Panj Sau Sakhi

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Panj Sau Sakhi, a collection of five hundred anecdotes. attributed to Bhai Ram Kuir (1672-1761), a descendant of Bhai Buddha, renamed Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh as he received the rites of the Khalsa at the hands of Guru Gobind Singh.

It is said that during his long association with Guru Gobind Singh, Ram Kuir had heard from the Guru's mouth many anecdotes concerning the lives of the Gurus which Ram Kuir often narrated to other Sikhs after his return to his village of Ramdas in Amritsar district, after leaving Anandpur during the evacuation of the besieged city was ordered in 1705 by the 10th Guru. Bhai Sahib Singh is said to have committed these sakhis to writing.

Later, the written accounts were split into five parts, each comprising one hundred stories whence the title "Sau Sakhi" (or A Hundred Stories) gained currency. These five sections were distributed among Bhai Sahib Singh (the scribe), Kabull Mall, Multani Sura, Bhai Ratia and Bhai Surat Singh of Agra.

Giani Gian Singh, author of the Panth Prakash, is said to have seen two manuscripts of this work; one was in the possesion of a mahant (priest) of Name da Kot and the second in the possesion of Shiv Ram Khatri of Agra. Bhai Kahn Singh of Nabha also seems to have had access to a manuscript copy.

Original Manuscripts Lost

None of these manuscripts, much less an authentic printed version is, however, available today.

Other works' drawn inspiration from Panj Sau Sakhi

The authors of the Gurbilas and Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth seem to have drawn upon these anecdotes which are more legendary than historical in character.

OTHER SIKH SCRIPTURES

Ganjnama ♦♦ Bansavalinama Dasan Patshahian Ka ♦♦ Bavanja kavi ♦♦ Bhagat Ratanavali ♦♦ Bhera Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Ka ♦♦ Chalitar Joti Samavane ki ♦♦ Chaturbhuj Pothi ♦♦ Haqiqat Rah Muqam Raje Shivnabh Ki ♦♦ Hazarnamah ♦♦ Kabitt Savaiye ♦♦ Karni Namah ♦♦ Nasihat Namah ♦♦ Amarnama ♦♦ Ani Rai ♦♦ Araz Ul Alfaz ♦♦ Baba Mohan Valian Pothian ♦♦ Bala Janam Sakhi ♦♦ Panj Sau Sakhi ♦♦ Pothi ♦♦ Pothi Sachkhand ♦♦ Prem Abodh Pothi ♦♦ Prem Sumarag ♦♦ Sukhmam Sahansarnama