The ''Bachittar Natak'' or ''Bachitar Natak'' (; 'The Wonderful Play') is partly an autobiography of

Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh (; born Gobind Das; 22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708) was the tenth and last human Sikh gurus, Sikh Guru. He was a warrior, poet, and philosopher. In 1675, at the age of nine he was formally installed as the leader of the ...

. The appellation ''Bachitar Natak'' is sometimes confusingly only applied around the

Dasam Granth The ( Gurmukhi: ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ''dasama gratha'') is a collection of various poetic compositions attributed to Guru Gobind Singh.

.Rinehart, Robin. ''Debating the Dasam Granth''. Oxford University Press, 2011. The ''Bachitar Natak Granth'', not to be confused with the ''Bachittar Natak'' composition, contains a large corpus of the Dasam Granth canon.

Overview

The Bachittar Natak is part of the

Dasam Granth The ( Gurmukhi: ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ''dasama gratha'') is a collection of various poetic compositions attributed to Guru Gobind Singh.

, the second holy scripture of

Sikhism Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...

. The composition covers various aspects, including the lineage of Guru Gobind Singh, the persecution of

Guru Tegh Bahadur Guru Tegh Bahadur ( Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਗ਼ ਬਹਾਦਰ (Gurmukhi); ; 1 April 1621 – 11 November 1675) was the ninth of ten gurus who founded the Sikh religion and was the leader of Sikhs from 1665 until his beheading in ...

, the author's own rebirth, and the defense and spread of

dharma Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...

(righteousness). It also includes descriptions of battles, hunting expeditions, and journeys in Punjab and the

Himalayan foothills The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than 100 pea ...

.Michaud, Heather. ''Walking in the Footsteps of the Guru: Sikhs and Seekers in the Indian Himalayas''. Canada: University of Calgary, 1998. The Bachitar Natak consists of fourteen chapters, sometimes also called "Apni Katha" (meaning "my story"), which provides an autobiographical account of Guru Gobind Singh's life until the year 1696.

Synopsis

The Bachitar Natak is partly an autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, in which he narrates the events and circumstances of the first 32 years of his life. It outlines the history and challenges faced by the Sikh community during that time. It states the author was meditating in the Himalayan foothills on a 7-peaked mountain before being called to take birth. This previous incarnation of Guru Gobind Singh is known as Dusht Daman. The Bani (composition) starts with a praise of the

Akal Purakh () is an interchangeable Sikh name used to denote God, or the omnipresent divine. Meaning It literally means "without-death being". The first word ''Akal'', literally "timeless, immortal, non-temporal," is a term integral to Sikh tradition an ...

(the ultimate being) and then provides a genealogy of the Bedis and Sodhis, tracing their lineage back to

Lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a Natural satellite, moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a Fissure vent, fractu ...

and

Kush KUSH 1600 AM is a radio station licensed to Cushing, Oklahoma. The station broadcasts a Full service format, consisting of local and national talk, sports Sport is a physical activity or game, often competitive and organized, tha ...

. It also includes the author's own biography and discusses significant events such as the

Battle of Nadaun The Battle of Nadaun, alternatively known as the Hussaini Yudh'','' was fought at Nadaun, between Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur (Kahlur) and the Mughals under Alif Khan. Bhim Chand was supported by Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Sikh Guru) and t ...

, "the Husaini Battle", and the arrival of Prince Muazzam in Punjab. The composition concludes around AD 1696. The Bachitar Natak contains 14 chapters. File:Chapter 14, the last chapter of the Bachitar Natak by Guru Gobind Singh.png, Chapter 14, the last chapter of the Bachitar Natak by Guru Gobind Singh File:'Akaal Purakh Bach' section of the Bachitar Natak written by Guru Gobind Singh.png, 'Akaal Purakh Bach' section of the Bachitar Natak written by Guru Gobind Singh File:Illustrated folio from a Dasam Granth manuscript depicting the Battle of Nadaun (Hussaini Yudh) between Sikh and Mughal forces, ca.1870.jpg, Illustrated folio of the

or "Husseni Yudh" mentioned in the last few chapters of the Bachittar Natak, ca.1870

Historiography

Historical sources from the 18th century, such as Gur Sobha Granth, Gurbilas Patshai Dasvin, Bansavlinama Dasan Patshahian Ka, and Rahitnamas, mention the compositions of the Dasam Granth, including the Bachitra Natak. These sources attribute the writings to Guru Gobind Singh.

Bachitra Natak Granth

The Bachitra Natak Granth refers to a large corpus of compositions within the Dasam Granth, the compositions referenced as part of the ''Bachitra Natak Granth'' include: 1. Apni Katha (the ''Bachittar Natak'' proper) 2. Chandi Charitra I 3. Chandi Charitra II 4. Chaubis Avatar 5. Brahma Avatar 6. Rudra Avatar These compositions follow a specific pattern, with Apni Katha discussing various avatars and their reinterpretation in line with Sikh thought and philosophy. The Bachitra Natak Granth is a part of the Dasam Granth, but the Dasam Granth is not solely the Bachitra Natak Granth. The confusion arises from the fact that many compositions within the Dasam Granth mention the words "''Bachitra Natak Likhyate''," but there is more to the Dasam Granth than just the Bachitra Natak.

Notes

References

{{Sikhism Books about Sikhism Sikh scripture