SikhiWiki:Today's featured article/April 3, 2009
Dasam Granth contains 1428 pages and is the collection of the writings by the 10th "Patshah", Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji. It starts with his Jaap Sahib, the Akal Ustat or praise of the Creator and the Bachitar Natak or "Wonderful Drama", which gives an account of the Guru's parentage, his divine mission, the battles fought, etc.
Then come three abridged translations of the Devi Mahatamya, an episode in the Markandeya Puran, in praise of Durga the Goddess of war (Chandi Chritras: Chandi Chritra I, Chandi Chritra II, Chandi Ki Var).
Then follows the Gyan Parbodh, or awakening of knowledge; Chobis Avatar - accounts of twenty-four incarnations of the Vishnu, according to the Hindus, and Brahmavatar and Rudravtar, selected because of their warlike character; the Shabad Hazare; quatrains called Sawaiyas, which are religious hymns in praise of God and reprobation of idolatry and hypocrisy; the Khalsa Mahima, or words in praise of the Khalsa.
The final section contains, Shastar Nam Mala, a list of offensive and defensive weapons used in the Guru's time, with special reference to the attributes of the Creator; the Charitropakhyan, or tales illustrating the qualities of people, but principally the deceit and tricks of women; the Kabiovach Bainti Chaupai will "absolve the suffering, pain or fear of the person, who will even once recite this Bani"; the Zafarnama, containing the tenth Guru's epistle to the Emperor Aurangzeb; and Hikayats, several metrical tales in the Persian language. .....More
