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Recommended Reading

The Sikh Times Top Ten - Sikh Scriptures

There is no good substitute for reading the Sikh scriptures in the original 1430-page single-volume format, also known as a bir, consisting of poetry written in several now-antiquated languages of the Indian subcontinent using the Gurmukhi script.

However, given the difficulty of learning new scripts and languages and that the original format is not easily obtainable by the lay person, the following English translations are the best route to developing familiarity with the writings of the Sikh Gurus and other spirituals, as contained in the Adi Granth and the Dasam Granth, the primary and secondary Sikh scriptures respectively.

Translations of Selected Portions

It is recommended that initial explorations of the Sikh scriptures start with the following competent English translations of thoughtfully selected hymns.

  1. McLEOD, W.H., Textual Sources for the Study of Sikhism (Chicago: University Of Chicago Press); October 15, 1990; 176 pages
    Includes translations of the ardas (daily petition-prayer), the major historical rahit maryadas (Sikh codes of conduct) as well as selections from the Adi Granth and the Dasam Granth.

  2. SINGH, Khushwant, Japjee: Sikh Morning Prayer (New Delhi: Picus Books); 1999; 173 pages
    This lavishly produced book includes a short introduction to Sikhism and a brief biography of Guru Nanak, Sikhism's founder and author of Japjee, widely regarded as the essence of the Adi Granth. The translation format consists of the original text in Gurmukhi, a transliteration in Devnagri/Hindi, and finally a translation in English.

  3. SINGH, Trilochan, et al., Selections from the Sacred Writings of the Sikhs (London: George Allen & Unwin); 1960; 288 pages
    Commissioned by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (U.N.E.S.C.O.), under the direction of India's then-vice president S. Radhakrishnan, with translation services provided by Jodh Singh, Kapur Singh, Bawa Harkishen Singh, and Khushwant Singh under the leadership of Trilochan Singh.

  4. SEKHON, Sant Singh, Unique Drama: Translation of Benati Chaupai, Bachitra Natak and Akal Ustati (Chandigarh: Guru Gobind Singh Foundation); 1968
    Translation of portions of the Dasam Granth.

  5. SHACKLE, Christopher and Arvind-pal Singh Mandair, Teachings of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures (Routledge); December 31, 2005; 224 pages
    This lavishly produced book includes a short introduction to Sikhism and a brief biography of Guru Nanak, Sikhism's founder and author of Japjee, widely regarded as the essence of the Adi Granth. The translation format consists of the original text in Gurmukhi, a transliteration in Devnagri/Hindi, and finally a translation in English.

  6. SINGH, Nikky-Guninder Kaur, The Name of My Beloved: Verses of the Sikh Gurus (HarperCollins Publishers); November, 1995; 251 pages
    Contains modern translations of many of the most revered sections of the Adi Granth and the Dasam Granth.

Complete Translations

Advanced explorations requiring access to a complete translation of the primary Sikh scripture, the Adi Granth, may consult the following four works, listed here in chronological order of publication. There is, as yet, no complete translation of the Dasam Granth. The quality of translations found here is decidedly inferior to that of the works listed above under "Translations of Selected Portions." Click here for a detailed comparative analysis of the four complete translations listed below.

  1. SINGH, Gopal, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Four Volumes, (Delhi: Gurdas Kapur & Sons), 1960-1962, Republished by World Sikh University Press in 1978
    Pagination is only roughly consistent with the original 1430-page version.

  2. SINGH, Manmohan, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Eight Volumes, (Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee), 1969
    The translation format includes the original text in Gurmukhi, a translation in simple Punjabi/Gurmukhi, and a translation in English. Pagination is only roughly consistent with the original 1430-page version.

  3. TALIB, Gurbachan Singh, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Four Volumes, (Patiala: Punjabi University), 1984-1990
    Adds little to the previous two translations.

  4. CHAHIL, Pritam Singh, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Distributed in Both Single-Volume and Four-Volume Formats, (New Delhi: Pritam Singh Chahil), 1992
    The translation is presented in a three-column format consisting of the original text in Gurmukhi, a transliteration in Roman script, and a translation in English. Chahil was the publisher of the translation by Manmohan Singh and this is, therefore, a revised edition of the Manmohan Singh translation. Pagination is generally consistent with the original 1430-page version. Best so far.

There are several Punjabi/Gurmukhi translations, of which the following is considered the most authoritative.

  1. SINGH, Sahib, Sri Guru Granth Darpan, Ten Volumes, (Jalandhar: Raj Publishers), 1962-1964
    The undisputed classic work in Punjabi/Gurmukhi.

Scriptures in the Original

Those who wish to read the Sikh scriptures in their original languages (Sant Bhasha in case of the Adi Granth and Braj in case of the Dasam Granth) and script (Gurmukhi) can do no better than work through the following pre-requisite.

  1. SHACKLE, C., Introduction to the Sacred Language of the Sikhs (London: School of Oriental and African Studies, Univeristy of London), July, 1983, 207 pages
    This remarkably succint work simultaneously introduces readers to both the Gurmukhi script and Sant Bhasha, the language of the Adi Granth. Sadly, the book is currently out of print and hard to find. Hopefully, it will soon be reprinted.

Commentaries

Whereas most of the above-mentioned works also contain brief and/or scattered commentaries accompanying the translations, the following work of analysis in Punjabi/Gurmukhi is especially noteworthy.

  1. AMBALA, Bagh Singh, Dasam Granth Darpan (Faridabad, Haryana: Gurmat Prakashan), 2001, 168 pages
    This controversial analysis of the Dasam Granth challenges the commonly held belief that the Dasam Granth was authored by Guru Gobind Singh. The author was excommunicated for his efforts.

Kirtan

The primary Sikh scripture, the Adi Granth, consists of poetry set to music (ragas). Consequently, the full import of the hymns is delivered only via kirtan, which is how the Sikh Gurus delivered their message to the masses. Today, Dya Singh is perhaps the most universally accessible purveyor of kirtan.

  1. SINGH, Dya, Dya Singh-Along, 2003
    A unique presentation by Sikhism's de facto ambassador to the world. This release features Dya Singh's daughters more prominently than past works. Emblematic hymns from the Sikh scriptures have been rendered in the original Punjabi language set to catchy Western tunes. The highlight is a Gurmukhi alphabet song.