ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>NIH&#256L SI&#7748GH SANT 1</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="NIHL,SIDGH,SANT"> <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">&#65279NIH&#256L SI&#7748GH, SANT, a Nirmal&#257 scholar, was a pupil of the renowned Sikh saint, B&#257b&#257 Khud&#257 Si&#7749gh. His seat was at Gobind Mandir or Gobind Ku&#7789&#299&#257, in Ch&#363n&#257 Ma&#7751&#7693&#299, in Lahore. His expertness in expounding the Sikh sacred texts brought to his <i>&#7693er&#257</i> (cloister) large audiences as well as flocks of pupils whom he trained in the art of exegetics. He wrote poetry in Braj Bh&#257sh&#257, and is known to have left three works, namely <i>Ak&#257l N&#257&#7789ak, Nirmal Prabh&#257kar</i> and <i>Sikkh&#299 Prabh&#257kar</i>. Of these the last two were got published in a single volume, in 1902, by Sant Gandh&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh, under the title <i>Nirmal Prabh&#257kar ate Sikkh&#299 Prabh&#257kar</i>. In the short preface he added to it, the publisher stated that Sant Nih&#257l Si&#7749gh had written some more books, the manuscripts of which had till then remained untraceable. In the second chapter, described as introductory, Gandh&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh recorded that Nih&#257l Si&#7749gh had composed poetry of various types and that he passed away in 1957 Bk (AD 1900). Then follow verses in praise not clear where the composition of Gandh&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh ends and where that of Sant Nih&#257l Si&#7749gh begins. In later verses, however, the name of Nih&#257l Si&#7749gh or Kesr&#299 Nih&#257l occurs fairly frequently. The poet describes the earlier period as an age full of wickedness. Then he sings the glory of the age of the Gur&#363s. He pays homage to their exalted spiritual status, and reprimands those who do not believe in their teachings.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Nirmal Prabh&#257kar</i>, which is the <i>p&#363rab&#257rdha</i> or the first half, is meant for those who want to acquaint themselves with the Sikh way of life. The author pays rich tributes to the Si&#7749ghs, i.e. Sikhs who have received the rites of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257. The Nirmal&#257 Si&#7749ghs are presented as those blessed with knowledge and understanding. The entire section is in verse, employing a variety of metres such as <i>dohr&#257, kabitt, chaupa&#299, chhapai</i>, and <i>bhuja&#7749g-pray&#257t</i>.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Sikkh&#299 Prabh&#257kar</i> (Pp. 175 to 338) is the <i>uttar&#257radh</i> or the second half of the book. It exalts the Bed&#299 dynasty, and pays homage to Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh, the Tenth Master. Then follow verses in glorification of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib and the Gur&#363 Panth. The poet enumerates the qualities of an ideal Sikh. A true Sikh, according to him, leads a life of piety, does wrong to no one, remains ever in harmony with the Will of God, is upright in thought, speech and action, is tender-hearted but is ready to always resist injustice and oppression confronting them like a steel pillar, is a believer in the universal brotherhood of man, and shuns all ill will. He is the beloved of Ak&#257l, the Timeless One, and, being ever attached to Ak&#257l, remains detached from earthly pursuits and is humility incarnate. He has quoted from history examples of Sikhs who had preferred to be cut to pieces rather than resile from their faith. There is also a reference to <i>ard&#257s</i>, the Sikh supplication, which brings to the devotees peace and strength. The daily routine of a Sikh, a brief outline of the lives of all the ten Sikh Gur&#363s, Sikh rites and rituals, the Sikh dress, etc., are some of the other topics touched upon in the work. The volume ends with a <i>chaupa&#299</i> in which the poet states that there are many sects (<i>bhekh</i>) of the Panth <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257, but he names only two, viz. the Nirmal&#257s and the Niha&#7749gs. The final lines constitute an invocation to the Timeless One.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> K&#257hn Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Gurushabad Ratn&#257kar Mahan Kosh</i>. Patiala, 1981<BR> <li class="C1"> Nih&#257l Si&#7749gh, Sant, <i>Nirmal Prabhakar ate Sikh&#299 Prabh&#257kar</i>. Lahore, 1902<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Gurdev Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>