Bhai Swaroop Singh Kaushish's Guru Kian Saakhian- Tales of the Sikh Gurus

Guru Kian Saakhian by Bhai Swaroop Singh Kaushish is an important source on the lives of the Sikh Gurus, believed to be written on the basis of Bhatt Vahis in 1790 A.D. It comprises of 112 Sakhis related to the life-stories of Guru Hargobind Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh. It provides dates of the events which are very unique and in some cases the information has come to us for the first time.

The present work is an English translation of this important source book. Pal Singh Purewal, an established almanac expert has very laboriously checked the correctness of dates mentioned in it. His scholarly introduction with copious notes and references serves the purpose of corrective as well as to judge the veracity of the events.

Pritpal Singh Bindra, born in 1929 at Lahore, did post-graduation in teaching at Khalsa College, Amritsar. He moved to U.K. in 1960 after teaching a few schools in India. He taught in London for two years and thereafter, went into his own insurance business. He sold his business in 1983 and exclusively engaged himself in Sikh Studies. His works Thus Sayeth Gurbani, Charitro Pakhyaan and Kalaam-e- Goya Bhai Nand Lal have been well received. He has also more than 100 articles on Sikh Studies to his credit.

Pal Singh Purewal migrated to UK. in 1965, after a few years of teaching in Punjab. He worked for Texas Instruments Ltd. Bedford, and rose to the position of Senior Engineer. On TI assignments, he travelled to Germany, USA and El Salvador. In 1974 he emigrated to Canada, where he worked as Manager Data Processing Department, and Director with Miller Office Group, Edmonton, Alberta. In 2003 he was awarded Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for community service. Apart from a few research papers, he is the author of Jantri 500 Years, and is the chief architect of the Nanakshahi Calendar. His interests include astronomy and chess.

The Sikh religion is one of the modern religions of the world, and its history is less than 550 years of events. During this period it has grown tremendously, and has become the fifth largest religion of the world with more than 25 million followers globally, of which about 16 million are in Punjab, India, the land where the religion originated with the birth of its founder Guru Nanak' Sahib-the first Guru in the line of ten Gurus. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, before leaving this world and merging with the Supreme Light, issued an edict for the Sikhs to the effect that after him Adi Guru Granth Sahib- the Holy Sikh Scripture-would be the Eternal Guru for them.

The period of the ten Gurus covers the years 1469 CE os to 1708 CE os. The principal sources of history covering this period may be listed as follows:

Janam Saakhi by 'Bhai Bala-late 17th century

Janam Saakbi by Meharban-completed 1708 BK Vaisakh

Vadi 1 [27th March 1651 CE os²]

B40 Janamsaakbi-1733 CE os

Puratan Janamsaakhi-1635 CE os

Adi Saakhian-Text of copy completed on 1758 BK Asarb

Vadi 13 [23rd June 1701 CE os]

Gosht Guru Babay Nanak Jee Kee

Goshtan Guru Amar Das Jee Keean

Panj Sau Saakhi

Varan Bhai Gurdas

**Contents and Sample Pages**