Sri Guru Granth Sahib (A Descriptive Bibliography of Punjabi Manuscripts)(An Old and Rare Book)

Prologue

The main aim and function of Punjabi Literary Studies Department is to work for the development of Punjabi Literature and Language by providing a scholastic vision of Punjabi Literature through it’s prestigious research work. The prime concern of this department is to produce reference books, such as dictionaries of various languages, vocations of Punjabi people belonging to different castes, classes and art of living, producing books on history of punjabi literature, punjabi literary criticism, translation of various classics of other languages into Punjabi, monographs of eminent scholars and writers and bringing out esteemed research journal under the title Khoj Patrika. In the field of research. Punjabi Literary Studies Department has tried its hand on all aspects of Punjabi Literal) genres like poetry, plays, stories, novels. biographies, pen-sketches, travels and editing of great scholarly works. Thus the department has played the major role in providing the source material for the study of Punjabi Literature.

This volume is being brought out in the series of publications by Punjabi University to commemorate Four Hundredth Parkash Utsav celebration of Guru Granth Sahib. It aims to compile a bibliography of Punjabi manuscripts of Guru Granth Sahib and various anthologies from the holy book and attempts to inform scholars and researchers, who are not well conversant with Punjabi language, the rich store of literature available in the form of manuscripts in Gurmukhi script.

Textual study of the sikh scripture lies embodied only in 15th to 18th century, Punjabi manuscript literature as Sikh Gurus recorded their spiritual experiences and teachings in Punjabi language. Keeping in view the resumed interest by scholars around the world in the study of the origin and making of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, there is urgent need to bring to the notice of scholars engaged in objective and subjective study of Sri Guru Granth Sahib; the vast source material on the subject lying in various libraries.

The bibliography by and large consists of manuscripts dealing with full text of Guru Granth Sahib, Japuji and its commentry, Rahiras, Panj Granthi, Asa di var, Sukhrnani Sahib and various other anthologies of the holy sikh scripture available in university libraries and other libraries.

The book has got three chapters. Chapter 1 provides detailed account of manuscripts of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Chapter 2 includes manuscripts relating to Japuji Sahib and commentary on Japuji Sahib by various authors. Chapter 3 includes anthology of hymns from Guru Granth Sahib such as Panj Granthi, Gurbani Sangrahi, Rahiras, Asa di var, Sukhmani etc. Related entries have been arranged in alphabetical order of titles under various headings and subheadings in respective chapters.

It would be pertinent to mention here that the names of titles of entries have been adopted as available in the records of the respective libraries for correct location. Use of titles such as Adi Granth, Adi Guru Granth Sahib JI and Adi Sri Guru Granth JI etc., ascribed to various Birs of Sri Guru Granth Sahib should be considered in this context.

Each entry has got numerous information such as: Title (as available in manuscripts), name of author, compiler, size of manuscript, size of the writing, period of writing (if mentioned) and name of scribe (if mentioned).

Details such as number of folios, information about margin, colophon, rubrics, general condition of manuscript and binding etc. Information about other Gurbani and non Gurbani manuscripts included in the same binding has been highlighted.

For identification of a particular manuscript, beginning and concluding lines of the text have been written in transliterated form; and, Accession Number of manuscript in that library is given for location in the end of each entry.

For collection of details of manuscripts on Guru Granth Sahib and its various anthologies, the compiler visited Guru Nanak Dev University Library, Amritsar; Punjab University Library, Chandigarh; Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh; Punjabi University Library, Patiala; Central State Library, Patiala and Bhasha Vibhag Library, Patiala.

To make it exhaustive some bibliographies such as ‘Punjabi Hathlikhtan di Suchi’ by Jit Singh Sital, ‘A Catalogue of Punjabi and Urdu manuscripts in the Sikh History Research Department uptill March 31, 1963’ by Kirpal Singh, ‘A Bibliography of Pan jab’ by Or. Ganda Singh, ‘Catalogue of the Punjabi and Sindhi Manuscripts in the India Office Library’, compiled by C. Shakle and various other works such as ‘Babe Mohan dian Pothian’ by Gursharan Kaur Jaggi and’ Ahiapur Wall Pothi" by Prof. Pritam Singh, to name a few have been consulted by the author.

For transliteration of Punjabi words into the Roman script a table of letters of Punjabi Language is provided in the beginning of the text. A list of abbreviations used in the text has also been provided in the end.

A useful index covering names of authors, commentators, scribe and significant aspects relating to the subject has been provided in the preliminary pages.

Dr. Jasmer Singh, presently working as senior-most Deputy Librarian at Punjabi University, Patiala is a prolific writer and has four books and various articles to his credit. He has compiled various topical bibliographies and as such has long experience of compiling a bibliography. He has worked hard for successful completion of this project.

I am thankful to Dr. Jodh Singh, Professor of Sikhism and presently Editor-in-chief, Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Punjabi University, Patiala for his scholarly advice. I am equally beholden to Dr. Darshan Singh, Professor of Sikh ism and Head, Publication Bureau of Punjabi University, Patiala for having taken personal interest in the publication of this volume. Shri Prem Singh of Punjabi University Library, Patiala has also significantly contributed for this work. It is hoped that those interested in understanding the Sikh theology and religious literature will be benefited from this work.

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