Kam1825

Apologies, full review of the book by a genuine scholar below for those who want to read it

Review of the Mool Mantar commentary

In 2015 Kamalpreet Singh Pardeshi of Leicester published an English commentary of the Mool Mantar. There have already been written dozens of such commentaries. However, what makes this book so fascinating and unique is that it is based on the research and writings of Baba Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale who was one of the greatest Sikh scholars of the 20th century. The book follows the traditional interpretations (sampradaya arth) of Sikhi which have been passed down orally through many centuries. While the ocean of traditional sampradayic wisdom is abundant in the Punjabi language, this book appears to be the first attempt of introducing the traditional interpretations in the English language solely targeting a western audience. This is what makes this book so spectacular and fascinating.

The book has an easy layout and is divided into several chapters. The first chapter sets the context and position of the Japji Sahib in the Sikh tradition. By drawing on sophisticated and difficult writings not easily available to Sikhs in the west - Nanak Prakash, Suraj Prakash, Gurmukh Prakash and the Rahitname - Kamalpreet Singh Pardeshi has shown how the Japji Sahib has always been an integral and foundational aspect of the Sikh tradition. Many passages of these aforementioned books have been translated to English for the first time in history, showing how many of the Gurus have successively praised the Japji Sahib and what benefits the devotee will gain from reciting the holy verses.

The second chapter is a discussion on how Guru Nanak and his revelation fits in with the wider Indic traditions of religion and what sets Guru Nanak apart from the earlier avatars and India religions of the past. The purpose of this chapter is to show the readers how Guru Nanak’s message is a continuation of earlier dharams while at the same time being distinct and independent. There are several quotations from the Puranas , Upanishads and Islam to enhance and enforce the message of Guru Nanak. The impression you get from reading this chapter is that Sikhi is not a faith that originated out of the blue in the 15th century. Rather, Sikhi is a majestic faith with roots going back several thousands of years to the early days of creation. Classifying Sikhi as an old religious tradition is a typical outlook in the samprdayic traditions, but it is the first time I have seen such depth in the English language. The chapter draws heavily on the sophisticated terminology of Vedanta while showing how these concepts are present in the Guru Granth Sahib.

On page 63 begins the Mool Mantar commentary itself. Each word of the Mool Mantar has been given several meanings drawing from the Sikh tradition and the many Sanskrit origins of the various words. Kamalpreet Singh Pardeshi shows how the Mool Mantar can be interpreted from its historical context but also from its linguistics. I was personally fascinated to see the depths of the Mool Mantar and how the different words add deeper perspectives to the Sikh faith, clearly showing how Sikhi is a universal faith welcoming people of all backgrouns and religious traditions. The chapter shows how on the one level the Mool Mantar can be engaged with purely within the Sikh tradition and from a purely meditative approach. On the other hand the chapter shows how the Mool Mantar fits perfectly into centuries old traditional Indic philosophy and the chapter gives a glimpse of how the Nirmala, Udasi and Taksali scholars of the past have been using, positioning and categorizing the mool mantar in their wider discussions with Brahmin priests and scholars all over India. This sophisticated level, I believe, is an aspect most Sikhs in the west have been deprived. In this chapters, Kamalpreet Singh Pardeshi has drawn from Guru Granth Sahib, the vaars of Bhai Gurdas and the Persian ghazals of Bhai Nand Lal Goya. Interestingly, the commentary also draws on the lesser studied Sarukhtavali Granth and Vichar Sagar which have been integral books of the traditional samprdaic curriculum. The Puranas, Vedas, Ramayan and Upanishads are also referenced throughout this chapter.

The book is not written as a dry and academic book you read once and then forget everything about. Rather, it has been written with the purpose of inspiring Sikh youth in the west to develop an interest for the traditional and esoteric interpretations of Sikh philosophy. The roman spelling of Gurmat philosophical terms have been kept (instead of merely translating them and keeping the original words out). I believe this has been done purposefully to widen the readers’ vocabulary as well as to inspire them to look deeper into these philosophical concepts by their own study. I am pretty sure Kamalpreet Singh will succeed in his mission of inspiring and widening the plurality of Sikh expression in the west, not only by his online activities, but also with the publication of books like this, of which this book is only amongst the first.

I am looking forward to future writings and translations of Kamalpreet Singh Pardeshi.

Enjoy the reading!

Gurfateh the easiest way to know if If we judge them in accordance to Gurbani. In the Sahaskriti Salok you get the salok, 'Mantran Ram Ram Naman' and then the other thing you have to look for is the virtues that are mentioned in the Sri Suraj Parkash. The parsang where Jahangir asks Sain Mian Mir what the characteristics of a Saint are and from the discourses betwwen Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and his Sikhs along with Sri Guru hargobind Ji and his Sikhs on the qualities of a sain. Through these a person can jusdge if the person they meet in the street is a sant or not. Hope that helps?

This is for those who may be interested, I have had the opportunity to write a number of books recently, initially they were for sponsors of the podcasts but due to demand I have decided to put some of them out on a self publication site. Slowly they will increase in number with the Sarkutavali Teeka and Gagar Cho sagar also being added in June and August respetively.

At the moment there are three books available to purchase which are the 'Sahaskriti and Gatha Teeka by Mahant Ganesha Singh', 'Matra by Baba Sri Chand Ji' and 'The Jap Ji Sahib Katha 01 - Mul Mantra Katha by Sant Gurbachan Singh Bhindrawale'

They are all on the following link

https://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?contributorId=1393200

Thank you, and just so you anyone is aware there is no profit for these books as they all go back into the Sikhism in Snippits podcast

Damn man I forgot how good the threads on this site used to be about ten years ago

My god that has to be the most boring and unenthusiastic chant that I have ever heard!

Terrible who would put up such a video, how am i supposed to eat my beef burgers listening to this!!!!