PRIKHIA PRAKARAN (printed text; prakaran = part or fragment) by Pandit Tara Singh Narotam is a small tract, bound with the author’s more famous Gurumat Nimaya Sagar, endeavoring to establish the authenticity or otherwise of the authorship of the various Sikh texts including the Guru Granth Sahib, the Dasam Granth, Pran SangK, Janam Sakhi Bhadal Bald, Prem Sumarag, Makke di Gosti, Varan by Bhai Gurdas, hukamnamas, etc.
He analyses the texts of these volumes and determines the authorship of each on the basis of internal evidence. A text which has either the signature or stamp of the Gurus or came into vogue in their time is considered authentic. The entire Guru Granth Sahib as well as the Dasam Granth is authentic, but Nasihat Namah, attributed to Guru Nanak, and Prem Sumarag to Guru Gobind Singh are pronounced apocryphal works. Similarly, Tara Singh declares that Sarab Loh, Paintis Achhar, Mukti Marg, Chhakkad, Sakhi Gurbakhsh Singh are not the works of Guru Gobind Singh.
Context and Intellectual Climate
During the mid19th century, when Pandit Tara Singh Narotam composed his treatise, there was an increased need to preserve and authenticate the Sikh literary legacy in the face of colonial scrutiny and internal theological debates. The British administration’s curiosity about Sikh traditions, combined with challenges posed by multiple oral and written sources, necessitated a rigorous evaluation of texts claimed to be of divine origin. In this environment, Narotam’s Prikhia Prakaran—bound with his more famous Gurumat Nimaya Sagar—emerged as an early example of textual criticism in Sikh literature. It reflects an intellectual endeavor to protect the sanctity of Sikh scriptures by methodically separating authentic works from those later attributed or forged.
Purpose and Methodology
At its core, Prikhia Prakaran is a reflective inquiry into the authorship and authenticity of an array of Sikh texts, including but not limited to:
The Guru Granth Sahib
The Dasam Granth
Various Janam Sakhis
Texts such as Prem Sumarag, Nasihat Namah, Sarab Loh, Paintis Ackhar, Mukti Marg, Chhakkad, and Sakhi Gurbakhsh Singh
The Varan composed by Bhai Gurdas
Various hukamnamas
Pandit Tara Singh Narotam employs a straightforward, evidence based approach, relying primarily on internal evidence. His criteria for authenticity are twofold:
- Signature or Stamp of the Gurus:
A work that bears the actual signature or an accepted mark of the Gurus is considered genuine. This tangible endorsement serves as a primary indicator of authenticity. - Temporal Votary:
If a text came into vogue during the lifetime of the Gurus—or in a period closely connected to them—its content and style are judged against the known linguistic and poetic patterns of that era. In other words, if a work can be internally situated in the proper historical and theological context, it earns the mark of authenticity. Analysis of Specific Texts
Using his method, Pandit Tara Singh Narotam reaches several notable conclusions:
Unassailable Authenticity:
He affirms that both the entire Guru Granth Sahib and the Dasam Granth meet his criteria for authenticity. These texts not only carry the intrinsic marks of the Gurus in terms of style and doctrinal content but also have been in continuous use since their inception, reinforcing their authority and trustworthiness.
Dubious or Apocryphal Works:
On the other hand, texts like Nasihat Ndmah—which is attributed to Guru Nanak—and Prem Sumdrag—attributed to Guru Gobind Singh—are pronounced apocryphal. According to Narotam, these works do not display the necessary internal evidence (such as an authentic signature or correct stylistic markers) that would situate them firmly within the period of the Gurus.
Similarly, when it comes to works like Sarab Loh, Paintis Achhar, Mukti Marg, Chhakkad, and Sakhi Gurbakhsh Singh, he decisively rules them out as genuine productions of Guru Gobind Singh. His analysis suggests that these texts likely emerged in later periods or were perhaps misattributed in an attempt to lend them undue authority.
Concluding Reflections
Pandit Tara Singh Narotam’s Prikhia Prakaran stands as a testament to an era when the authenticity of Sikh scriptures was hotly debated and meticulously examined. By establishing clear criteria based on internal evidence, Narotam not only affirms the integrity of the core Sikh texts—the Guru Granth Sahib and the Dasam Granth—but also draws a critical line between genuine teachings and later, apocryphal additions. His work has paved the way for subsequent generations of Sikh scholars, ensuring that the foundational texts continue to be revered for their historical and divine authenticity while prompting ongoing dialogue about the evolution of Sikh literary and doctrinal traditions.
