the relationship between sri dasam granth and bachitra natak granth

8/8/2019 The Relationship Between Sri Dasam Granth and Bachitra Natak Granth

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The Relationship between Sri Dasam Granth and Bachitra Natak Granth

Gurinder Singh Mann

Sant Siphai, July 2010

The Sri Dasam Granth was written by the tenth preceptor, Guru Gobind Singh

which in recent times has seen much interest. The compositions within the

Granth of Guru Gobind Singh or Sri Dasam Granth were written between 1680

and 1705 in places like Anandpur and Paonta Sahib. The internal dating within

the compositions of Sri Dasam Granth refers to the locations and dates of

compilation.1 We are lucky to have this information, as we have no internal

parameters within the Guru Granth Sahib as to when the banis were written.

However recently there have been some misunderstandings on the various

names of Sri Dasam Granth and I wanted to correct some of these based on

manuscript evidence and analysis of Sikh literature. One of these includes the

name of Sri Dasam Granth and its relationship to the Bachitra Natak. In order to

do this it is imperative to look at the compositions which form the published

version of the Sri Dasam Granth.2 This includes the following:

1. Jaap

2. Akal Ustat

3. Bachitra Natak

4. Chandi Charitra I

5. Chandi Charitra II

6. Chandi Di Var

7. Gyan Prabodh

8. Chaubis Avtar

9. Up Avtar

10.Shabad Hazare

11.Swaiye

12.Khalsa Mehma

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13.Shastra Nam Mala

14.Charitropakhyan

15.Zafarnama, Hikayats

There are several compositions, which are referenced as being part of the

Bachitra Natak Granth. We need to consider what is the Bachitra Natak Granth?

We find that it is a large composition within the Granth, containing the Apni Katha

(My autobiography). This is an account by Guru Gobind Singh explaining his

lineage and vivid accounts of his battles3. This composition is written in the first

person, so therefore a Kavior poet could not be the author. This composition

was completed prior to the creation of the Khalsa, as it is not cited within it.

The compositions that are referenced as Bachitra Natak Granth are as follows:

1. Apni Katha

2. Chandi Charitra I

3. Chandi Charitra II

4. Chaubis Avatar

5. Brahma Avatar

6. Rudra Avatar

It is quite clear that the compositions of Bachitra Natak Granth follow a specific

pattern. The Apni Katha section refers to the various Avatars that came to the

earth; they were selfish and did not worshipAkal Purakh. The description of the

Avatars is reinterpreted to bring it in line with Sikh thought and philosophy. The

descriptions of Chandi, Krishna, Ram and the other Avatars that follow Apni

Katha were written to put them in their proper context. For example the

composition Krishna Avatarnarrates the stories of Krishna and is also critical of

him for example Kharag Singh defeats Krishna. The character of Kharag Singh is

the epitome of the Khalsa and is a literary proto-type of the Khalsa. The heroic



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qualities of Chandi are promoted so the Hindu masses of the time could realise

there was only one recourse, that of Dharam Yudh or war of righteousness,

against the Mughal regime. This campaign could only be undertaken by inspiring

the common man with the heroic deeds of the Avatars and demoting the others

aspects which were not in unison with Sikh thought and idolism.

From these compositions it may give the appearance that the Bachitra

Natakis a separate Granth. It is separate in a sense that the above compositions

form the history and narration of the Avatars. However there is no original Pothi

or manuscript written during the Guru period which bears the title Bachitra Natak

Granth. There is however the title ofDasven Patshah Ju Ka Granth or Granth of

the Tenth Master which appears on of the original manuscripts of the Sri Dasam

Granth.4 So the Bachitra Natak Granth is part of Sri Dasam Granth but the Sri

Dasam Granth is not the Bachitra Natak Granth. It appears the confusion arise

due to the fact that many compositions cite the words Bachitra Natak Likhyate

within the text but an examination of the different compositions shows that there

is more to Sri Dasam Granth than Bachitra Natak.5

It is also pertinent to consider that the various names given to the Sri

Dasam Granth is similar to Guru Granth Sahib. The Bachitra Natak Granth,

Dasven Patshah ka Granth, Dasam Granth and Dasam Guru Granth and

Pothi

Sahib, Adi Granth and Guru Granth Sahib mean the same scripture. Interestingly

some 18th Century Dasam Granth recensions bear the title of Granth ji, that was

a name that given to Guru Granth Sahib recensions as well. This is because the

Sri Dasam Granth was seen as complimentary to the Guru Granth Sahib.

If we look at the historical sources in the 18th Century we see that the

composition Bachitra Natakis cited in many if not all the pieces of literature of the

time. This includes Gur Sobha Granth, (1701) by Kavi Sainapat whose work is

completely based around the battles of the Guru Gobind Singh mentioned in the

Bachitra Natak. In Koer Singhs, Gurbilas Patshai Dasvin, (1754), the author

quotes from the Bachitra Natak. In the Kesar Singh Chibbars Bansavlinama

Dasan Patshahian Ka, (1769) he quotes many times from the Bachitra Natakand



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other compositions and gives us valuable information on the status of the Sri

Dasam Granth.

The Rahitnamas mentions the compositions of Sri Dasam Granth

including the Bachitra Natak quoted within these codes of conduct. This

includes the 17th century, Chaupa Singh Rahitnama. Whilst in the later

Rahitnama of Bhai Desa Singh, the creation and compilation of the Sri Dasam

Granth is mentioned. The composition Bachitra Natak, is mentioned as follows,

Then I composed Bachitra Natak, in which I described the history of the Sodhi

Family6. Even the first English translation of the Bachitra Natakundertaken at

the end of the 18th Century by Dr Leyden states that this forms a larger part of the

Dasven Patshah Ka Granth.7

In each piece of literature mentioned, the compositions of Sri Dasam

Granth are referred to as being written by Guru Gobind Singh. In face of this

clear examination of the primary and first hand accounts of the Guru and the Sri

Dasam Granth, the Bachitra Natak fits in around the Avatars. The several

compositions which form the Bachitra Natak Granth were written to put the

composition Apni Katha in its proper place when recounting the tales of the

Avatars. IfApni Katha was not written it would not be clear why the Chaubis

Avatarand the tales of Chandi were written. In various parts of the translation

and transliteration of the Avatars the Guru makes explicit comments of how Sikh

theology fits in and around these compositions. That is why we see that some of

comments within Ram Avatarelevated for use in the Rahiras8.

In conclusion Bachitra Natak Granthis an early name of the compositions within

Sri Dasam Granth. The original name for the writings of Guru Gobind Singh

remains as it was during his life Dasven Patshah ka Granth.



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1 We know thatRam Avatarwas completed in 1698 as per the internal parameters within the Granth itself. The reference is

as follows: This Granth has been completed (and improved) in Vadi first in the month of Haar in the year 1755 Bikrami

(July 1698).2 The published version of Sri Dasam Granth was completed after the deliberations took place at Sri Akal Takht Sahib

confirming the authenticity of the works. This took place between 1895 and 1898. Their report was published by the Sodhak

Committee in 1898. Visit www.sridasamgranth.comfor the full report.3 Some writers had tried to claim that the creation of the Khalsa is not mentioned in theBachitra Natakand hence the

composition is flawed. This is because they have not considered the dating of the composition. Interestingly Kavi Sainapat

writing in 1711 who bases his whole Sri Gur Sobha Granth on theBachitra Natakfails to mention this pivotal moment.This does not show that his description is flawed on the contrary he must thought the creation of the Khalsa was an assumed

fact. Another alleged omission is that the martyrdom of Guru Arjan is not mentioned in theBachitra Natakhence it beingflawed. If we are to use this methodology we can ask why Bhai Gurdas whose work is considered the key to Gurbani did

no mention this fact in his Vars either. In both cases this omission does not diminish the importance of the work.4 On the Patna Sahib recension of Sri Dasam Granth dated 1698, the colophon tells us this information.5 Some manuscripts have the nameBachitra Natak Granth within the Tatkara but these are very rare.6 Rahitnama quoted in, Singh, Trilochan and Singh, Anurag,A brief account of Life and works of Guru Gobind Singh,

(2002), p 427 Folio 182. This text is kept at the British Library, held under the McKenzie Collection., Eur MSS Mack xl. I worked on

this manuscript between 2006 and 2008 and have made many observations on this important document. I intend to publishthese in the future.8 The concluding Swaiya andDohra fromRam Avatarare recited in theRahiraspath.

This article was published in the July issue ofSant Sipahi2010 but was written in 2009.

During the British period from 1800 onwards there was only one name for the writings of Guru Gobind

Singh, that wasDasam Patshah Ka Granth.

Gurinder Singh Mann is from Leicester, UK where he undertook his MA in South Asian Religions in2001. His thesis was the Role of the Dasam Granth in Khalsa. This work was one the first western

scholarly works on the Sikh scripture. He has regularly written for Sikh Panthic magazine, Sant Siphai. Hehas also undertaken lectures and presentations in the UK and the US.

Forthcoming: book on essays featured in Sant Sipahi and other rare material coming 2011.

The main book on the Granth of Guru Gobind Singh featuring essays, lectures and translations coming

soon.

Contact:

Email:[email protected]

Sikh heritage blog:www.sikhnugget.com

Also visit www.sridasamgranth.com for more articles, audio and video on the Granth of Guru Gobind

Singh.
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