NANAK SURAJODE JANAM SAKHI, by Ganesha Singh Bedi, is an account in verse of the life of Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh faith. The metaphor of the rising sun (surajode = surya/suraj meaning sun and udaya/ude meaning rising) in the title has been used for Guru Nanak, whose birth, as Bhai Gurdas says, heralded daylight dispelling the darkness of night. The work, running into 560 pages in printed form, was completed in 1906 Bk/AD 1849 at Jammu and first published at the Raghunath Press, Jammu, under the patronage of Raja Hari Chand and reprinted in 1952 Bk/AD 1895 at the ChashmaiNur Press, Amritsar. It was also published in Devanagari script, in 1956 Bk/AD 1899 (Bharat Jivan Press, Kashi), under the patronage of Raja Bijai Chand of Bilaspur.
The book is divided into two parts: the first part comprising sixty-five sdkhis (anecdotes) and the second fifty-eight. The prologue alludes to the prophecy in the Skanda Purana concerning the appearance of Guru Nanak in the Kaliyug (the dark age) as an incarnation of God. Almost all the details of Guru Nanak’s life given in the Surajode coincide with those in the Bald Janam Sakhi, which is in prose. A few sdkhis included in this book, but which do not occur in the Bald text, have been borrowed from Gian Ratnavali and Bhai Santokh Singh’s Nanak Prakash. The language of the work is Sadh Bhakha, but the script is Gurmukhi.
Verses of Guru Nanak are frequently quoted in the text. Several different metres such as kabitt, dohird, nishdm, and chaupal have been employed by the poet. The style is dramatic, as every now and then the writer uses the phrase: “Thus spake Bala Sandhu.” Bala Sandhu, supposed to have been a lifelong companion of Guru Nanak, was meant to be narrating these sdkhis in the presence of Guru Angad while Bhai Paira Mokha was recording them.
References:
- Mani Singh, Bhai, Gian Ratnavali. Lahore, 1947 Bk
- Vir Singh, Bhai, ed., Puratan Janam Sakhi. Amritsar, 1982
- Kirpal Singh, Janam Sakhi Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Amritsar, 1962
- Ganesha Singh, Mahant, Sri Guru Nanak Suryoday. Amritsar, 1895
- Jagjit Singh, A Critical and Comparative Study of the Janam Sakhies of Guru Nanak Dev up to the Middle of the Eighteenth Century. Chandigarh, 1967
Nanak Surajode Janam Sakhi: Life of Guru Nanak in Verse is a remarkable poetic narrative that captures the luminous journey of Guru Nanak—the founder of Sikhism—using the potent metaphor of the rising sun to signify the dispelling of darkness in a troubled age (kaliyug). Composed by Ganesha Singh Bedi, this extensive work in verse is not merely a historical account; it is a spiritual hymn that blends devotion with art, and it holds a revered place within the Janam Sakhi tradition.
A Luminous Metaphor and Its Significance
The title Nanak Surajode Janam Sakhi itself conveys a deep symbolic meaning. The word “Surajode” translates roughly to “rising sun.” Just as the sun dispels the night and heralds a new day, Guru Nanak’s birth is depicted as the dawning of divine light that pushes back the gloom of spiritual ignorance. This metaphor—first suggested in the writings of Bhai Gurdas—places Guru Nanak’s life within a cosmic framework, where his arrival is both an act of divine intervention and a promise of renewal for humanity.
Structure and Poetic Form
The work is expansive, running to about 560 printed pages, and is organized into two distinct parts:
Part One:
This section comprises 65 sdkhis (anecdotal verses) that trace the formative episodes of Guru Nanak’s life. It begins with a prologue that not only sets the stage with a prophecy from the Skanda Purana regarding his appearance in the kaliyug but also establishes the dramatic tone that pervades the work. The sdkhis, rendered in a variety of classical metres—such as kabitt, doha, nishdam, and chaupal—imbue the narrative with rhythmic intricacy and emotional depth.
Part Two:
The second section contains 58 sdkhis and continues the unfolding of Guru Nanak’s journey, interweaving personal experiences, divine revelations, and episodes of miraculous signs. Verses from Guru Nanak himself are frequently quoted, reinforcing the work’s direct connection to the central teachings of Sikhism.
Throughout the work, the use of Sadh Bhakha—a refined literary dialect of Punjabi—combined with the Gurmukhi script, anchors the text firmly in classical Sikh literary tradition. The poet’s frequent use of dramatized interjections such as “Thus spake Bala Sandhu” is meant to evoke the lively spontaneity of oral storytelling, suggesting that the narrative was once recited in the presence of Guru Angad and recorded by companions like Bhai Paira Mokha.
Devotional and Historical Dimensions
While Nanak Surajode Janam Sakhi follows the narrative details outlined in other Janam Sakhi manuscripts (such as the prose tradition known as the “Bald Janam Sakhi”), it also distinguishes itself through:
A Rich Dramatic Style:
The dramatic and emphatic language not only recounts historical events but also seeks to inspire and evoke spiritual fervor. Every anecdote is presented as a minidrama where divine love and human struggle intertwine to reveal deeper truths about life and the human condition.
Integration of Multiple Sources:
Although the work aligns closely with established Sikh traditions regarding Guru Nanak’s life, it also incorporates additional sdkhis sourced from texts like Nanak Prakash by Bhai Santokh Singh and other earlier compositions. This blending of narratives offers a more layered perspective on the Guru’s journey.
A Blueprint for Ethical Living:
Beyond mere storytelling, the work offers moral and philosophical reflections implicitly woven into the episodes of Guru Nanak’s life. The reader is invited to see beyond the literal events into understanding the transformative power of divine grace and the enduring relevance of his teachings for ethical living in any age.
