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.

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

This Unique Book Describes Thrilling Accounts Of The Author`S Several Himalayan Climbs, Amazing Incidents, Unbelievable Happenings In Life, Divine Experiences Gaining Strength And Confidence, And Miraculous Survivals Through The Unshakeable Faith In The Divine Power Of Ardaas.

This book examines three closely related questions in the process of canon formation in the Sikh tradition: how the text of the Adi Granth came into being, the meaning of gurbani, and how the Adi Granth became the Guru Granth Sahib. The censure of scholarly research on the Adi Granth was closely related to the complex political situation of Punjab and brought the whole issue of academic freedom into sharper focus. This book addresses some of these issues from an academic perspective. The Adi Granth, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, means ‘first religious book’ (from the word ‘adi’ which means ‘first’ and ‘granth’ which means ‘religious book’). Sikhs normally refer to the Adi Granth as the Guru Granth Sahib to indicate a confession of faith in the scripture as Guru. The contents of the Adi Granth are commonly known as bani (utterance) or gurbani (the utterance of the Guru). The transcendental origin (or ontological status) of the hymns of the Adi Granth is termed dhur ki bani (utterance from the beginning). This particular understanding of revelation is based upon the doctrine of the sabad, or divine word, defined by Guru Nanak and the succeeding Gurus. This book also explores the revelation of the bani and its verbal expression, devotional music in the Sikh tradition, the role of the scripture in Sikh ceremonies, and the hymns of Guru Nanak and Guru Arjan.