SRI GUR SOBHA, a poetical work, part eulogy and part history, is an admixture of Braj and eastern Punjabi, by Sainapati who enjoyed Guru Gobind Singh`s patronage for several years. The work, which had remained unknown to scholars of the recent period, was rediscovered by Akali Kaur Singh and published through Bhai Nanak Singh Kirpal Singh Hazuria, Amritsar, in December 1925. Another edition was brought out by Dr Ganda Singh (Punjabi University, Patiala, 1967). Two copies of the manuscript existed in the Sikh Reference Library, Amritsar, which were destroyed in, the Army action in 1984. In Sn GurSobha the poet o uses neither his name nor penname.
TAHLA SAHIB, GURDWARA, sacred to both Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh, is in the revenue limits of Rajgarh Kubbe, a village 5 km southeast of Maur Kalan (30"4 N, 75"14E), in Bathinda district of the Punjab. Lying 2.5 km to the west of the village, there used to be, in the time of the Gurus, only a copse of tahll trees (Albergia sissoo) and a pool of water where Guru Tegh Bahadur often came from Maur Kalan while out for his afternoon ride.Guru Gobind Singh visited the place once from Talvandi Sabo during chase.
TARAPUR, a village 5 km east of Anandpur (310 14N, 760 31`E) in Ropar district of the Punjab, is sacred to Guru Gobind Singh, who constructed a fortress here after his return from Paonta in 1688. He also had a baoli (open well with steps leading down to water level) dug to ensure supply of water for the garrison. The Taragarh Fort, one of a chain of defensive fortifications of Anandpur, is no longer in existence.
TIKA, derived from the root tik, a loan word from the aboriginal languages, meaning `to mark` or `to explain`, signifies commentary, exegesis or explanation, especially of a scriptural text. Originally meant to provide a simple paraphrase of the spiritual and mystical revelations, a tika may now embrace an exhaustive analysis and interpretation of the text. Such tikas and commentaries have been part of the Indian religious tradition since ancient times.In tracing the history, reference is made to Yaska Muni (circa 700 BC) who mentions in his Nirukta numerous preceding commentators of the sacred scriptures.
VAR BHERE Kl PATSHAHl 10 is an anonymous poem in Punjabi describing the battle of Anandpur, Guru Gobind Singh`s engagement with the pursuing host after he had evacuated Anandpur, and finally die battle of Chamkaur. The view has been expressed that dlis Varis the original version of another poem entitled Bhera Guru Gobind Singh Ka or Bhera Patshahl Dasviri Da. Both these vars deal with the same events, have a similarity of style and have lines, even stanzas, which are common to both. Yet a closer examination reveals that these are two different compositions and one of the poets has evidently borrowed extensively from the work of the other.