Author: Surjit Singh Gandhi
Publisher: Singh Brothers
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 533
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8172053061
Description
This work is a comprehensive and analytical study of the life of Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. It is an objective account of his response to the contemporary spiritual, political, social and economic conditions, his contribution to metaphysics, social engineering and polity, his attitude towards Muslims as well as Hindu orthodoxy, his floating of the Order of Khalsa, a new model of man as well as of society, his providing of fresh insights and fresh stimuli to make the people dynamic, forward-looking and transcendental in their approach and out-look.
The author peruses the available primary sources and earnestly collects the facts, screens traditions, legends and myths regarding Guru’s life. He goes through the mythic poetic works of the contemporaries, especially those contained in Dasam Granth. His approach is that facts unfold the outer life while myths and legends reveal the state of consciousness. Therefore, to him, both are useful while constructing history, though he takes care that non-historical and imaginary facts do not affect his conclusions. Hence, the author successfully attempts to treat all the facts pertaining to the life of the Guru, as they took place.
Contents
IMPRIMIS
Heritage
Early Life in Bihar
At Anandpur
Paonta Period
The Battle of Bhangani
Return to Anandpur 1688
Emergence of the Khalsa
Alleged Worship of Goddess Durga
Onslaught of Hindu conservatism and Islamic Imperialism
The Guru’s Escape Towards Malwa
Damdama Period
>From Damdama to Agra
>From Agra to Nanded
Culmination and Beginning
A Multidimensional Personality
Guru Govind Singh’s Literary Activities
PART - II - GURU GOBIND SINGH’S VISION OF METAPHYSICS, POLITY AND SOCIAL IDEALS
God, Universe and Man
Sikh Polity
Sikh Social Ideals
Epilogue
Appendices
Bibliography
Index