Dasam Granth

July 3, 2008 in USA

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Dasam Granth

Presntly Published Dasam Granth is a piece of Sikh Literature. There is Factual Evidence to support this argument.

To prove the Authenticity of any Document always four following academic Parameters are needed. All such four parameters are missing if one studies this issue on academic basis:

a) Date of Document (When it was Written); No date written. Diifferent compiled sections have different dates.

b) History of the Document: There was never any Dasm Granth seen in Punjab or Dehli area before 1800A.D.

c) Who is the Scribe : It is a compiled document. Not written by a single Scribe.

d) Internal Inconsistency : does not match with Sggs. No historical evidence that 10th Guru ever sanctified this Granth. For opinion on authenticcity of the presently published Dasam Granth for details by various authors please click on

(http://www.globalsikhstudies.net/r_link/dasam.htm)

I have gone over this issue in detail and here is summary of my paper which I presented at Punjabi universty and GNDU in 2003.

Guru Granth Sahib as the only Sikh Canon; Fresh Look at the Text and History of Dasam Granth:

Personal Guruship was ended by the 10th Guru after finalizing the Sikh mission and sanctifying and passing succession to Guru Granth Sahib as a future Guru of the Sikhs in 1708. This was the final culmination of the Sikh concept of Guruship, capable of resisting the temptation to defy the lines of human Gurus. The Tenth Guru while maintaining the concept of Shabad Guru also made the Panth distinctive by introducing corporate Guruship. The concept of Guruship continued and the role of human gurus transferred to the Guru Panth and that of the revealed world to Guru Granth Sahib making Sikhism a distinct modern religion in 1708. This historical fact is well documented in Sikh sources of 18th century. Sainapat (1711), Bhai Nandlal, Bhai Prahlad, and Chaupa Singh, Koer Singh (1751), Kesar Singh Chibbar (1769), Mahima Prakash (1775), Munshi Sant Singh on account of Bedi family of the Una, Unpublished records, Bhatt Vahis. Persian sources: Mirza Muhammed (1705-1719 AD), Sayad Muhammed Qasim (1722 AD), Hussain Lahauri (1731), Royal Court News of Mughals, Akhbarat-i-Darbar-i-Mualla (1708). Western accounts of 18th century including Father Wendel, Charles Wilkins, Crauford, James Browne, George Forester, and John Griffith clearly emphasize the tenants of Nanak as enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib as the only promulgated scripture of the Sikhs.

There was no Dasam Granth found in Punjab or Delhi area in 18th century. There is no evidence that in 18th century "Adi granth was not given any exclusive preference over the bani of Guru Gobind Singh" as this idea was floated by Mcleod & Grewal J.S. Malcom's selfcreated story "at time of Khalsa Initiation, Five weapons were presented to the intiate" which is further promoted by Pashaura singh & Mcleod " Orgnizers of Singh Sabha Movement replaced the tradition of Five Weapons with that Of Five religion symbols(known as Five Ks)" is not Based on any Sikh or western Source. There were 32 Dasam Granths circulating in the Amritsar' area by 1890. The presently published Dasam Granth (1902) was created by the Sodhak Committee formed of British Cronies (1895-1897) to give a closer to the Granth floated by them in the late 18th century with the help of Nirmalas at Patna. The manuscript of this granth was implanted in the East India Library by Colebrook & Charles Wilkins and used by John Malcom in 1810, in his book "Sketch of the Sikhs".

Devnagri Dasam Granth
(Presently in British Library, London) was written in February 1847 after the Sikhs lost the first Anglo-Sikh War (Second treaty with Lahore December 16, 1846 at Bhairowal when Britishers became virtual masters of Punjab). Treacherous Sardar Tej Singh was the chief of the regency council when this Devnagri Dasam Granth was created. In recognition of his services, the title of Raja was conferred on him on August 7, 1847. Story of Mani Singh compiling a Dasam Granth between 1721 to 1738 during his stay at Amritsar at the request of Mata Sundri is difficult to prove by evidence as the Dasam Granth reported to be compiled by him was found only in 1818 and the first part of this manuscript is a Bano Version of Guru Granth Sahib which makes it very unlikely to be the composition compiled by Mani Singh who compiled the Damdami version earlier.

The story of Mehtab Singh and Sukha Singh slaying Massa Ranghar and reward of successful mission keeping the various parts of Dasam Granth as a single volume cannot be supported by any historical evidence. Babadeep Singh is said to have compiled another manuscript of Dasam Granth in 1747 A.D. as reported by Giani Singh which ends at Asfotak Kabit. Only Sangrur Bir as studied by Padam & Jaggi is reported to end with final title Asfotak Kabit. Therefore, probably it is the same Manuscript as reported by Giani Gian Singh. The first portion Of This Manuscript is Guru Granth Sahib & 2nd portion is Dasam granth.This Manuscript Contains additional compositions Like Sansahar Sukhmana, Vaar Malkauns and Chakka Bhagoti which were edited & deleted by Sodhak Committee in 1897, therefore cannot make this manuscript authentic. By history Babadeep Singh bir/Sangrur bir appeared in 1857 only. The author has reviewed the history and text of Dasam Granth from 18th to 20th century and the summary of the findings is as follows:

* Historical analysis shows that 10th master may have made many Granths noted in the literature e.g. Smudsagar / Avtarlila / Vidyasagar Granth/Vidyadar Granth / Bachitar Natak /Satsai Granth. But no original Granth is available as they were lost in river and warfare.

* Bhai Mani Singh is reported to compile Dasam Granth between 1721-1738 at request of Mata Sundri but no original available. Photographs as published by Dr. Padam In His 3rd Edition reported to be in possession of Mata sundry Has no Histry of 18th&19th century.

* Controversy of Dasam Granth Authenticity started in 18th century and still continues.

* By the end of 19th century (1895), 32 birs of Dasam Granth were in circle in Amritsar which were used by Sodhak Committee to finalize the final version of Dasam Patshahi Guru Granth Sahib sahib Ji.

* Lahore Singh Sabha With 118 associations did not recognize this new Dasam Pathshai Guru Granth Sahib in 1897. 3 articles published in Khalsa Akhbar Lahore against this committee on october 4th, 25th & November 1st 1895.

* 1897 - Above bir has no significance among the Sikhs as not mentioned by Akali Ran Singh, 1905 in his book about Dasam Granth.

* Kahan Singh Nabha in 1930 in Mahan Kosh does not mention 1897 sodhak Committee report or dasam granth published in 1902 based on this report. He talks about only two birs of Mani Singh & Sukha Singh Bir& requests more thorough work on this issue.

* Dharam Pal Ashta 1959 Based his Thesis on Sodhak committee Report of 1897 without confirming Authenticity of Dasam Granth Manusripts he used in his study.

* Historical analysis shows that no bir of Dasam Granth was seen in Punjab or New Delhi area ia 18th century, only Charles Wilkins in 1781 sees some second Granth in Patna which he reported appeared later and also reported that Guru Granth Sahib was the only sanctified and promulgated.

* Historical records show, Banda Singh, Nawab Kapur Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, and Sikh Misals of the 18th century do not revere Dasam Granth. Baghel Singh built 8 historical Gurudwaras in New Delhi in 1784 and no evidence of Dasam Granth installed anywhere.

* Textual analysis of all known birs of Dasam Granth show variations of titles in Tatkara, variation of titles at start of composition and variation of contents. History of no DG birs goes before 1818.

* No original Khas patra available. Letter of Mani Singh is spurious.

* Historical inconsistencies in Bachitar Natak. There are various scribes of Dasam Granth. Difficult to discuss orthography as no original is available.

* Ideological inconsistencies and ideological variations.

* Heterogeneous Granth of different collections compiled by Sukha Singh and promoted by the British.

* Dating inconsistencies. Wrong chronology, 7 compositions excluded in 1897 published Text ?

* Bachitar Natak, a manipulative collection with no mention of martyrdom of 5th Guru. Reverence of Adi Granth compiled in 1604 and as spiritual guru to the Sikhs since then. No mention of creation of Khalsa and Amrit ceremony.

* Malcom's sketch of the Sikhs created a distorted Sikhism to diminish the spirit of the Sikhs and their government as proposed by William Franklin in 1803 in his account.

* 10th guru only gave sanctification to A.G.G.S. alone in 1708 and not to any other Granth.

* Bani of A.G.G.S. is the sole Guru for Sikhs and a sole canon to accept any idea, concept, suggestion, and any writing.

* Based upon above doctrine Banis / writing of 10th Guru accepted in Sikh Rahat Maryada got Sanctfied By Guru Panth (1927-1936) are final and unquestionable. Japu Sahib, 10 swaeyas (swarg Sudu Waley 21-30 akal ustit) Chaupai, Ardas (as sanctioned RehatMaryada).including Akal Ustit (except Chhand 201-230), Khalsa mehma, 33 Swaeyas, Shabad Hazarey and Zafarnama are banis / writings of 10th Guru. Khalsa Panth collectively is allowed to make / accept any changes based upon the doctrines as established in A.G.G.S. acceptable to the Guru Panth.

* Presently published Dasam Granth is a piece of Sikh literature like many other books in Sikh history. It is a compilation of heterogeneous granths in late 18th century by Mahant Nawal & Dayal Singh and Sukha Singh Granthi at Patna by converting a Hindoove language manuscript "Nanak Panthi Kabya" to Gurmukhi Granth, Dasmi Patshahi Granth (presently located in Britsh library London. Initialy implanted in East India library and then taken to England by Colebrook). Above mahants at Patna interpolated Bani and writings of Patshahi 10 and other simialar saloks as enshrined in GGS to gain credibility of this Granth which was promoted by Malcom initially in "Sketch of the Sikhs" published in 1810, 1812. Then Brought this granth to Punjab Gurudwaras throuh Nirmalas and Udasis in early 19th Century.

* Sikhism an integrated religion with unity of Sikh thought between the first and tenth Guru. Tenth Guru sanctified only one Granth (cannon), that is Aad Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

For various Academic debates on sikh studies please always Click on _www.globalsikhstudies.net_ (http://www.globalsikhstudies.net)

Jasbir Singh Mann M.D.
California

(Received via email)

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