious, secular, philosophical and
historical literature. The Guru's compositions are in Avadhi, Braj,
Hindi, Panjabi and Persian with Arabic words here and there.
Guru Gobind singh possesed a brilliant and many-sided striking
personality. He was a saint soldier supreme. It was a rare combination
that Guru was a master of Pen and sword. In Krishna avtar, the Guru
explains the purpose of creating this literature. His aim was to
inspire
Sikhs for holy war (Dharma Yudh). He wished to remove any feeling of
fear
and cowardice in fighting against the Mughal tyranny. The Guru started
writing at Anandpur about 1684 at the age of 18. The Guru wrote a good
deal of poetry at Paonta from 1685 to 1688 sitting on the banks of
Jamuna
river. Then from 1689 to 1698 he wrote poetry again. The Guru's
manuscripts had perished in the Sarsa river flooded by the rains on
December 22, 1704. A few copies of many of his works had been made by
some of his fifty-two poets and scholars. They were later on collected
and arranged by Bhai Mani singh. He nanmed the collection Daswen
Padshah
ka Granth or The Dasam Granth.
Four copies of Dasam Granth were made. One was kept at Akal
Bunga, Amritsar, second at Patna, third at Anandpur and fourth at
Damdama
sahib.
Adi Granth and Dasam Granth, a comparison: similarity.
1. Both the granths have almost the same number of printed pages of the
same size of the page and similar type. The Guru Granth has 1430 pages
and Dasam Granth 1428.
2. Both belive in one supreme being, a personal God, merciful and kind.
3. God is also all-pervading, unborn, formless, timeless.
4. Both lay emphasis on meditation and repetition of the Name to achieve
salvation.
5. Both believe in the law of karma and transmigration of sould.
6. Both have faith in Sacha Khand.
7. Both emphazie on the devotion to the Guru, who is perfect man, but
not God.
8. Both rely on casteless and class less society, and equality between
man and woman.
9. Both are in poetry and in Gurmukhi script.
The difference between Guru Granth and Dasam Granth.
1. The main difference between the two is that of objective. The Guru
Granth aims at gaining peace of mind and complete renunciation. The
Dasam Granth believes in a holy war (Dharma Yudh) against tyranny and
fanaticism.
2. God of Guru Granth is God of truth. God of Dasam Granth is God of
justice, ready to strike at the tyrant, autocrat and the despot.
3. The Guru Granth is full of devotion, meditation, grace of Guru and
God. The Dasam granth depicts scenes of battles, arms and weapons and
intrigues of men and women.
4. Guru Nanak's Japji and Guru Gobind singh's Jap differ essentially.
Japji believes in God's Hukum. There is no such thing in Gobind Singh's
Jap.
5. According to Loehlin, the Guru Granth may be compared to Temple and
the Dasam Granth to a fortress. (Loehlin pages 57-59)
*********
Now here is the description when Guru Gobind singh made Adi Granth a
Guru
Granth or the eleventh Guru.
**********
According to Guru Gobind Singh's poet Sainapat, Bhai Nand Lal and
Dhadi Nath Mal, all of who were present at Nander, a day before the
Guru's demise, the sikhs enquired as to whom he was entrusting his
Khalsa. Bhai Nand Lal in Rahitnama says the Guru replied he has three
forms. The first was nirgun or invisible, the second was his word and
the third was sagun or the visible. After his physical death his soul
would be invisible. His second form would be Adi Granth (not Dasam
Granth), "Dusar Rup Granthji jan, Mera rup Granthji jan. Is men bhed
nahin kuchh man." The third sagun, or visible rup was the Khalsa. He
added that he had bestowed his physical form upon his khalsa.
The Guru accompanied by Khalsa went to the place where Adi Granth
had been installed. He opened the holy book, placed five paise and a
coconut before it, bowed before it, then went round the sacred scripture
five times, bowed every time, and declared it as the Guru for all times
to come.
Upto this time the holy book was called Pothi Sahib. Gobind
Singh named it Granth consisting of two words, Gur and Ant meaning
eternal Guru. He asserted:
In future whoever wishes to seek englightenment, guidance and
solace, let him read the holy granth. This is your Guru for ever and
ever till eternity.
The Guru said that he was entrusting the Khalsa to the care of
AkalPurukh (God). He affirmed
Dusar rup Granth ji jan
Un ke ang mero kar man
Jo sikh gur darshan ki chah
Darshan karo granth ji ah.
Jo mam sath chaho kar bat
Granth ji parhe bichare sath.
jo muj bachan sunan ki chai
Granth ji parhe sune chit lae
mero rup Granth ji jan
Is men bhed nahin kuchh man
[The Granth is second myself (Guru Granth, not Dasam Granth which
was compiled later by Bhai Mani singh), It should be taken for me.
A Sikh who wants to see me, should have a look at the Granth.
One who wishes to talk to me, should read the Granth and think
over it. One who is anxious to listen to my talk, he should read the
Granth and listen to its recitation with attention. Consider the
Granth as my ownself. Have not the least doubt about it.]
Guru Gobind singh's last sermon
Agya bhai Akal ki Tabhi chalayo Panth,
Sab Sikhan ko hukum hai Guru Manyo Granth.
Guru Granth ji manyo pargat Guran ki deh.
jo, prabh ko milna chahe khoj shabad men le.
[Under orders of the Immortal being the Panth was started. All
the Sikhs are enjoined to accept the Granth as their Guru. Consider
Guru
Granth as representing Guru's body. Those who wish to meet God can find
the way in its hymns.]
The following two lines were added later into the Daily ardas of
Sikhs, it did not form a part of the original hymn:
Raj Karega Khalsa Aqi rahe na koi,
Khwar hoe sab milange bache sharan jo hoe.
Aqi means "tyrannt, disobedient, rebellious" Khwar means
"Deserted, abandoned." These lines as Ganda singh says came into
Sikh prayer during the times of Banda Singh Bahadur.
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