52 court poets of Guru Gobind Singh: Difference between revisions

BAVANJA KAVI, lit. fifty two poets, is how the galaxy of poets and scholars who attended on Guru Gobind Singh is popularly designated.

Guru Gobind Singh, prophet and soldier, was an accomplished poet and also a great patron of letters.

According to Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahima Prakash, he sent out Sikhs to different parts of the country to invite and bring to him scholars of repute. His instruction was: "Let them bring with them works pertaining to the fields they specialize in." When they came, "the True Guru bestowed great respect and honour upon them and provided for them without disscrimination."

Although traditionally mentioned to be 52, the number of scholars who came and stayed with the Guru at one time or the other was even larger. Bhai Santokh Singh, Suraj Granth, mentions 52 poets and Bhai Sukha Singh, Gurbilas, 36 lekhaks (writers or scribes). Besides, there were bha.tts who often recited their own poetical compositions.

Several poets like Pandit Sukhdev, Brind, Alim, Kunvaresh, Kanshi Ram and Nand Lal Goya, who had earlier been at the Mughal court, came to spend the rest of their lives at the feet of the Guru. These men were assigned by Guru Gobind Singh to the task of rendering of Hindi, Sanskrit and Persian classics into Bhakha written in Gurmukhl script. The work appears to have been taken in hand quite early in his career, probably in 1678 and spread over the next two decades and more, including four very productive years at Paonta Sahib (1685-1688), until the Guru, foreseeing the impending conflicts that were to engulf Anandpur, relieved the poets, scholars and scribes.

Classics such as ChanakyanJti, Ranch tan tra, Hitopadesa, Upanisads and parts of Mahabharata were translated into Braj and Punjabi and works and manuals on martial arts such as rearing, training and employment of hawks, horses, elephants, camels and dogs were prepared. A few Hindi classics were transliterated into Gurmukhi.

According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sn Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, the entire work was collected into a single anthology called Vidya Sar or Vidya Sagar, lit. ocean of knowledge. The poet even mentions the weight of the whole mass of manuscripts nine maunds or approximately 350 kilograms. Whatever the quantity of the material, the entire treasure was lost consequent upon the evacuation of Anandpur in December 1705, most of it in the flooded Sirsa stream. Only small fragments and copies of some of the manuscripts already prepared and carried out of Anandpur by the authors themselves or by others survived.

Name of the poets

The names of poets and scholars which have come down to us through these fragments or through other works such as Sau Sakhi, Mahima Prakash, Gurbilas Dasvin Patshahi.Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Gurpad Prem Prakash and Twarikh Guru Khalsa are listed below:

Certain

These poets were certainly members of the 52 poets.

2. Alim/Alam 3. Allu/Attu 4. Amrit Rai 6. Asa Singh 10. Bidhi Chand 13. Brij Lal 14. Brikkha/Brikh 15. Buland 16. Chand (Chandan) 17. Chandra Sain Sainapati 20. Dhanna Singh 21. Dharam Singh 22. Dhyan Singh 24. Gopal 25. Gurdas Gunia 26. Gurdas Singh 27. Hans Ram/Hans Rao 29. Hir Bhatt/Haer 30. Husain Ali 31. Ishar Das/Iswar Das 33. Jamal 34. Kallu 37. Khan Chand 39. Lakkhan Rai/Lakhan 41. Madan Gir(i) 46. Maan Das Vairagi 47. Mangal Ram 48. Mathura Das 51. Nand Lal Goya 54. Nand Singh 57. Nihal Chand 58. Faqir Nihchal Das 64. Roshan Singh 65. Raval 67. Shyam 68. Sudama 69. Sukhia 70. Sukha Singh 75. Udai Rai

Uncertain

These members are probably not part of the 52 poets of Guru Gobind Singh.

1. Adha 5. Ani Rai 7. Ballu Bhatt 9. Bhoj Raj 8. Bhagatu 11. Bihari 12. Brahm Bhatt 18. Desu Bhatt 19. Devi Das 23. Girdhari Lal 28. Hari Das 32. Jado Rai 35. Kashi Ram 36. Kesho Bhatt 42. Maddu Singh 38. Kunvaresh 40. Lal Khiali 43. Madhu 44. Mala Singh 45. Mall Bhatt 2. Madan Singh 2. Mullo 2. Maan Das 2. Mulla Singh 2. Mangal Ram 49. Mir Chhabila 50. Mir Mushki 52. Nand Lal, Pandit 53. Nand Ram 55. NanVairagi 56. Narbud Bhatt 59. Phat Mall 60. Pindi Lal 61. Prahilad Rai 2. Ram Das 63. Pandit Raghunath 66. Sharda 71. Sundar 73. Sukhdev 72. Tahikan 73. Tansukh 74. Thakar Ratee Rai Balam Kubresh Dahkan Nanu Bullo Makhan

52 Poets at Paunta Sahib

In 1682 at the invitation of Raja Nahan, Guru Gobind Singh Ji moved to a place called Paonta Sahib and built a fort on the banks of the river Yaumna. So named because "The True Guru came from Anandpur and rested his foot (paonta)." It was subsequently named Paonta Sahib. Guru Ji stayed here for around four years. Whereas martial exercises continued and a few battles were fought including the famous battle of Bhangani, Guru Sahib Ji alos engaged himself in literary pursuits. Several Sanskrit and Persian classics were translated by various poets who had gathered at Paonta and enjoyed the patronage of the great Guru. Sometimes poetic symposiams were held and Guru Sahib Ji distributed awards to the best poets. Most of Guru Ji's compositions were written at Paonta Sahib.

Baba Ajit singh Ji the eldest son of Guru Ji was born to Mata Sundri Ji, at Paonta.

The number of court poets of Guru Gobind Singh Ji has been fixed at 52. Most of them were present at Paonta and helped in rendering the classical literature into Braj Bhasha, especially from Sanskrit.