The Adi Granth ('original book'), the primary scripture of the Sikhs, comprises approximately 3,000 hymns. Although the authorship of the hymns is well recorded, the history of the compilaiton of the Adi Granth - the creation of the Sikh 'canon' - is the subject of considerable speculation and debate. In this book, Gurinder Mann attempts to construct a comprehensive picture of the making of Sikh scripture, drawing on the recently discovered early manuscriots as well as the extensive secondary literature on the topic. His findings on some key issues differ from the traditional Sikh position and from the hypotheses of the other 20th-century scholars, as well as raising some entirely fresh questions. Mann's revised and expanded picture of the history of the text and institution of Sikh scripture will be of interest not only to scholars of Sikhism and Sikh religionists, but to scholars of comparative canon formation.
Reviews
Scholars of Sikhism owe a great debt to Gurinder Singh Mann for this publication which through its painstaking scholarship allows us for the first time to get a clearer picture of the genesis and development of Sikh scriptures and in particular the Adi Granth. * Sixteenth Century Journal *
What makes Mann's work particularly strong is that it is based on close examination of manuscripts preserved by various families and institutions in the Panjab and elsewhere. * Sixteenth Century Journal *
This book is a significant contribution to Sikh studies and demonstrates the ways in which studies of Sikh scriptures have matured in the late twentieth century. It will interest both scholars of Sikhism and those interested in gaining an understanding of the roles that sacred texts play in South Asia religion traditions. * Sixteenth Century Journal *



Book Information
ISBN 9780195130249
Author Gurinder Singh Mann
Format Hardback
Page Count 208
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 435g
Dimensions(mm) 161mm * 236mm * 20mm