Dasam Granth and its history

The History of Dasam Guru's compositions begins with the time when these compositions were verbally spoken, composed and compiled by Guru Gobind Singh. These compositions in the form of booklets and Granths were created over various period of the Guru's life. Later (after 1708), they were combined in the form of the present-day granth or single volume by Bhai Mani Singh Khalsa, with help of other Khalsa brothers. This was done on the direct instruction of Mata Sundri and this volume is presently recognized as Sri Dasam Granth Sahib.

From historical books, Rehitnamas, old manuscripts and oral traditions of various Sampardas (sections of Sikhs), it can be observed that the Sikhs had access to these compositions and they use to study, discuss and understand these compositions during the time of Guru Gobind Singh and also after his demise in 1708. These compositions include most of the important sections of the present-day Dasam granth namely, Jaapu Sahib, Akal Ustat, Bachitar Natak, Chandi Charitar, Chandi Di Var, Gyan Prabodh, Chaubis Avtar, Shabad, Thirty-Three Swayyas, Sawaiye, Shashtar Nam Mala, Ath Pakh-yaan Charitar Likh-yatay and Zafarnamah

Many historical sources from the early 17th century contains various lines, hymns and names of compositions and even the poetry style used by the Guru. Many of these old literature sources use the same poetry style as used by Guru Gobind Singh himself; these authors are composing their books in same Chands and Meters in which Guru Gobind Singh composed his compositions.

17th Century

Das Guru Katha - Kavi Kankan(1699)

18th Century

Guru Gobind Singh left his holy abode in 1708. 17th Century was the time when Singhs had to hide in Jungles due to many rebelious. There were very few attempts of writing Sikh history in 17th Century. Many of the compositions of Guru Gobind Singh were spread across India by Sikhs and a few more were shared by Mata Sundri at Delhi. Sikhs have access to various pothis of Guru Gobind Singh writings. These were available from Contemporary historians and writers who wrote about Guru Gobind Singh's Life.

Sri Gur Sobha - Poet Senapati(1711)

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About Dasam Bani following are conclusive ponints while studying Sri Gur Shobha:

1. Poet Senapati have access to Bachitar Natak Granth.
2. Poet Senapati have written conversation of Guru Gobind Singh and Akal Purakh, which is a Part of Bachitar Natak.
3. Poet Senapati have written History of Religion in the same way given in Bachitar Natak Composition.
4. In Battle of Bhangani, Poet Senapati have written characters which were present in Bachitar Natak, and haven't mentioned Peer Buddu Shah too.
5. Poet Senapati used words like Sri Kaal, Chandi Sudhari in his poems which means, that these words were part of Sikh hymns of that time.

Following is detailed explanation, which proves that Bachitar Natak Granth was present upto 1711:

Proofs in Sri Gur Sobha Granth about Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions

This was one of the first books to illuminate the writings in the SriDasam Granth. This book is written not only in the style and language of the Sri Dasam Granthbut some verses are similar to the verses found in Sri Bachitra Natak, most notably the battlesof Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It is clear that the court poets wanted to emulate the writings of GuruGobind Singh Ji as these were read in the Guru’s Durbars.

Rehitnama Bhai Chaupa Singh (Early 18th Century)

This Rehitnama was written in Early 18th Century. As per Prof. Ganda Singh, Prof Piara Singh Padam, this was written in early 18th Century after demise of Guru Gobind Singh. The Rehitnama contains many couplets from Bani of Patshahi 10.

Following Facts about Guru Gobind Singh Compositions are there:

1. Chapupa Singh Quoted various couplets from Bachitar Natak Bani written by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib.
2. Chaupa Singh also quoted various lines from Swaiyeys writen by Guru Sahib.
3. Chaupa Singh also Elaborated knowledge of GUru Gobind Singh abouts Puranas and Gurmukhi Lipi.

Click Here for Extracts of Rehitnama Contains hymns of Dasam Bani

This Rehitnama is available in Market in book Rehitnamey: Piara Singh Padam, published by Singh Brothers.

Rehitnama/TankhahNama Bhai Nand Lal(Early 17th Century)

TankhahNama/RehitNama - Bhai Nand Lal (Early 17th Century)These Were written by Court Poet of Guru Gobind Singh and well known sikh. He mentined following parts of Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions:

1. Jaap Sahib was present and was part of Daily Liturgy. It was read aside Jaap Sahib.
2. Bhai Nand lall also believe that "Not to share Important things with women and Not to trust "blindly" on especially women. This was told by Guru Ramm Dass and then Guru Gobind Singh explained this with help of stories. This fact is acceptable in almost all Rehitnamas and Historical Books. Some people consider it to be Degrade Women Folks which is wrong.

Proofs in Bhai Nand Lal Goya's Compositions about Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions

This Rehitnama is available in Market in book Rehitnamey: Piara Singh Padam, published by Singh Brothers.

Rehitnama Bhai Prahlad Singh

Rehitnama Bhai Prahlad SIngh is , It contains a Line which says that Jaap Sahib is a Sikh Literugy. Bhai Prahlad Singh States:

ਬਿਨਾ 'ਜਪ੝' 'ਜਾਪ੝' ਜਪੇ, ਜੋ ਜੇਵਹਿ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ || ਸੋ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕਾ ਕਿਰਮ ਹੂਇ, ਜਨਮ ਗਵਾਵੈ ਬਾਦ ||

This Rehitnama is available in Market in book Rehitnamey: Piara Singh Padam, published by Singh Brothers.

Parchi Gobind Singh Ki - Bava Seva Dass (1741)

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1. Parchian Prove this that the though process of Dasam Bani was prevelent during that time.
2. Parchian Quote a verse from Ram Avtar and 33 Svaiyey.
3. Parchian also mention presence of Zafarnama with Hikayats.
4. Parchian also include words like Bhagauti Sri Kaal etc.
5. Parchian also not include Peer Buddhu Shah in Battle of Bhangani, which seems to be Guru Gobind Singh haven't mentioned Peer Buddhu Shah due to Some special reason which should be get research by Historians.

Proofs in Parchian Sevadas Kian about Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions

Gurbilas Patshahi 10 - Koer Singh Kalal(1751)

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The First ever authentic History book which mentions Gurship of Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Gobind Singh, was written 43 years after the Death of Guru Gobind Singh, includes the direct names of Ccompositions of Guru Gobind Singh, the same compositions that are found in the present Dasam Granth. The most detailed History of Guru Gobind Singh is mentioned in this Book.

Key Facts regarding history of Dasam Guru's Compositions are:

1. Gurbilas mentions Krishna Charitar was written in Paonta Sahib, including Bisan Charitars.
2. Gurbilas Mentions Bachitar Natak granth was writrten By Guru Gobind Singh at anandpur
3. Gurbilas Mention that Chandi Di Vaar was written by Guru Gobind Singh.
4. Gurbilas mention that Jaap Sahib, Akal Ustati was written by Guru Gobind Singh.
5. It also mentions that all 11 Hikayats were written by Guru Gobind Singh and source of these persian tales are Charitropakhyan.

It is believed that he must collecrt this all material for more then 5 years which give us lighten that Compositions of Guru Gobind Singh was available before 1940. As verses mentioned in Sri Gur Sobha(1711) and Parchian Sevadas(1741), which gives us strong belief about it's Creation.

Proofs in Gurbilas Patshahi 10 about Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions

BansavaliNama Dasan Patshahi Ka - Kesar Singh Chibber (1769)

Proofs in Bansavalinama about Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions

Sri Guru Mahima Parkash - Sarup Chand Bhalla (1776)

Guru Mahima Parkash contains :

1. All Bachitar Natak History.
2. 404 Charitar was written by Guru Gobind Singh.
3. Chaubis Avtar was written by Guru Gobind Singh.

Proofs in Sri Guru Mahima Parkash about Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions

Guru Kian Sakhian - Svaroop Singh Kausish (1790)

The most referred book by any historian is Guru Ki Sakhian, which is too followed during Making of Nanakshahi Calendar.The books gave us so many versions about Compositions of Guru Gobind Singh. After Studying we get following facts.

1. Guru Kian Sakhian says that Bachitar Natak was written by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur.
2. Sakhian mentions about writing Krishna Avtar which was written by Gobind Singh at Paunta.
3. Sakhian quotes various portions of 33 Swaiyey.
4. Sakhian quotes various terminology of Guru Gobind SIngh like Mahakaal, Chandi etc.

Proofs in Guru Kian Sakhian about Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions

Gurbilas Patshahi 10 - Giani Sukkha Singh (1797)

Proofs in Gurbilas Sukkha Singh about Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions

19th Century

Sketch of Sikhs - JB Malcolm (1812)

Twarikh Guru Khalsa - Giani Gian Singh

Gurpartap Suraj Granth - Kavi Santokh Singh

Some Anti Dasam People Comments on Dasam Granth History

• A Sikh Scholar, Daljeet Singh, commented in his book, Dasam Granth - It's History that Contemporary Historians of the period of Guru Gobind SIngh like Senapat, Bhai Nand Lal, Chaupa Singh, Sevadas, Koer Singh and Bhai Mani Singh make no mention of Dasam Granth or any such writing of that period which is totally wrong as all above historians quotes various Banis and lines of Various Banis of patshahi 10. (One can go through above references and images attached to it.)
• A Sikh Historian, Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, in a interview claims that there is no reference of Dasam Bani in Gurbilas Koer Singh, Gurbilas Sukkha Singh and Guru Kian Sakhian, which itself is a fake claim as all of three contains wide description of Guru Gobind Singh's Banis.

Some question too asked which was answered well by Sikh Scholars:

Did British Write Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions?

Acc. to Dr. Jasbir Singh Mann, British introduced Dasam Granth tostrip the Sikhs of the spirit of independence and warfare which is a baseless claim that without any hard historical evidence. If the British aimed at stripping the Sikhs of their military might theywould have rather wanted the Sikhs not to read and revere Sri Dasam Granth which clearly contains the Bir Ras banee. Sri Dasam Granth also has details of the wars which Guru GobindSingh Sahib fought, and elevated the weapons to the same level as the embodiment of AkalPurakh. Hence by giving a detailed description of weapons and their usage and warning theKhalsa of the moral challenges it might face, Sri Dasam Granth prepares the Khalsa forwarfare, both physically and mentally.^[1]

All Sources Before British Mention about Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions, which are mentioned above.

Did Nirmalas write Guru Gobind Singh's Compositions ?

Acc to Anti Dasam People, All banis were written by Nirmalas after 1790, which is false according to above evidences. All Banis are Recorded in previous Histories from 1711 ownwards.

First Anti Dasam Compaign Said that, Nirmala priest Atma Ram of Calcutta worked with Mahants at Patna to create, compile and promote this Gurmukhi Granth titled “Dasmi Patshahi Ka Granth” in Devnagri to which Harpal Singh Pannu Replied In the numerous texts of the 19th century there is no mention of any Atma Ram working withany Mahant at Patna. One important 19th century text is Sri Gur Panth Prakash, the main Sikhtext of this period, which was written by Rattan Singh Bhangu a descendent of Bhai MehtabSingh Bhangu (who beheaded Massa Ranghar). There is no mention of any Atma Ram in thisimportant source of Sikh history. The Granthi of Patna Sahib, Baba Sumer Singh makes nomention of any Nirmala priest in his book.After Sri Dasam Granth was written it was then also transcribed in different languagesincluding Persian, Urdu and Devnagri. There is one copy of Sri Dasam Granth kept in theBritish Library that was written in Devnagri in the 19th century, over 100 years after thecreation of Sri Dasam Granth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. There is however a mention of anAtma Ram in Malcolm’s ‘Sketch of the Sikhs’, who helped in deciphering the meaning of SriGuru Granth Sahib and other works for Malcolm (see p.9). And it appears that the same personhelped Malcolm understand the Indian judicial system (see p.128). There is no mention of anyGranth created by Atma Ram in this book and there is no mention of any Atma Ram workingwith Mahants from Patna.

References

1. ^ Some Facts About Dasam Granth