Frequently asked Questions regarding the book "Sri Guru Granth Sahjib Jee Dee Bani de Adhar te Dasam Granth dee Vichar."

Question: Your book asserts that the tenth Guru did not write any Bani. Can you tell us, as to which five banis, did Guru Gobind Singh recite while preparing khande di pahul on the Vaisakhi day of 1699?

Answer: Giani Gurbaksh Singh Gulshan an eminent scholar has stated in his book, 'Darpan Sikh Maryada' that there is no historical evidence or 'Rehat Nama' which indicates the Bani or banis recited by Guru Gobind Singh. I will elucidate further.

• Guru Gobind Singh did not write the book that is now called "Dasam Granth", nor was it compiled under his guidance. An essay giving historical evidence, 'Dasam Granth, its history by Daljeet Singh' is available on website Dasam Granth, page2 of google.com and is worth a study.
• The Question of authorship of Dasam Granth has been in dispute from the very beginning.
• The tenth Guru of the Sikhs left this world in the year 1708 AD. According to some scholars of Sikh history, Bhai Mani Singh arranged to collect the supposedly handwritten compositions of the tenth Guru from the homes of Sikhs 13 to 17 years later in the years variously described as 1721 or 1725 AD. Bhai Mani Singh is said to have sent the writings to Mata Sundri.
• These handwritten manuscripts were bound and entitled the "Bachitar Natak" which translates as "the Strange Drama." played by gods and goddesses throughout the ages according to Vedic scriptures. Years later these handwritten manuscripts were printed and renamed "Dasam Granth", giving the impression that they were the personal writings of the tenth Guru himself.
• The title name of Dasam Granth has been changing with passage of time. Now the printed version is named Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji. This name is quite similar to the name "Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji". The change in name is a fraudulent move by the opponents of Sikh faith to inculcate the false belief that Dasam Granth contained writings of the tenth Guru.
• For a period of two years from 2005 to 2007 the author studied each of the twelve compositions of Dasam Granth. The compositions begin with salutation to gods and goddesses of Vedic (Hindu faith).
• It is noted that the compositions begin with Vedic form of eulogizing the Vedic gods and goddesses. This is followed by salutation of Sikh faith, 'Ik Onkar Wageguru Ji Ki Fateh'. The writer obviously is a devotee of Vedic gods and goddesses.
• The names of gods and goddesses written in the compositions include Kal, Mahakal, Kali, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and their earthly Avatars such as Shri Ram Chandra and Shri Krishna. These are gods and goddesses of Vedic/Hindu faith.
• As an example of addressing the goddess Bhagauti in one of the compositions the devotee exalts

• In another composition of Dasam Granth ', Var Sri Bhagauti Ji Ki,'the composer names her as Durga. It is to be noted that hundreds of names have been given to the same Shakti in Vedic scriptures. The worship of gods, goddesses, and weapons is endorsed in the Vedic thought and is known as Shakti Pooja. Every devotee worships his own chosen god to seek his blessings.
• Each composition has been examined and it is found that every composition is the creation of poets of Vedic/Hindu faith.

Question: Did the codification of the Sikh Rehat Maryada end the controversy on the authorship of the Dasam Granth?

Answer: The controversy regarding authorship of the compositions continued after the enforcement of Sikh Rehat Maryada. Sikhs representing various Sikh Organizations formulated and enforced the "Sikh Rehat Maryada" in the mistaken belief that the tenth Guru had uttered banis included in Dasam Granth. It has now been established that the decisions taken by this congregation are not in consonance with the teachings of ten Sikh Gurus, enshrined in "Sri Guru Granth Sahib", the undisputed Guru of the Sikhs. These decisions are therefore not sacred and are open to Question. The Sikh scholars continued their research and write books and arrange seminars in defiance of the Sikh Rehat Maryada. Some of the findings of scholars are as under

• The compositions like Bachhiter Natak and Chaubees Avtaar are translations of Vedic literature.
• Most compositions are written in Braj Bhasha. The residence of these poets has been traced to Rajasthan. The names of some poets like Ram, Shyam and Gobind are given in the compositions that confirm that these poets were the authors of the compositions.
• A pantheon of Hindu Gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Kaal, Kaali, Mahakaal are deities of worship of the poets. (Gurbani forbids worship of Gods and Goddesses.)
• Some scholars are of the opinion that Jaap Sahib, Akal Ustat and� Sawaiye are written by the tenth Guru. Some of the scholars have said that a part of Akal Ustat is not in consonance with Gurbani and recommend that a portion of Akal Ustat should be expunged.
• In the Dasam Granth the Persian Hikayats that follow the Zaffar Nama form a part of the composition. Some scholars suggest that the Hikayats should be delinked from the Dasam Granth.
• Most scholars agree that the Triya Chitre enumerating the stories of prostitutes and women of low character are in such vulgar taste that they cannot be recited in the family or in the Sangat. Some of these compositions caste a slur on the character of Guru Gobind Singh Himself. Kabyo Bach Choupee is a part of this composition but remains a part of Sikh daily prayer.

The conflicting reasons and conclusions of studies carried out so far do not allow us to choose the right from the wrong. This is the reason for heated debates.

Question: Is there any other yardstick on the basis of which we can arrive at definite and indisputable conclusions regarding the authorship if Dasam Granth?

Answer: The short answer is yes.After going through the available studies the author opined that all Sikhs will agree to any conclusions drawn on the basis of the teachings of "Shri Guru Granth Sahib ". Gurbani Guru is rich in comparative study of Sikh religion and the Vedic faith. It is for this reason that first 50 pages of the book is a study of Gurbani preaching and the edicts of Gurbani on Vedic scriptures and their forms of worship. The whole book is only Gurbani Katha/Vichaar elucidating the edicts of Gurbani on the Vedic faith.

Gurbani preaches worship of One and only One God. Jyot Roop Akal Purkh the eternal Supreme Being. HE is the only God, Bhagwan, Allah of all humans. HE pervades the whole universe, is ever present in all creation. HE alone creates, sustains and destroys all creation by HIS attribute of Hukam. HE alone is eternal Akal Purkh. HE is a reality. HE can be seen and recognized.

Gurbani affirms that all Gods and Goddesses of Vedic faith are the creation of One and only One God, Ik Ekankar Akal Purkh and that all Gods and Goddesses of Vedic faith are mortal. None is eternal. Those who worship gods and goddesses continue to go into cycles of birth and death.

The author has given extracts from all the compositions of Dasam Granth.All compositions with the exception of Zafar Nama, begin with invocation of Gods and Goddesses like Bhagauti, and Kal.

Reciting these compositions as a form of daily Sikh prayer is worship of Gods and Goddesses much against the teachings of Gurbani.

Conclusions drawn in the book ibid are the edicts of Gurbani, which would be respected by Sikhs.

The author has considered historical evidence and other arguments of scholars but has relied only on the preaching of Gurbani.

Question. Is there any harm if the Sikhs continue to recite the Banis from Dasam Granth even though it may not be Bani of tenth Guru?

Answer: Sikh Gurus repeatedly affirm that Bani of Guru Granth Sahib is True, which is termed as Sachhi Bani.Gurbani says that all other Bani is Kacchi bani, uttered by Kachha unrealized writers. Recitation of Sachhi Bani teaches Gurmat to the mind. Kachhi Bani of the Vedas teaches Ved Mat.Gurbani forbids reciting of Kachhi Bani.(see Bani 'Anand' in SGGS)

The ten Sikh Gurus preached Sikh tenets, which are entirely opposed to Vedic faith. Reciting and singing of Kachhi Bani from Dasam Granth by Sikhs has resulted in backdoor entry of Vedic faith in the Sikhs minds.

Guru Nanak was Hindu by birth. Guru Nanak and ten Sikh Gurus changed conditioned thought of Hindus ingrained in them from birth over a period of thousands of years. Many Hindus from all over India were converted to Sikhism by the power and truth of the Word Gurbani. The teachings of ten Sikh Gurus over a period of 250 years and conversion of Hindus to Sikh faith, has been surreptitiously back rolled by Dasam Granth in the last 150 years. Sikhs are thus being converted again to the faith that was discarded during the period of Sikh Gurus. Sikhs can halt this degradation of faith if they revert to complete dependence on "Sri Guru Granth Sahib", for spiritual guidance and humanistic social interaction. Vedic caste system was eliminated by the Sikh Gurus.

God Realization and deliverance from the cycle of birth and death can only be achieved by following the teachings of Gurbani, singing the praises of Satguru and ParBrahm, Akal Purkh.Gurbani preaches meditation on and praise of One and only One God defined in Mool Mantra of the Holy Scripture.

Those who accepted the teachings of the Sikh Gurus enshrined in Gurbani were required to give up their previous beliefs prior to initiation into the Sikh Faith. Gurbani says that those who convert to the Sikh religion are fortunate.

Those who do not convert to Sikhism are always welcome in Sikh congregations as brothers.The conversion must be voluntary and based on a true understanding and belief in the religious philosophy of the Sikhs.

The acceptance of Dasam Granth as a composition of the tenth Guru implies that Guru Gobind Singh was a devotee of the numerous gods and goddesses of the Hindu/ Vedic faith, which is opposed to the teachings of all Sikh Gurus, from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. Guru Gobind Singh had passed on successorship to SGGS and became a disciple of SGGS. Dasam Granth is a surreptitious attempt to separate Guru Gobind Singh from the other Sikh Gurus, and even from" Sri Guru Granth Sahib" .

I examined the Dasam Granth vis-�-vis the teachings of SGGS in detail.On the basis of this gold standard, it is proven beyond dispute that Dasam Granth is the creation of Hindu poets of Vedic following.The names of Sikh Gurus were included in the compositions for the sole purpose of confusing the Sikhs. Dasam Granth lowers the personality of Sikh Gurus to the level or even below the level of Gods and Godesses. This has been explained in the book by quotes from Gurbani.

The Rehat Maryada, formulated by the Sikh leaders under the mistaken belief that Dasam Granth was Guru Gobind Singh's personal creation, is not sacrosanct.

The present Rehat Maryada must be changed to include Banis from Shri Guru Granth Sahib only. Gurbani delineates the Sikh Rahet Maryada.

Even in the time of the Sikh Gurus, the Brahmin vehemently opposed Sikh philosophy. Hindus have for long been trying to prove that Sikhs are a branch of Vedic faith. Shri Guru Granth Sahib has so far saved the Sikhs. Wrongful acceptance of the Vedic Dasam Granth as Gurbani has brought us to the verge of merging with the Hindu faith.If the Sikhs do not wake up to the reality of Dasam Granth at the earliest, then we can surmise that the foreboding of some scholars that their will be no Sikh in the next thirty to fifty years may come true. Ninety percent of Sikhs in villages of Punjab are today without Keshas and beard and have lost their Sikh identity. Dasam Granth is negating the present Parchar by Sikh organizations.

I request Sikh scholars to examine for themselves the evidence as presented in the 177-paged book entitled Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji di Bani dey Adhar te Dasam Granth di Vichar by Dr. Gurmukh Singh. This will enable us to initiate a meaningful discussion on this subject of paramount importance. Our Hindu brethren are also welcome to join the discussion. We are only discussing facts in SGGS and Dasam Granth without malice.