GURMAT PRABHAKAR

GURMAT PRABHAKAR (gurmat = the Guru`s teaching or instruction; prabhdkar= the sun, light, i.e. illuminator or elucidator) is a compendium of Sikh principles and of the Sikh way of life arranged topic wise and alphabetically by the celebrated Sikh theologian and lexicographer Bhai Kahn Singh of Nabha. First published in 1898, the book is dedicated by the author to “Panth Akali” who is vowed to the welfare of the people and the country. The purpose of the author was to enable the reader locate in the voluminous Guru Granth Sahib verses relevant to any special occasion or to his requirements.

Among the topics chosen by the author are: amrit, avatar, ardds, sach khand, sukhdukh, nadari, satsang, sevd, santokh, kartdr, karam kdnd, kardmdt, khimd, Guru Granth Sahib, nan, nimratd, nirankdr, pap, panj pidre, panj vikdr, bhdnd, marjware, mdyd, vairdg, lokdchdr, varan, vdd virodh and vidvdnd di sangat. Quotations in the book are set down in the alphabetical order, using the Gurmukhi script. The author has supplied ample comments and footnotes to correct the perspective on Sikh teaching and principles.

The book takes up eight hundred and forty-three topics to illustrate his point; each topic has been elucidated with quotations from Guru Granth Sahib. Words requiring annotations have been explained. The purpose of the author is to provide information topic wise on different aspects of the Sikh faith. The book remained out of print for many years but has been reprinted in recent years (1970) by the Languages Department of the Punjab Government.