The Sikh 'Ardaas,' or supplication, is a prayer seeking divine grace and blessing for the community as well as for the supplicant.It is performed either as an accompaniment to important collective Gurudwara functions or during personal 'Nitnem' practice of the 'Gursikh.' The 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh composed the initial part of the Ardaas, and Sikh scholars and priests added the remaining parts, as per custom and liturgy. The opening stanza of the Ardaas is from the composition 'War Sri Bhagauti Ji Ki' scripted by the Guru. 'Bhagauti' implies the dynamic power of God symbolized by the Sword that vanquishes evil in this world.The Ardaas invokes the Sikh Gurus and the embodiment of their guiding spirit, the holy Guru Granth Sahib, as well as the deeds of valor and sacrifice of millions of Sikhs who chose death over forced conversions under the Mughal rule. It inspires reverence, courage, and faith in the community by paying homage to our brave and proud tradition.It is a part of the daily ritual of god-loving Sikhs, and understanding its essence is our beholden duty.

Contains 125 questions about Sikh religion. This book also features quotations from Guru Granth Sahib.

Home of the Beloved by Jessi Kaur is a must read for those who wish to get acquainted with the spiritual concepts enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Holy Scripture. Sound principles like commonality of the human race and respect and dignity for all, and simple values like integrity, compassion, patience, altruism expounded in Home of the Beloved have the power to transform our life. Home of the Beloved is a labor of love in which Jessi Kaur delves deep into Gurbani to show a powerful and Grace - filled way to bring inner harmony and sarbat da bhala (well - being of all) in the world.For more than thirty years Jessi Kaur has traveled extensively to share the universal teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Her vast body of work - articles, seminars, lectures, TV Shows, books - has focused on the message of Ik Onkar - One Creator, One Manifested Universe.

In 1812, Sir John Malcolm, a Lieutenant General in the British Army wrote A Sketch of the Sikhs , commonly believed to be the first account of the Sikhs written by a non-Sikh. In truth, soldiers, travellers, diplomats, missionaries and scholars had provided accounts for many years before. Drawing on this difficult-to-access material, the editors of this volume have compiled a unique source that offers a fascinating insight into the early developments in Sikh history. From the first ever written accounts of the Sikhs by Persian chroniclers of the Moghul Emperor to the travel diary of an Englishwoman, this volume contains material invaluable to those studying the evolution of the Sikh religion as well as to those interested in learning more about this major religion. It also provides an unparalleled look into the growth and solidification of the religious practices of Sikhs. At a time when the misunderstanding of the Sikh religion and those who practise it has reached new and deadly heights, this volume hopes to introduce a wider audience to the roots of its culture. For more detailed information, including examples of illustrations, and selected extracts, go to www.sicques.com

The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies innovatively combines the ways in which scholars from fields as diverse as philosophy, psychology, religious studies, literary studies, history, sociology, anthropology, political science, and economics have integrated the study of Sikhism within a wide range of critical and postcolonial perspectives on the nature of religion, violence, gender, ethno-nationalism, and revisionist historiography. A number of essays within this collection also provide a more practical dimension, written by artists and practitioners of the tradition. The handbook is divided into eight thematic sections that explore different 'expressions' of Sikhism. Historical, literary, ideological, institutional, and artistic expressions are considered in turn, followed by discussion of Sikhs in the Diaspora, and of caste and gender in the Panth. Each section begins with an essay by a prominent scholar in the field, providing an overview of the topic. Further essays provide detail and further treat the fluid, multivocal nature of both the Sikh past and the present. The handbook concludes with a section considering future directions in Sikh Studies.