Sikhism is a relatively new religion that was founded in the 15th century and is based on Guru Nanak's teachings. The Sikh Literature comprises of sacred scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, which contains the beliefs and philosophies of Sikhism. Gurbani is a collection of hymns and compositions by Sikh Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib.

In this article, we will learn more about the Sikh Literature which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Sikh Literature - Background

• The Punjabi language evolved from Savraseni Prakrit, also known as Sauraseni Apabhransa, a broken form of Sanskrit.
• Punjabi, like Brajabhasa and Rajasthani, has the same grammatical foundation.
• However, there is no written record of Punjabi literature prior to Guru Nanak (1469-1 538).
• The earliest text is the 'Adi Granth,' which was completed in 1604 by Guru Arjun Dev.
  • It was a sin to change or delete even one word from the original text, hence it has been passed down to us in its original form.
  • Because the Gurus primarily discuss the nature and attributes of the creator, the text is written in the form of hymns set to specific Ragas.
• Guru Nanak's expressions are particularly aphoristic, demonstrating the process of deep reflection combined with certain intuitive principles of self-realization.

Important Literary Work of Sikhism

1. Adi Granth

• It was compiled in 1604 by Bhai Gurdas under the auspices of the fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev. It's written in the Gurumukhi script.
• It is the predecessor to the Guru Granth Sahib.
• The book includes the teachings of the Sikh Gurus as well as fifteen Bhagats from the Bhakti and Sufi traditions.

2. Guru Granth Sahib

• Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, expanded on Adi Granth in 1678. The Sikhs hold it in high regard.
• It is regarded as the Sikhs' eleventh and final spiritual authority.
• It is written in Gurumukhi script and in the Sant Bhasa language.
• Sant Bhasa includes words from several languages, including Punjabi, Apabhramsa, Hindi, Braj Bhasa, Sanskrit, Khadiboli, and Persian.
• The book includes the teachings of thirteen Bhakti saints known as 'Bhagats,' including Ramananda, Namadev, Ravidas, Parmanand, Sain, Surdas, and others, as well as two Muslim Bhagats, Kabir and Baba Farid.

Guru Granth Sahib

3. Dasam Granth

• It is widely assumed that the hymns written by Guru Gobind Singh (Tenth Guru) are compiled in this book, but many disagree.
• Fables and Puranic stories are included.
• Some hymns from the book are supposed to be sung during the daily prayers known as "Nit-Nem."

4. Janamsakhis

• The Janam Sakhis, which literally translate as "birth stories," are writings that are biographies of Guru Nanak.
• These compositions were written at various stages after Guru Nanak's death.
• Bhai Bala Janamsakhi is the most popular book.
• Miharban Janam Sakhi and Adi Janam Sakhi are two others.

Other Notable Works and Authors

• In the secular field, a number of romances known as 'Qissa', derived primarily from Muslim writers, came to predominate.
• The romances of Hir and Ranjha, as well as Mirza and Sahiban, were the most popular.
• Waris Shah is the best narrator of the Hirand Ranjha story. He was a gifted poet with a strong command of writing tragic dialogues.
• This is especially appealing in his version of the sequel, in which the hero and heroine bothdie.
• Peelu's writing is the best version of the Mina-Sahiban romance, bringing out the psychological conflict of the heroine Sahiban, who was caught between loyalty to her family and love for Mirza.
• Aggara, a Hindu poet, wrote the saga or Var of Haqiqat Rai, a Sikh Hindu youth martyred for his faith in Lahore during Shah Jahan's reign.

Contribution of Sufi Poets

• Sultan Bahu (1631-91), a dervish from the Jhang region who expressed himself through intense poetry on renunciation and spiritual devotion, is the most well-known of these.
• Shah Husain (1553-1593) was a nomadic hermit who wandered the countryside. He was adored by the populace. He composed music to accompany his passionate lyrics.
  • This genre is known as Kafi and is accepted by the majority of Sufi poets, serving as both a musical measure and a lyric.
• Bulhe Shah (1658-1758), the most famous Sufi poet, wrote about ecstasy, love, and renunciation of material things.
  • His works emphasise the spiritual aspects of life, but his metaphors are primarily drawn from Punjabi rural life.
  • Bulhe Shah's works have become folklore and are an important part of Punjab's literary tradition.

Conclusion

Sufi poets have made significant contributions to the development of Punjabi literature. Sufi poetical compositions attributed to the famous Chisti sufi master Baba Farid (Shaikh Fariduddin Ganj Shakar) (c. 1173-1265) are considered pioneering contributions to Punjabi poetry.