Sarbloh Granth: Difference between revisions

The Sarbloh Granth (Punjabi: ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਗ੝ਰੰਥ, sarabalŝha grantha) is a poem that recites the story of gods and demons, and is said to be the work of Guru Gobind Singh.

However, many scholars and researchers question the authenticity of the Granth and its credibility remains in doubt.

There is much scholarly work going into the authentication of the Sarbloh granth, one recalls passage written in manuscripts kept by damdami taksal recording Banda Singh Bahadur having done seva of writing Sarbloh Granth handwritten birs (this point is from a very biased and untrusted source someone should look into its authenticity).

The Baba Budha Dal of nihnags believe in the Sarbloh Granth in equal respect to Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam granth, When they do akhand paths they would do a combination of 4 birs, japji sahib, guru granth sahib, dasam granth and sarbloh granth.

There are many rumours about how the sarbloh granth came about it had not been present for many years till lately where some say udhasis had it and gave it to the Baba Budha Dal, or some say it was found in a hole, where it had been burried for safe keeping. Some say the work of the Sarbloh Granth, in recording to the dasam Granth where Guru Gobind Singh in his previous avtar of Dushtdaman came and wrote this manuscript, which Guru Gobind Singh came to hemkunt to reclaim.

Much of this information is very vary and only the Baba Budha Dal know much about this granth. The publication of the Granth is also held in rights by Baba Budha Dal, so permission has to be seeked from them to start an electronic version such maybe to in comparison of Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth like;

• Dasam Granth Sahib online

To obtain a copy one must contact Baba Budha Dal press for, a manuscript, they are the only printers and key keepers of it.

In modern times the head of the ancient order Shromani Panth Akali Budha Dal Panjvah Takht 96 krori Nihang Singh Chalda Vaheer, Singh Sahib 96 Krori Jathedar Baba Santa Singh Jee Akali has done a great service to the Sikh tradition by bringing this Granth out into the public and returning it to it's rightfull place, prakash alongside Adi Sri Guru Granth Saheeb Jee and Dasm Guru Granth Sahib Jee. Baba Santa Singh has been successful in printing this granth in two volumes and also printing a small Sampuraan Granth for the purpose of parkaash.

In 2003, 96Krori Baba Santa Singh Jee conducted a Sarbloh Santia Smaagam where he personally over saw the santia of 18 individual Nihang Singhs. This smaagam has not been publicized, Baba Jee had the dream of conducting a Sampuraan Akhand Paath Saheeb of this Granth before he departed this Earth. His dream became true at Takht Sri Hazoor Saheeb Jee in 2003, the first recorded(In post colonial era) Sri Sarbloh Granth Akhand Paath took place at this blessed location.

The self proclaimed leader of the Budha Dal in U.K, the non bana wearing Needar Singh has done parchaar for several years claiming that this granth was to be treated as a Bir Rass Granth, thus the tradition of Jhatka(killing in one blow) was associated with it. Needar Singh's lack of scriptual education was exposed by the fact that the Sri Akhand Paath Saheeb of Sri Sarbloh Darbar was conducted in a completely Vaishnuu(vegetarian) manner.

The famouse Khalsa Mehma "Khalsa Mera Roop Hai Khaas - Khalse Mai Hou Karo Nivaas - Khalsa Mera Satgur Puraa - Khalsa Mera Sjn Suraa" are contained with Sri Sarbloh Granth. Also mentioned within one of it's Dhiyais (chapters) is the writing "Satguru Nanak Aap Parmeswar - Avtaar Lie Shubh Bans Pardhana".

In all Nihang Singh Dals, Sri Sarbloh granth is kept parkaash, it is venerated by Singhs in both the Buddha Dal and Tarna Dal.

Sarbloh Guru Durbar is the third great scripture worshipped in Akali Nihang Dals (armies). Whereas extensive works have been written on Adi Guru Durbar and to some extent on Dasam Guru Durbar, one will find hardly anything on Sarbloh Guru Durbar.

Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh Ji A persian print of the tenth Sanatan Sikh Guru, author of Sarbloh Guru Durbar

In fact, the vast majority of Sikhs have not even heard of this text let alone laid eyes on Sarbloh Guru Durbar Ji. Even ancient Sikh and non-Sikh texts are silent on the subject of Sarbloh Guru Durbar.

Whereas the Adi Guru Durbar and Dasam Guru Durbar could be publicly seen at Sikh Temples, Sarbloh Guru Durbar was always kept within the Akali Nihang Dals as a secret text.

Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa An old painting of a band of Akali Nihang Singhs adorned in full combat dress and armed to the teeth with a variety of lethal weapons

Didar Singh Khjal in his teacher, Baba Thakur Singh, wrote a sanctioned book that speaks of Akali Nihang Baba Gurbakhsh Singh’s handwritten copy of Sarbloh Guru Granth:

‘Baba Gurbakhsh Singh Ji like Baba Deep Singh Ji Shahid made hand written copies of Sikh scriptures and small liturgy booklets and sent them to appropriate places. His handwritten copy of Siri Sarbloh Granth Sahib is also mentioned before 1920 it was at the Gurdwara Shahid Ganj at the place of martyrdom of Baba Gurbakhsh Singh but then during Akali agitation [1920-1925] it was lost by the old lady who served there.’ (‘Etehas Dam Dmi Taksal Sankhep', Pa.54)

Akali Nihang tradition holds that whereas Adi Guru Durbar is the embodiment of 'Shaant Ras' (essence of peace), Dasam Guru Durbar and Sarbloh Guru Durbar are the embodiments of 'Bir Ras' (warrior essence).

The difference in Dasam Guru Durbar and Sarbloh Guru Durbar is that although Bir Ras (warrior essence) is born of Dasam Guru Durbar, it is Sarbloh Guru Durbar which gives an individual's warrior essence an everlasting, final and complete lethal cutting edge.

With contemplation of Dasam Guru Durbar, ‘Chandi chr jandi te uttar jandi heh’, meaning 'spirit of war comes and goes'. With the contemplation of Sarbloh Guru Durbar, ‘Chandi sda chri rhendi heh’ meaning, one is always intoxicated in the spirit of war against ignorance.

Chandi An old painting of Durga killing the demon King Mahikhasur

Thus it was from the Sarbloh Guru Durbar that the Khalsa of the Misl Period drew its greater strength and prowess. That is why Sarbloh Guru Durbar was the most secret and guarded of Sikh religious texts. Englishmen like Malcolm easily managed to procure the Adi Guru Granth and take it to Calcutta to study it. Colebrooke even managed to get his scheming hands on the Dasam Guru Durbar as well.

However, the Sarbloh Guru Granth Ji because of it being guarded deep in the sanctuary of the Akali Nihang Dals, nevermind getting a hand on it, no invader never even heard of its existance.

Chatka An Akali Nihang Singh decapitates the head of a 'Chatanga' (specially selected goat) as part of the Akali Nihang Singh Kyshatriya (warrior) tradition started by Akali Guru Hargobind Sahib

Akali Nihang Singhs, Nirmalas, Udhasis and Seva Panthis all traditionally acknowledge Sarbloh Guru Durbar as Gurbani (writings) of Dasam Patsha (Tenth King Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh ji).

The lowly puritanical Tat Khalsa Singh Sabhias apart from Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha in general never got around to commenting on the Sarbloh Guru Durbar. The present day offspring of Tat Khalsa Singh Sabha, the S.G.P.C. is also quiet about Sarbloh Guru Durbar. The language of Sarbloh Guru Durbar is so difficult to understand, and the text until recently was also not available to modern Sikh scholars.

One Udhasi Harnam Das of Kapurthala, formally known as Akali Nihang Nurang Singh has made an attempt in the last century to study the Sarbloh Prakash (Sarbloh Guru Durbar).

He prepared a transliteration of the Sarbloh Guru Durbar which the Budha Dal later published. Another learned man, Giani Partap Singh, himself a scholar of Sikh religious texts, claims Harnam Das' works are incomplete.

Originaly this translitteration was not available at any shop or library and could only be attained from Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa Budha Dal. In order to aquire a copy an individual had to present a written request stating the reason why he/she would need the copy of the Sarbloh Guru Durbar. The letter would then be taken to the head of the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa, presently Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh Ji. Once Baba Ji was satisfied at the request, he would officially give his authority and approval. The individual then proceeded to Patiala, Punjab, where the Budha Dal printing presswould make available a copy of Sarbloh Guru Granth.

The ideal Budha Dal tradition does not sell the priceless Guru Durbars, or any other sacred text. In the year 2000, due to over whelming public demand for Sarbloh Guru Granth and Budha Dal's inability to keep it in print, the Budha Dal published version of Sarbloh Guru Granth began to be sold at book shops in Punjab.

The money from the sales went towards funding the printing of further copies of Sarbloh Guru Granth.

An Ang (Page of a puratan bir of Sri Sarbloh Granth 18th Century)