Varan Bhai Gurdas (Gurmukhi: ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ vārāṁ bhā'ī guradāsa; meaning "ballads of Bhai Gurdas"), also known as Varan Gyan Ratnavali (Punjabi: ਵਾਰ ਗਿਆਨ ਰਤਨਾਵਲੀ, romanized: Vāra gi'āna ratanāvalī, lit. 'ballads of gems of knowledge'),[1] is the name given to the 40 vars (a form of Punjabi poetry) which is traditionally attributed to Bhai Gurdas.[2][3]
History
Background
Bhai Gurdas was a first cousin of Mata Bhani, mother of Guru Arjan Dev. He was the first scribe of Guru Granth Sahib and a scholar of great repute. From his work it is clear that he had mastery of various Indian languages and had studied many ancient Indian religious scriptures. It is said that the motivation for Gurdas to write the first var was due to Guru Arjan requesting him to complete an authentic work of literature documenting and detailing the life of Guru Nanak.[1]
Bhai Gurdas authored the work in the late 16th century.[4] He did not consult the knowledge of Baba Buddha (whom had been alive when Guru Nanak was around) when he compiled the work.[3]
Contents
Title
The full title of the work given in one manuscript dated to 1782 is: Varan Gian Ratnavali Bhai Gurdas Bhalley ka Bolana, meaning "Vars [captioned] Gian Ratnavali. Thus spake Bhai Gurdas Bhalla."[1] Another manuscript (dated to at-least 1732 or earlier) is titled simply as: Bani Bhai Gurdas Bhalley ji ki. Varan.[1] The words Gian Ratnavali as part of a title may have once only applied to the first of forty vars rather than being part of a title to describe the entirety of the work of literature.[1] Originally, the entireity of the work was simply entitled as Varan.[1] The SGPC officially named its publication of the work as Varan Gyan Ratnavali.[1]
Structure
Each of the 40 chapters of Varan Bhai Gurdas consists of a differing number of Pauris (sections, paragraphs). The composition is a collection of detailed commentary and explanation of theology and the ethics of Sikh beliefs as outlined by the Gurus. It explains the Sikh terms like sangat, haumai, "Gun", Gurmukh and Manmukh, Sat, Naam, etc. Many of the principles of Sikhism are explained in simple terms by Bhai Gurdas and at times in many different ways.
The 40 vars maintain a high-degree of identicalness in nearly all manuscriptural recensions of the work, barring a few variations and discrepancies.[1] Some Sikhs have rejected the authenticity of the 10th or 40th vars of the work specifically, the former based on religious doctrine and the latter based upon linguistic style inconsistency.[1] A notable and outspoken critic of the 10th var was Giani Lal Singh of Sangrur.[1]
Appendments
Often times, another additional Vaar, with the title of Vaar Sri Bhagaut Ji Ki Patshahi Dasvin Ki, is included in the work at a 41st Vaar.[5][6][7] This Vaar was authored by another, later Bhai Gurdas who was contemporary with Guru Gobind Singh.[5] The 41st Vaar eulogizes Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa.[6][7]
Legacy
According to Bhai Mani Singh, the first Var of the work is the only genuine and attestable janamsakhi tradition covering the life of Guru Nanak.[1] Bhai Mani Singh would author a janamsakhi rendition, known as the Gyan-ratnavali or Bhai Mani Singh Janam Sakhi, based upon the first var of Varan Bhai Gurdas.[4]
^ abSingh, Bhupender (23 December 2022). Baba Nanak Shah Fakir (1st ed.). Blue Rose Publishers. pp. 22–23. ISBN9789357046602. 3. Vars of Bhai Gurdas (1551-1636): Bhai Gurdas, a contemporary of Guru Arjan and Guru Hargobind, was the son of Bhai Ishar Das Bhalla (one of Guru Amar Das's cousins) and Mai Jivani. The entire text of the sacred volume (Guru Granth Sahib) was inscribed by Bhai Gurdas, the nephew of Guru Amar Das under the direction and supervision of Guru Arjun. The thirty-nine Vars (heroic odes or ballads) of Bhai Gurdas, written fifty to seventy years after the demise of Guru Nanak, only briefly mention some of the events of the Guru's life; the rest is all eulogy (writing in praise of someone). Var 1 contains information on Guru Nanak. When Bhai Gurdas was composing his Vars, many people who personally knew the Guru were alive, particularly Baba Buddha who, was well known to the author, as well. Unfortunately, Bhai Gurdas did not avail of his knowledge. Nevertheless, whatever reference he makes in the Vars must be taken to be authentic.
^ abDhillon, Dalbir Singh (1988). Sikhism: Origin and Development. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. p. 346.
^ abTakhar, Opinderjit Kaur; Jakobsh, Doris R. (2023). Global Sikhs: Histories, Practices and Identities. Routledge Critical Sikh Studies. Taylor & Francis. ISBN9781000847352. 23. Vars are long poems written by Bhai Gurdas. The first 40 vars are written by Bhai Gurdas who was contemporary to the early Gurus. But the 41st var is written, in the opinion of McLeod, by another Gurdas who had written it the eighteenth century. It is likely that information about the eighteenth century sangats of Bihar comes from Gurdas Il. McLeod, Dictionary, 212.
^ abSri Dasam Granth: Facts Beyond Doubt (1st ed.). Malaysia: Sri Guru Granth Sahib Academy. 2021. pp. 302–304. ISBN9781527282773.
^ abSingh, Harbans. The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol. 2: E-L. Punjabi University, Patiala. pp. 139–140.
