Glimpse of the oldest available beerh of Sri Dasam Granth from 1698 AD

Contents from the rare handwritten beerh of Sri Dasam Granth compiled in 1755 Bikrami (1698 A.D.), one year before the formation of Khalsa. The date when this historic beerh was compiled is given in the introductory paragraph. This beerh is preserved at Takhat Sri Patna Sahib. It is noteworthy that Guru Gobind Singh Sahib’s bani "Zafarnamah" which was written in 1704 A.D., six years after this beerh was compiled, does not feature in this beerh. Also noteworthy is the name of the granth that appears on the top, “Patshah Dasven Ju Ka Granth” (The Granth of the Tenth Master).

The year mentioned on this handwritten beerh is also significant because Bhai Kesar Singh Chibber too in Bansavalinama records that Guru Gobind Singh Sahib had himself compiled the Granth in 1755 Bikrami (1698 A.D.), and this Chhota Granth^[1] was very dear to him. Evidently this is one of the oldest beerhs which Guru Sahib himself compiled before the formation of the Khalsa. Later compilations of the complete banees of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib is attributed to Bhai Mani Singh.

ਛੋਟਾ ਗਰੰਥ ਜੀ ਜਨਮੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦਸਵੇਂ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਕੇ ਧਾਮ।
ਸੰਮਤ ਸਤਾਰਾਂ ਸੈ ਪਚਵੰਜਾ, ਬਹੁਤ ਖਿਡਾਵੇ ਲਿਖਾਰੇ ਨਾਮ।
ਸਾਹਿਬ ਨੂੰ ਸੀ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਹਥੀਂ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਖਿਡਾਇਆ।

ਸਿਖਾਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਅਰਦਾਸ, 'ਜੀ ਅਗਲੇ (ਭਾਵ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ) ਨਾਲਿ ਚਾਹੀਏ ਰਲਾਇਆ'।
ਬਚਨ ਕੀਤਾ, 'ਗਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਹੈ ਉਹ, ਏਹ ਅਸਾਡੀ ਖੇਡ ਹੈ।'
ਨਾਲਿ ਨ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ ਆਹਾ ਪਿਆਰਾ, ਕਉਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਭੇਦ।

ਸੋ ਦੋਨੋ ਗਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰ ਕਿਰ ਜਾਨੋ।

ਵਡਾ ਹੈ ਟਿਕਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਟਕੇ ਪੋਥੀਆਂ ਪੁਤਰ ਪੋਤਰੇ ਕਿਰ ਪਛਾਨੋ

(ਬੰਸਾਵਲੀਨਾਮਾ, ਭਾਈ ਕੇਸਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਛਿੱਬਰ)

[1] Kesar Singh Chibber calls the granth as Chotta Granth (small granth) in relation to the status of Sri Guru Granth Sahib

patna-sahib-beerh

The first paragraph is transcribed below:

ੴਸ੍ਰੀਵਾਹਗੁਰੂਜੀਕੀਫਤਿਹ

ਸ੍ਰੀਭਗਉਤੀਜੂਸਹਾਇ

ਤਤਕਰਾ ਸੁਚੇਪੱਤ੍ਰਸ੍ਰੀਗ੍ਰਿੰਥਜੂਕਾ

ਬਾਣੀ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹਦਸਵੇਂਜੂਕੇਗ੍ਰਿੰਥਕਾ

ਸੰਬਤ 1755.ਮਿਤੀਅਸਾੜਬਦੀ1

ਕੋਗ੍ਰਿੰਥਲਿਖਿਆ: ਤਵਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ

ਸ੍ਰੀਮੁਖਵਾਕਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੀ10

Picture Courtesy: Sant Sipahi Magazine

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vijaydeep Singh - There is one more such copy

|2009-07-07 11:03:51

Gurfateh

As per the recent talk with Jathedar Patna Sahib, there is another similar copy with the SGPC, after the personal meeting with the Jathedar Ji, more info will be sent. This only proves that in Punjab also, we had copies of this text.

We need to do research to find who was the scribe, most probably Baba Binod Singh Ji.

If we see the index above we find two more proof of this work by the Tenth Master during Samvat 1755 (1698 AD). Like Zafarnama was written after this, so were "Mitar Piare Nu" and "Jagat Jot Japai Nis Basur.."

So in the index if we see page number 37, we find 32 Svayyes and not 33 as in present form. And on page 318, we find 9 Sabads in Shabad Patshahi Dasvi while at present we have 10.

So it appears that not only Zafarnama but two more compositions written after 1698 AD are also missing in this volume as they came into existence after this volume was complied.

More research is needed for this.

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Prof. Balwinder Singh - Sri Dasam Granth Sahib

|2009-08-19 10:14:39

There is one hand written copy of Sri Dasam Granth Sahib at Gurudwara Sahib at Kapurgarh village near Malerkotla.Four handwritten birs of Guru Granth Sahib Ji are also there.It is for the information of all sangat.

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