ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>BIBEK B&#256RDH&#298 </TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="BIBEK,BRDH*"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279BIBEK B&#256RDH&#298, (<i>bibek</i> = discrimination or discipline, <i>b&#257rdh&#299</i> = ocean; by implication, "guide to Sikh religious practice") is a collection of <i>rahitn&#257m&#257s</i> or codes of conduct compiled in AD 1877 by Pa&#7751&#7693it Bhagv&#257n Si&#7749gh, a Br&#257hma&#7751 who converted to Sikhism under the influence of B&#257b&#257 Sumer Si&#7749gh celebrated high priest of Ta<u>kh</u>t Sr&#299 Pa&#7789n&#257 S&#257hib. The work has never been published and the manuscript, believed to be written in the compiler's own hand, is preserved at the Dr Balb&#299r Si&#7749gh S&#257hitya Kendra at Dehr&#257 D&#363n. The manuscript comprises 140 sheets, written on both sides, of plain hand-made paper of approximately foolscap size. Paper, obviously procured at different times, ranges in colour from off-white to light cream. Different pens and inks have been used, but the hand is throughout the same. The text begins with the compiler's invocation to the goddess K&#257l&#299, followed by a section stressing the importance of <i>bibek</i>, i. e. strict observance of the Sikh code of conduct. Bhagv&#257n Si&#7749gh, then, proceeds to specify the code a Sikh is expected to follow. Like other writers of <i>rahitn&#257m&#257s</i>, he lays down rules of conduct for a Sikh embracing personal, social and religious aspects of his life. To support his prescriptions, he puts forth copious illustrations and quotations from the Sikh sacred literature, though these are not always relevant and germane to the point sought to be upheld. A major part of the work consists of reproduction of several older <i>rahitn&#257m&#257s</i> such as those of Bh&#257&#299 Man&#299 Si&#7749gh (d. 1737), Bh&#257&#299 Nand L&#257l, Bh&#257&#299 Chaup&#257 Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299 Prahl&#257d Si&#7749gh, and Kav&#299 Sain&#257pati.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Among the lesser known <i>rahitn&#257m&#257s</i> are "Rahatm&#257l&#257 Rahatn&#257m&#257 A&#7789h&#257rv&#257&#7749 Muktn&#257m&#257 Jo S&#363raj Prak&#257sh &#256dko Me&#7749 Kah&#257 Hai, " "Bh&#257&#299 Sukh&#257 Si&#7749gh Anandpur&#299e Ke Gur Bil&#257s Me Se Rahat Bachan Chh&#257&#7751&#7789e Hai&#7749, " "M&#257lve k&#299 S&#257kh&#299 Me Jo Rahatn&#257me Ke Bachan Hain Dasam Gur&#363 Krit, " "Bibek Bodhn&#299 Sapat Sat&#299 Y&#257ne B&#257b&#257 Sumer Si&#7749gh J&#299 Krit, " and "Jo Muktsar T&#299rath Me Gur&#363 J&#299 Sabh Sikho&#7749 Ko Sun&#257ye. " In all, the manuscript has, according to the author's own calculation, 2, 555 <i>bachans</i> or sayings. In the index, appended to the manuscript the author has classified various <i>rahits</i> and worked out the total number of injunctions set down. The work is important insofar as it gathers in one volume many old <i>rahitn&#257m&#257s</i> and authorities, but most of the compiler's own writing is under Br&#257hama&#7751ical influence and at several places he goes against the Sikh tenets. For his involvement with this <i>genre</i> of Sikh literature, he is also known as Bhagv&#257n Si&#7749gh Rahitn&#257m&#299&#257. He is the author as well of a <i>rahitn&#257m&#257</i> called <i>Rahit Darpa&#7751</i>.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Padam, Pi&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh, <i>Rahitn&#257me</i>. Patiala, 1974<BR> <li class="C1"> K&#257hn Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Gurushabad Ratn&#257kar Makh&#257n Kosh</i>. Patiala, 1974<BR> <li class="C1"> Nripinder Singh <i>The Sikh Moral Tradition</i>. Delhi, 1990<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">K. S. Th&#257par<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>