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The author repeatedly eulogises Bhai Gurdas as the greatest
scholar because tradition recognises him an exponent of the Sikh
faith. Bhai Gurdas was the first to give a scholarly exposition
of Sikh tenets. In the second chapter the author calls him
"genius philosopher". The genius philosopher is a
creative thinker who propounds new interpretation in lucid
Punjabi. His expositions are explanations that could be easily
grasped by the common reader. Bhai Gurdas explains Hindu tenets,
mythology, and orthodox six-systems and the singular
contribution of the Gurus was to reinterpret the ancient Indian
culture in the then contemporary spoken dialects. He tried to
explain the Hindu mythical references and legends in simple
Punjabi. For the lay reader, Bhai Gurdas explains the term ‘vaheguru’
is derived from ‘Vishnu’, ‘Hari’, ‘Gobind’, and ‘Ram’.
But the advanced scholar will say that it signifies the mystic’s
state of ecstasy.
In the Sikh
tradition Bhai Gurdas’s Vaar is called the key to Sikh
scriptures. It is true for the explanation of simple meanings of
the verses for lay readers. His verses shed light on the Sikh
moral conduct (rahit mariyada) and the Sikh doctrines. He
composed these for indoctrinating the Sikh doctrines for
understanding the faith. His works are interpretative of the
Sikh canon. Thus, the kernel Sikh doctrines (hukam, haumai,
atma, et al.) are lucidly explained in his compositions.
In the fourth
chapter, the author claims that Bhai Gurdas contributed to
history. In the times of Guru Nanak, Indians had not developed a
historical sense. At that time, hagiographical literature (Purana,
Jataka stories, sakhis, bhaktamalas, etc.) was in
vogue. The Janamsakhi tradition is continuation of the
hagiographical genre. Bhai Gurdas’ compositions also come
under this category because he did not give a chronology of
events. Baba Budha, a close associate of Bhai Gurdas, saw the
Sikh movement from Guru Nanak to Guru Hargobind. Bhai Gurdas got
authentic information from him and gave detailed legendary
account of Guru Nanak. In the technical sense of the term, he
was not a historian but an expositor of the Sikh faith.
The seventh
chapter calls Bhai Gurdas an elucidator of Sikh faith. His
explanations are based on the verses of Guru Granth Sahib and
life events of the Gurus. Again, the author claims (eighth
chapter) that Bhai Gurdas was an exponent of the Sikh rahit
maryada. As a matter of fact, Guru Nanak was the pioneer of
Sikh rahit maryada and other Gurus continued enriching it
and it was finalised in Guru Gobind Singh’s period. Some
chronicles and written documents (rahitnamas) of
prominent Sikhs came into being. A non-Sikh scholar could
particularly welcome the book.
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THE
book under review is on Bhai Gurdas, scribe of Guru Granth Sahib.
It is an addition in Sikh literature, an exegetical work rendered
into English for the benefit of those who don’t know Punjabi. It
can be useful for the Sikhs living in foreign countries. The author
makes it clear that he banked upon two earlier English translations
of Bhai Gurdas’s Vaar.
