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Gurbilas literature

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Sikh scriptures • Punjabi literature

The Gurbilas literature, or Gurbilases, refers to a genre of Sikh chronicle literature that records the biographies and historical narrations of the sixth and tenth Sikh gurus, namely Guru Hargobind and Guru Gobind Singh.[1][2][3] They are similar to the Janamsakhi literature that contains biographies on the life of Guru Nanak.[1] Most of the texts are traditionally attributed to the 18th century but their dates of completion are contested by scholars, who date them variously.[1]

Kripal Das Bhalla's Mahima Prakash Vartak (prose) and Sarup Das Bhalla's versified Mahima Prakash also details the life of the tenth guru but are not classified as Gurbilases.[1]

Origin

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The Gurbilases genre arose from the Vilāsa literary tradition, which are narration of kings, especially Rajput ones.[2] Examples of Vilasa literature includes the Rājvilāsa related to Raja Raj Singh of Mewar (r. 1652-1680) which was written in the late 17th century.[2] William Hewat McLeod states the genesis of the genre lies in the Bachittar Natak of the Dasam Granth.[3] As per McLeod, the works pre-date the commencement of the Tat Khalsa.[3]

Prominent Gurbilas texts

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Sri Gur Sobha

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This text was completed by the court poet Sainapati in 1711.[1][3] The title of the text translates to "radiance of the guru".[3] It was the first text of the Gurbilas genre and it narrates the life of Guru Gobind Singh and the establishment of the Khalsa order.[1][3] Sainapati was a patron poet of the Sikh guru.[1]

Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi

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Folio of a manuscript of Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi bearing the colophon date of 1775 B.S. (ca.1718 C.E.)

This text was completed in 1718 and is usually attributed to a poet named Sohan.[note 1][1][2][3] It covers the life of the sixth Sikh guru, Hargobind.[2] Its authorship is associated with the Gianian Bunga of Amritsar, associated with Bhai Mani Singh.[2] The work inserts Mani Singh into the dialogues presented within the text.[2] The work is the only comprehensive account of the guruship of the sixth Sikh guru.[2] It is dated as early as 1718, or to 1780, or even as late as 1843.[2] According to Jvala Singh, Gurbilas Patshahi Chhevi was narrated by Mani Singh and written down by Bhagat Singh.[4] In early editions of the text, there is a reference to Guru Hargobind consuming cannabis, but this reference was removed in later editions.[4]

Gurbilas Patshahi Dasvin

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Authored by Koer Singh in 1751.[note 2][1][2][3] The work narrates the life of Guru Gobind Singh.[2] Koer Singh claims the stories told in the work were narrated by Bhai Mani Singh.[2] It was the first fully comprehensive work covering the life of Guru Gobind Singh.[2]

Bansavalinama Dasan Patshahian Ka

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Authored by Kesar Singh Chibbar in 1769.[1]

Gurbilas Dasvin Patshahi

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Authored by Sukha Singh in 1797.[note 3][1][3]

Content and language

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The Gurbilases genre falls into a category of works produced by local hagiographers in the Punjabi-language.[1] The Gurbilas literature are written in verse rather than prose.[1] The Gurbilases differ from other hagiographical texts documenting the lives of the Sikh gurus as they are fuller accounts rather than anecdotal accounts, unlike the Janamsakhis.[1] The Gurbilases are connected biographies written in verse form.[1] Similar to the earlier Janamsakhi tradition, the Gurbilases are panegyrical rather than analytical.[1] However, the Gurbilases differ from the Janamsakhis as they stressed upon the destiny of the gurus to fight against evil and their courage in this battle, with the enemy being the Mughal Empire.[3] Some of the Gurbilases place importance on devi (Indic goddesses) for the preparation of the Khalsa order.[3]

Historicity

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The Gurbilas literature are classified as semi-historical texts.[1] They cannot be considered true historiographical works, as they mix fact with fiction without any attempts at discerning the two from one another.[1]

The Gurbilases were succeeded by more historical Sikh works, such as Rattan Singh Bhangu's Prachin Panth Prakash (1841) and Sohan Lal Suri's Umdat-ut-Twarikh (barring its first-part which is based on traditional accounts).[1] However, the Suraj Prakash (1841) by Kavi Santokh Singh and Giani Gian Singh's Naveen Panth Prakash in verse (1880) and his Twarikh Guru Khalsa, are examples of later Sikh works that show signs of reversion to the Janamsakhi-Gubilases genres as they contain considerable doctrinal content and anecdotal material.[1] The first Sikh author to fully apply the modern scientific method for the basis of historiographical research was Karam Singh.[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ The title is alternatively spelt as 'Gurbilas Patshahi Chevin'.
  2. ^ To be confused with the Gurbilas Dasvin Patshahi completed by Sukha Singh in 1797. Koer Singh's name is alternatively spelt as 'Kuir Singh'. The title of the text is alternatively spelt as 'Gurbilas Patshahi Dasvi'.
  3. ^ Not to be confused with the Gurbilas Patshahi Dasvin authored by Koer Singh in 1751.
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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Hasrat, B. J. (2004). Singh, Harbans (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol. 4: S–Z (2nd ed.). Patiala: Punjabi University. pp. 179–181. ISBN 817380530X.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Singh, Jvala. "Gurbilas". Manglacharan. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McLeod, William Hewat (11 August 2024). "Sikh literature". Britannica. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b Singh, Jvala. "Guru Hargobind's Cannabis Routine". Manglacharan. Retrieved 24 August 2024.

Thanesar State

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MaplesyrupSushi/sandbox
Detail of the main, continuous tracts of territory of Thanesar State from a map created by the British East India Company, ca.1829–1835 (not including its exclaves viewable on the full-map)
Detail of the main, continuous tracts of territory of Thanesar State from a map created by the British East India Company, ca.1829–1835 (not including its exclaves viewable on the full-map)
CapitalThanesar
Today part ofHaryana, India

Thanesar State was a Sikh state based out of Thanesar.

History

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Detail of a painting of Lehna Singh, son of Mahtab Singh, Raja of Thanesar State, from the Tazkirat Al-Umara of James Skinner, ca.1836

List of rulers

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References

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Wildlife of Punjab, India

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Agriculture in Punjab

The fauna of the area is rich, with 396 types of birds, 214 kinds of Lepidoptera, 55 varieties of fish, 20 types of reptiles, and 19 kinds of mammals. The state of Punjab has large wetland areas, bird sanctuaries that house numerous species of birds, and many zoological parks. Wetlands include the national wetland Hari-Ke-Pattan, the wetland of Kanjli, and the wetlands of Kapurthala Sutlej. Wildlife sanctuaries include the Harike in the district of Tarn Taran Sahib, the Zoological Park in Rupnagar, Chhatbir Bansar Garden in Sangrur, Aam Khas Bagh in Sirhind, Amritsar's famous Ram Bagh Palace, Shalimar Garden in Kapurthala, and the famous Baradari Garden in the city of Patiala.[1]

Flora

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Punjab used to have large forests and jungles, such as the Lakhi and Macchiwara jungles, that were used by Sikhs during historical periods of open-genocide and active-oppression against them, such as under the Mughals.[2] However, much of its former forests were subsequently cut-down.[2]

Punjab has the lowest forest cover as a percentage of land area of any Indian state, with 3.6% of its total area under forest cover as of 2017.[3] During the Green Revolution, large tracts of jungles were cut-down in the state to make room for agriculture and forested areas were also cleared for road infrastructure and residential homes.[3] Various NGOs are working towards afforestation and reforestation of the state by launching educational drives, planting saplings, working towards regulatory changes, and pressuring organisations to follow environmental laws.[3] One NGO, EcoSikh, has planted over 100 forests, composed of native plant species, in the state using the Japanese Miyawaki methodology that are named 'Guru Nanak Sacred Forests'.[4][5][6] Native plant species are facing the risk of extirpation from the state but planting mini-forests throughout the land can help prevent this from occurring.[7] Prior to the Green Revolution, Butea monosperma (known as 'dhak' in Punjabi) trees were found in abundance in the state.[8]

Fauna

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Inlaid stone art (jaratkari) from the walls of the Golden Temple shrine in Amritsar depicting a predatory cat hunting a blackbuck antelope

A few of the rivers in Punjab have crocodiles, including reintroduced gharials in the Beas River after half a century of their extirpation from the state.[9][10][11] Indus river dolphins can be found in the Harike Wetland.[12] The extraction of silk from silkworms is another industry that flourishes in the state. Production of bee honey is done in some parts of Punjab. The southern plains are desert land; hence, camels can be seen. Buffaloes graze around the banks of rivers. The northeastern part is home to animals like horses. Wildlife sanctuaries have many more species of wild animals like the otter, wild boar, wildcat, fruit bat, hog deer, flying fox, squirrel, and mongoose. Naturally formed forests can be seen in the Shivalik ranges in the districts of Ropar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. Patiala is home to the Bir forest while the wetlands area in Punjab is home to the Mand forest.[13] The local subspecies of blackbuck, A. c. rajputanae, is facing the risk of extirpation from the state.[14][15][16]

Botanical gardens exist throughout Punjab. There is a zoological park and a tiger safari park, as well as three parks dedicated to deer.[13]

The state bird is the northern goshawk (baz) (Accipiter gentilis),[17] the state animal is the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), the state aquatic animal is Indus river dolphin (Platanista minor), and the state tree is the shisham (Dalbergia sissoo).[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Flora And Fauna Of Punjab". Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b Singh, Jaspal (7 September 2023). Rejuvenating Punjab: New Economic World Order. Virsa Publications. pp. 159–160. ISBN 9788195904952.
  3. ^ a b c "In agri-rich Punjab, a fight to reclaim forest cover". The Times of India. 22 August 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  4. ^ Zutshi, Minna (26 October 2020). "EcoSikh's Guru Nanak Sacred Forests: A reason to cheer for Ludhiana district". The Tribune, India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  5. ^ Singh, Gurjot (15 March 2022). "EcoSikh Completes Planting 400 Sacred Forests all across the globe on Sikh Environment Day 2022". SikhNet. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  6. ^ Banerji, Aparna (1 July 2019). "'Nanak jungles' to increase state's green cover". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  7. ^ Sharma, Seema (22 March 2019). "Punjab's native tree species disappearing from forest areas: Expert". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  8. ^ Zutshi, Minna (23 May 2018). "Ludhiana's Dhak Forest a treat for nature lovers". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  9. ^ "24 gharials released into Beas". The Tribune. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  10. ^ Gupta, Vivek (7 December 2020). "Gharials bounce back in Punjab but the real test is breeding". Mongabay-India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  11. ^ Vasudeva, Vikas (18 December 2021). "Reintroduced gharials thriving in Beas reserve: experts". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  12. ^ Puri, Gurbax (16 April 2022). "Tarn Taran diary: Harike, an abode for birds, rare Indus dolphins". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Animals and Birds in Punjab". Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  14. ^ Srinivasulu, C. (2012). South Asian mammals : their diversity, distribution, and status. Bhargavi Srinivasulu. New York, NY: Springer. p. 364. ISBN 978-1-4614-3449-8. OCLC 794056010.
  15. ^ Biodiversity and environment. B. N. Pandey, G. K. Kulkarni, National Symposium on Recent Advances in Animal Research with Special Emphasis on Invertebrates. New Delhi: A P H Pub. Corp. 2006. p. 172. ISBN 81-313-0042-0. OCLC 297209812.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. ^ Vasudeva, Vikas (17 February 2019). "Caught down the wire: Punjab's blackbuck fight for existence". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Lost in flight: State bird of Punjab missing from the state!". Hindustan Times. 14 September 2017. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  18. ^ "State Profile – About Punjab". Punjab Government. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2010.

Kartarpur Bir

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The Kartarpur Bir, also known as the Kartarpur Pothi, is the earliest recension of the Adi Granth.

Pre-canonical Sikh texts

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Pre-canonical Sikh texts are collections of Sikh scriptures preceding the compilation of the Adi Granth.

Goindwal Pothis

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There are two extant manuscripts of the Goindwal Pothis: the Ahiapur Vali Pothi and Pinjore Vali Pothi.[1] The Ahiapur volume is kept at Jalandhar whilst the Pinjore volume is kept at Pinjore.[1]

Guru Harsahai Pothi

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There exists a belief that Lakhmi Chand may have been the scribe of the Guru Harsahai Pothi.[2] Balwant Singh Dhillon finds the connection unlikely.[2]

Patna Pothi

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Amritsar pothi

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MS 1245

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References

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  1. ^ a b Singh, Anoop (27 February 2005). "Part 3: General and Historic Studies - B: Studies of Ancient Gurbani Manuscripts (Puratan Biran Bare)". A Bibliography of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Panthic Weekly. pp. 5–8.
  2. ^ a b Balwant Singh, Dhillon (1999). Early Sikh Scriptural Tradition: Myth and Reality. Singh Bros. p. 79. ISBN 9788172052393. XII. SCRIBE - 12.1. In the Pothi no colophon indicating the scribe, date and place of writing, has been noticed. Sometimes, Lakhmi Chand, the younger son of Guru Nanak has been associated with its scribing. But no internal and external evidence corroborates the above view.

Sikhism and science

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The relationship between Sikhism and science.[1]

References

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  1. ^ Singh, Ranvir (2020). "Making Meaning - Religion and Science". Sikhi worldview traditions. Culham St Gabriel’s Trust - RE:Online. pp. 14–15.

Bhai Rupa Chand

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Bhai Rupa Chand, alternatively spelt as Bhai Roopa or Bhai Rup, was an associate of the Sikh gurus.

References

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Kutwalee

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The Kutwalee was a palace of the Sikh Empire that was once located on the banks of the Golden Temple's sarovar.

References

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Bunga (building)

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Bungas are traditional Sikh structures.[1]

References

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  1. ^ Teja, Charanjit Singh (1 October 2021). "Amritsar Bungas: On the Brink of Extinction". The Tribune. Sunil Kumar. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

Sikhism and the Internet

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Sikhs and the Internet have a diverse relationship.[1][2][3] Many Sikh youth use the Internet as a resource to learn about their religion.[4]

History

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First websites

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Some early Sikh websites include:[5]

  • Sikhs.org – established in December 1994 by Sandeep Singh Brar, claiming itself to be the first website dedicated to Sikhism.[2][6] This website claims to be the first one to make the Guru Granth Sahib available on the Internet.[6]
  • SikhSpirit.com – established in October 1995.[7][8] Began as the Central Gurdwara Resource Centre Newsletter in 1995 and based at the Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) London.[7]
  • SikhNet – established in April 1996 by Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa of 3HO.[5]

Guru Granth Sahib

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A digital version of the Guru Granth Sahib, accompanied with translations, is available on the Internet.[9][10]

References

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  1. ^ Prill, Susan Elizabeth (27 March 2014). "39: Sikhi Through Internet, Films, and Videos – Sikhi on the Internet". In Singh, Pashaura; Fenech, Louis E. (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford University Press. pp. 471–476. ISBN 9780191004117.
  2. ^ a b VanderBeek, Conner Singh (2023). "41: The Sikh Internet". In Mandair, Arvind-Pal Singh; Singh, Pashaura (eds.). The Sikh World. Routledge. pp. 504–512. doi:10.4324/9780429455322-51. ISBN 9781032488110.
  3. ^ Khalsa-Baker, Nirinjan Kaur (2023). "42: Sikhs in Social Media". In Mandair, Arvind-Pal Singh; Singh, Pashaura (eds.). The Sikh World. Routledge. pp. 513–523. doi:10.4324/9780429455322-52. ISBN 9781032488110.
  4. ^ Singh, Jasjit (7 January 2014). "Sikh-ing online: the role of the Internet in the religious lives of young British Sikhs". Contemporary South Asia. 22 (1). Routledge: 82–97 – via Taylor & Francis Online.
  5. ^ a b Singh, Ranvir (2020). "Websites". Sikhi worldview traditions. Culham St Gabriel’s Trust - RE:Online. p. 17.
  6. ^ a b Brar, Sandeep Singh. "About Sikhs.org: The Worlds First Sikh Website - Celebrating 17 Years Online, Launched December 1994". Sikhs.org. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b "About". Sikh Spirit. Retrieved 14 July 2024. SikhSpirit.com started life as the Central Gurdwara Resource Centre Newsletter in 1995. It was based at the Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) London. Each month from 1995 to 2000 a newsletter was published and distributed featuring short articles which were submitted for publication. Over the years quite a collection of articles was amassed and many of these are being transferred to this new site.
  8. ^ "Issues of Sikh Spirit 1995 – 2000". Sikh Spirit. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  9. ^ Singh, Jasjit (19 June 2018). "Lost in translation? The emergence of the digital Guru Granth Sahib". Sikh Formations: Religion, Culture, Theory. 14 (3–4): 339–351. doi:10.1080/17448727.2018.1485355. eISSN 1744-8735. ISSN 1744-8727 – via Taylor and Francis Online.
  10. ^ Singh, Jasjit. "How has the internet impacted on the relationship between Sikhs and the Guru Granth Sahib, and on Sikhism in general?". RE:ONLINE. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
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Sikhism and the environment

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This article relates to the relationship between Sikhs and the environment.[1]

History

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Origins

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Antecedents of Sikh forays into environmentalism can be found within the Guru Granth Sahib itself.[1] The second shloka of the Japji Sahib of Guru Nanak stresses on the importance of living in-harmony with nature.[1] Furthermore, Guru Har Rai taught that the environment should be cared for by Sikhs.[1] The sarbat da bhala philosophy of Sikhs calls upon them to promote the well-being of all.[1]

Environmental causes

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Some earlier Sikh organizations that delved into environmental efforts include Pingalwara, established by Bhagat Puran Singh, whom had pro-environmental inclinations.[1] Balbir Singh Seechewal of the Nirmala sect, spearheaded the movement to clean-up the Kali Bein rivulet in the year 2000.[1] The Kali Bein, which has a high-degree of importance in the Sikh religion as the location where Guru Nanak became religiously transformed in God's court, had been degraded due to agricultural run-off, untreated sewage, and an overgrowth of water hyacinth that was clogging-up the rivulet.[1] Seechewal also had raised awareness on the Buddha Nullah issue.[1]

Sewa Singh, director of the Nishan-e-Sikhi Charitable Trust based in Khadur Sahib, supervised the distribution and planting of hundreds of thousands of tree saplings.[1] The roadways of Khadur Sahib being lined with these planted trees, though not all of them are indigenous species.[1] Furthermore, gardens were planted that contain a larger variety of tree species.[1]

The Machhiwara jungle that existed during Guru Gobind Singh's time, which was cut-down in the subsequent centuries, is planned to be revived by the SGPC through the planting of samplings on gurdwara land the organization owns within the locality to revive the lost forest.[2]

Activism from mainly Sikh groups were instrumental in saving the Mattewara forest area from being cut-down.[3]

Theological perspectives

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Sikhs believe that the environment and the various forces of nature are sentient, forming part of the divine consciousness of existence.[4] In the Guru Granth Sahib on page 6, the wind, water, fire, planets, galaxies, and solar systems are described as being part of the divine oneness that interlinks all.[4] Sikhs believe animals are sentient beings who worship the divine.[4] Due to the Sikh respect for animals, many Sikhs follow a vegetarian diet, however a vegetarian diet is not mandated in Sikhism.[4] The only restrictions relating to meat are related to Sikhs being barred from consuming meat sourced from an animal that was slaughtered through a religiously sacrificial manner, such as halal.[4] Furthermore, Sikhs are expected to refrain from eating meat if it is injurious to their health.[4] Another reason why meat-consumption is not officially banned in Sikhism is due to how the Guru Granth Sahib on page 1189 describes how vegetables are also living creatures, so it would be discriminatory to ban eating meat but not ban eating plants.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prill, Susan E. (27 March 2014). "19. Ecotheology". In Singh, Pashaura; Fenech, Louis E. (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford University Press. pp. 223–234. ISBN 9780191004117.
  2. ^ "SGPC to revive Machhiwara forest". The Indian Express. 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  3. ^ Singh, Jaspal (7 September 2023). Rejuvenating Punjab: New Economic World Order. Virsa Publications. pp. 159–160. ISBN 9788195904952.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Singh, Ranvir (2020). "Influence on Morality and Society - The Environment". Sikhi worldview traditions. Culham St Gabriel’s Trust - RE:Online. p. 16.
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Dakhni Sikhs

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Dakhni Sikhs, including Akali Hazura Singh, posing with two British officials at Takht Hazur Sahib, Nanded, 1903

Dakhni Sikhs are a group of Sikhs from Southern India.

References

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Relics of the Sikh guru

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Many relics are associated with the Sikh gurus, who established Sikhism over a 239 year period. Some relics associated with the Sikh gurus have been preserved in private collections.

Guru Nanak

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The Sodhi descendants of Guru Ram Das in Guru Harsahai claim to possess many relics of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, such as his writings and personal belongings.

Guru Gobind Singh

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The former state of Nabha held many relics of the tenth guru, including his Kesh, Kangha, and Dastar.

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