HAQIQAT RAH MUQAM RAJE SHIVNABH KI
Haqiqat Rah Muqam Raje Shivnabh Ki (account or description of way, i.e. journey to the abode of Raja Shivnabh) is an anonymous and undated short piece in Punjabi prose, found appended to some manuscript copies of the Guru Granth Sahib, particularly to copies of the Bhai Banno recension. The author of this account is supposed to be Bhai Paira, a learned Sikh who was deputed by Guru Arjan to go to Singhladip (Singhladip of the Janam Sakhis), present-day Sri Lanka, to fetch a copy of a manuscript called the Pran Sangli (Chain of the Vital Breath), an interpretation of Hatha Yoga, which was said to have been recited by Guru Nanak to the Raja of Sanghladip, Shivnabh.
The manuscript of the Pran Sangli was brought to Guru Arjan, who rejected it as an apocryphal writing. The piece is not a travelogue, nor does the author claim to have himself visited the place of Shivnabh. It purports to be a sort of guide to travel, by ship to Sangladip, from the mainland of the Indian subcontinent and to locate the place of the Raja in that land. It is a short piece of simple prose about 200 words in length.
The language is a mixture a Sadh Bhakha and Punjabi. The author mentions some place-names with their distance from each other in some cases. Some of these names can be identified, while one or two places can only be conjectured. It is also mentioned that there existed a number of Sikh sangats in those days in South India and Sri Lanka.
References :
1. McLeod, W.H., Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion, Oxford, 1968.
2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Amritsar, 1927-33.
Haqiqat Rah Muqam Raje Shivnabh Ki: The Journey to Raja Shivnabh’s Abode
The narrative of the journey to Raja Shivnabh’s abode is captured in an anonymous Punjabi prose piece known as Haqiqat Rah Muqam Raje Shivnabh Ki. This brief but intriguing text—approximately 200 words long—belongs to a unique category of early Sikh travel literature that blends lore, geography, and spiritual purpose.
The Context and Content
Haqiqat Rah Muqam Raje Shivnabh Ki is found appended to some manuscript copies of the Guru Granth Sahib, particularly within the Bhai Banno recension. Traditionally, the piece is credited to a learned Sikh named Bhai Paira, who was reportedly deputed by Guru Arjan Dev to travel to Singhladip (presentday Sri Lanka). There, his mission was to retrieve a manuscript known as the Pran Sangli (Chain of the Vital Breath)—a text offering an interpretation of Hatha Yoga that was said to have been recited by Guru Nanak to the Raja of Singhladip, Raja Shivnabh.
When the manuscript of the Pran Sangli was later brought to Guru Arjan, it was rejected as apocryphal—thus, the very journey recounted in this prose serves as a subtle reminder of the complexities surrounding the transmission of spiritual lore. The text purports to serve as a guide for travel by ship from the Indian mainland to Sanghladip, outlining certain place names and distances, though not as a modern travelogue but rather as a compact set of instructions or traditional knowledge.
Language, Style, and Cultural Significance
Written in a blend of Sadh Bhakha and Punjabi, the language of this prose piece reflects both a devotional tone and an underlying practicality. Its straightforward style offers the following insights:
Geographic Orientation: The narrative includes references to various placenames and approximates distances, pointing to the presence of Sikh communities (sangats) in southern India and Sri Lanka during those early centuries.
Spiritual Undertones: Though primarily a guide, the text is imbued with the mystical aura characteristic of Sikh hagiographical literature. It recalls the celebrated voyages of Guru Nanak and underscores the broader theme of the Sikh travel tradition—a journey that is as much about spiritual discovery as it is about physical passage.
Literary Heritage: As with many early Sikh compositions, this work highlights the dynamic interplay between travel, inquiry, and devotion. It testifies to the expansive worldview of the Sikh community even during its formative years, suggesting that the collective memory of the faith extended well beyond the boundaries of Punjab.
Reflections on Sikh Travel and Legacy
The journey to Raja Shivnabh’s abode encapsulated in Haqiqat Rah Muqam Raje Shivnabh Ki is a window into a period when Sikh literature was exploring the wider world—not merely for geographical curiosity but to affirm and locate a transcendent connection between the teachings of Guru Nanak and distant lands. The narrative, though brief, acts as a metaphorical bridge between established spiritual traditions and the practical realities of travel and exploration.
