Tuesday 29 January 2013

The 'Path of Love' - Prem Sumarag Granth - Patshahi 10·


One of the oldest dated Rahitname is the 'Prem Sumarag Granth', the oldest manuscript copy I have seen of it is from 1701 AD, therefore in the lifetime of Guru Gobind Singh ji. The Nihang Singhs, and Sant Khalsa i.e Nirmale and Namdharis, consider this Granth to be very important. Dr Leyden was the first person to translate the Prem Sumarag Granth into English, he travelled to India in the 18th Century, and his translation is in the British Library.
Please visit
The 'Tat Khalsa' Singh Sabha found this Granth to be quite controversial and side-linded it. The purpose of this note is not to talk about those sections, but concentrate on others of profound beauty and depth. You can see an original copy of the first chapter on the Panjab Digital Library.
The following was translated by the ex-Christian priest, the scholar W. H. McLeod, Prem Sumarag, :
[My] son, I have fashioned you from my own being [ and I have created] a Panth to serve as witness to the world. What kind of Panth [ have I created]? One in which dharam has made its abode, [one in which], error is destroyed and true wisdom exalted. I am the Supreme one. Know none save me, for I have set forth the Panth [as a witness to the truth]. To the people [of the world] I have delivered the message of the divine Word through succession of 10 incarnations. To the shame of all who inhabit the world error still remains. That which I have performed I have imprinted on [every] person. I, the Supreme One, dwell within every heart. Is anything hidden from me?
The next section can be summarised as. the first rahit is to wake up at Amritvela, to relieve one's self, bathe, then do nam simran and the second rahit is to read Gurbani. The third rahit is Rahiras Sahib and the forth is read bani from both the Adi Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth Sahib in the evening, recite Kirtan Sohila, then:
'Breath Vahi from your navel as you inhale and Guru as you exhale.'
Then you will repeat Vahiguru and your deep consciousness will remain ever awake.
A Singh should be humble but always with his weapons! Accept the Guru's bani as Guru.
Let those who are Sikhs of the Khalsa show affection towards each other. Let them remain united, regardless of the good or evil each may perform. If any Sikh is attacked all others should be prepared to join in his defence. Thus shall they earn the merit conferred on those who believe in the Sikh Faith and they will see Guru Baba Sri Akal Purakh come to their instant aid.
A man must not keep the company of another man's wife. Do not act possesively. Do not act out of anger and pride. Do not be attached to mundane concerns and avoid vilifying others. Do not lie - but do not speak the truth that will harm another. Act graciously remembering this human body will one day perish. Live in the awareness that this very breath may be your last. Do not waste your breaths idly. Harm no one. Speak to bring happiness. If your are abused do not take it to heart. Let nothing grieve you, see respect and insults as the same. Do not live of charity, work your dharam ki kirati. The only giver is Guru Baba Akal Purakh. To fulfill your desires do not visit tombs, temples of deities (gods/goddesses), fast, idol worship, magic, or ritually bath. Do do not go to the Brahmins. Do not follow empty ritualism. Instead meditate on the Lotus Feet of Sri Akal Purakh.

Monday 21 January 2013

Do you want to help to restore one of the oldest Guru Granth Sahibs in the world?



Panjab Cultural Association is proud to announce our preservation project of Guru Granth Sahib. This valuable Sikh treasure was discovered by a leading academic who works with Panjab Cultural Associations, took the great task of arranging to preserve this valuable treasure for posterity. Unfortunately, the Guru Granth Sahib currently requires extensive conservation work in order to restore it. We urgently need you to donate and volunteer your skills in order to restore the saroop and create and exhibition around it. Please email admin@5culture.org .



- It is all written in hand and continuous (larivar).
- This Guru Granth Sahib is one of the oldest saroops in the UK, if not in the world.
- Like many other saroops in the UK it was taken in the Anglo-Sikh wars.
- The ink recipe is at the end of this Holy Guru Granth Sahib.

Where did this saroop come from?

It was taken in the Battle of Gujerat or final Anglo-Sikh war. It was alleged to have been taken from a Sikh priest by an officer of the 52nd Bengal Native Infantry at the Battle of Guzerat (Gujrat) on 21 February 1849.  

How do we know how old it is?

From the features of this saroop and studies of it by experts in the field we can be sure that this saroop is at least from 1690 AD. What is exciting is that it has been rebound and the Saloks of the Ninth Guru added in, which might make it even older.

Out of 15 manuscripts of this type of recension, a leading academic records this manuscript to be the oldest! More information will be provided at the seminars!

Other discoveries made from within this saroop will be disclosed in a forthcoming exhibition of this Guru Granth Sahib once it has been restored and digitalised. We urge you to donate generously towards the restoration costs of this Granth {27,000 GBP} and 7,2500 GBP in order to digitise the saroop. Please visit oursecure donation page to contribute towards this valuable seva.



The Sri Guru Granth Sahib has been examined by a number of experts of Sikh manuscripts and evaluated by Giani Rann Singh head Giani of Sant Samaaj and Tarnadal.  
CONSERVATION TREATMENT 
The following report has been provided by a University.
CONDITION: Book block: has sustained serious damage such as missing areas and tears. The first and last pages are in the worst condition, particularly the endpapers have been seriously damaged. The paper at the ends of the book is much more brittle as a result of being more exposed to the air and the paper being oxidised.
Boards & Board Attachment: The leather is worn at all corners of the book block, down the sides of the spine, across the middle raised band on the spine and the point of the enclosing flap. The leather is tornand lifting.  The spine adjacent to this tear is also lifting, revealing the join between the two covering pieces of leather. While still attached to the endpapers the front endpaper is no longer attached to the book block
Endpapers: Poor condition, the front endpaper has been torn in half and is separate from the book block, and as a result is torn, creased and dirty.
TREATMENT: 12 months, Manuscript will be complete, strengthened and useable for most library purposes, consultation, reprography, display etc
COSTS: Conservator (Grade 4) = £27,000 Materials costs £500 approx
Approximate total cost: £27,500
RECOMMENDATIONS 
It is also recommended that the manuscript be digitised as part of the conservation process.
DIGITISATION COSTS
£7,250.00
We urgently need you to donate and volunteer your skills in order to restore the saroop and create an exhibition around it. Please email admin@5culture.org .

A reply to a message about the meaning of the Adi-Chand emblem


ਗੁਰੂ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ!

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ॥
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ॥

ਫ਼ਤਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਨ ਹੋਵੇ ਵੀਰ ਕਮਲਰੂਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ!
ਆਸ ਹੈ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਸਦਕਾ ਆਪ ਜੀ ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲ੍ਹਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਵੋਗੇ! ਵੀਰ ਜੀਓ, ਆਪ ਜੀ ਤੇ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਮਿਹਰ ਹੋਈ ਕਿ ਆਪ ਖ਼ਾਲਸੇ ਦੀ ਖ਼ਾਲਿਸ ਦਿੱਖ ਦੇ ਮਾਲਿਕ ਬਣੇ। ਆਪ ਜੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਤਸਵੀਰਾਂ ਦੇਖੀਆਂ। ਇੱਕ ਤਸਵੀਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਦੁਮਾਲੇ ਤੇ ਜੋ ਚੰਨ-ਤੋੜੇ ਸਜਾਏ ਹਨ ਕੀ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਕੁੱਝ ਚਾਨਣਾ ਪਾਉਗੇ? ਆਪਣੀ ਤਸਵੀਰ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੱਖ ਰੱਖ ਕੇ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਹੇਠ ਲਿਖਤ ਬਾਰੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਕੀਮਤੀ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਕਰੋ ਜੀ:
“ਇਤਿਹਾਸਿਕ ਖੰਡੇ ਦੀ ਜਗ੍ਹਾ ਦੋ ਘੁੰਗਰੂਆਂ ਵਾਲੇ ਚੰਨ-ਤੋੜੇ ਨੂੰ ਸਿੱਖ ਧਰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਸ ਨੇ, ਕਦੋਂ ਅਤੇ ਕਿਉਂ ਪ੍ਰਚੱਲਤ ਕੀਤਾ? ਕੀ ਵਜ੍ਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਅੱਜ ਦੇ ਅਖੌਤੀ ਸਾਧ ਅਤੇ ਕਈ ਹੋਰ ਸਿੱਖ ਆਪਣੇ ਦੁਮਾਲਿਆਂ ਤੇ ਬਜਾਏ ਖ਼ਾਲਸੇ ਦੇ ਵਿਰਾਸਤੀ ਖੰਡੇ (ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਖੰਡਾ, ਚੱਕਰ ਅਤੇ ਦੋ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਨਾਂ ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਸੰਪੂਰਨ ਖੰਡਾ ਬਣਾਉਂਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ) ਨੂੰ ਤਿਆਗ਼ ਕੇ ਇਸ ਚੰਨ-ਤੋੜੇ ਨਾਲ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਖਾ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਪਿੱਛੇ ਜਿਹੇ ਵੀਰ ਡਾ: ਉੱਦੋਕੇ ਹੋਰਾਂ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਸਾਡੇ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਲਾਏ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਉੱਪਰ ਵਾਲੇ ਖੰਡੇ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਕਲ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤ੍ਰਿਸ਼ੂਲ ਦਾ ਰੂਪ ਦੇਣ ਦੇ ਕਈ ਕੇਸ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਏ ਹਨ। ਅਸੀਂ ਕਦੋਂ ਤੱਕ ਇਸ ਚੁੱਪੀ ਨੂੰ ਧਾਰੀ ਰੱਖਣਾ? ਕੀ ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਹੀ ਹੌਲੀ-ਹੌਲੀ ਹਿੰਦੂਆਂ ਦੇ ਹੱਥੋਂ ਸਿੱਖੀ ਦਾ ਘਾਣ ਕਰਵਾਈ ਜਾਣਾ? ਅੱਜ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਸਾਡੇ ਹੀ ਭਰਾਵਾਂ ਹੱਥੋਂ ਸਾਡੇ ਹੀ ਧਰਮ, ਧਰਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ, ਧਰਮ ਚਿੰਨਾਂ, ਵਿਰਾਸਤ, ਸਤਿਕਾਰਿਤ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ, ਮਾਂ-ਬੋਲੀ, ਮਾਂ-ਧਰਤੀ, ਆਦਿ ਨੂੰ ਮਲਿਆਮੇਟ ਕਰਣ ਦੇ ਨਿੱਤ ਨਵੇਂ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਜਨ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਅਸੀਂ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਦੇਖ਼ ਕੇ ਵੀ ਅਣਦੇਖਿਆ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਾਂ। ਸੋਚ ਲਓ ਕਿ ਸਿੱਖੀ ਨੂੰ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਪੀੜ੍ਹੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਵੀ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਕਰਨਾ ਜਾਂ ਗੁਰੂਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਜਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਲ ਲਈ ਸਿੱਖੀ ਨੂੰ ਕੌਡੀਆਂ ਭਾਅ ਰੁੱਲਣ ਲਈ ਛੱਡ ਦੇਣਾ। ਕਈ ਸਦੀਆਂ ਗ਼ੁਲਾਮੀ ਕੱਟਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਜ ਜਦੋਂ ਰਾਜ-ਭਾਗ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਉਹ ਅੱਜ ਘੱਟਗਿਣਤੀ ਕੌਮਾਂ ਮੁਸਲਿਮ, ਸਿੱਖ, ਈਸਾਈ, ਆਦਿ ਨਾਲ ਕਹਿਰ ਕਮਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਲੋੜ੍ਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜੱਥੇਬੰਦ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਮੂੰਹ ਤੋੜਵਾਂ ਜਵਾਬ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ।”
ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਜੀ! ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰਣ ਅਤੇ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲ੍ਹਾ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ਣ!
ਗੁਰੂ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ!
ਸਤਿਕਾਰ ਸਹਿਤ,
ਸੁਖਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ


The Adi-Chand is the union of Adi Shakti (the Khanda) and the Channd (the moon).

According to the Buddha Dal oral tradition, at Mecca Guru Nanak was given the Channd, he said in my Tenth form I will unite it with the Sword.

The symbol means Degh and Tegh - eg the Batta of charity (Degh) - and the Tegh Sword -(Khanda)

Therefore it is the Khanda and Batta of the Amrit sanchar.

If we go even deeper into the spiritual meaning:

The Khanda is a solar symbol. The channd is obviously the moon.

This Shabad is by Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Raamkalee on Pannaa 971 

sis kIno sUr igrwsw ] sas keeno soor giraasaa || the moon energy has devoured the sun energy.


MATV Interview with Harjap Singh Bhangal

MATV

I was invited on MATV to dispel the myths about Nihang Singhs. Harjap and I were at Uni together in the mid 1990s.  It was televised live from Wembley, 31 st January, 2011 6.45pm. Here are some of the question put forward:


What are nihangs? how did they come about? what do you believe in? what is your way of life? why as a uk born and bred person have u adopted this way of life? what are the codes of nihangs? why you wear what you do....is there still a purpose and need for nihangs in this day and age?....why are people afraid of approaching you? are u fundamentalists?....are you warmongers?....what are the positives and negatives in the way our gurdwaras are run on the uk?....why do nihangs not participate more in gurdwara structures?....what can youngsters do if they want to learn more?...what can you say to parents to make them realise this isnt a cult or extremist faith?....how are you precieved by the punjabi community?....is it true that nihangs drink bhang?....do nihangs do nasha?....do nihangs eat meat?....do they drink sharaab?....generally anything and everything to do with nihangs...and of course you are more than welcome to add any message of your own....

The video is coming soon.................

Sunday 20 January 2013

This lecture was given by Prof. Lou Fenech on November 14, 2012 at Mount Royal University to a public audience showcasing his work in examining Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Zafarnama



This lecture was given by Prof. Lou Fenech on November 14, 2012 at Mount Royal University to a public audience showcasing his work in examining Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Zafarnama.
The information and research provided is protected under copyright by the author.

In his upcoming book, Louis E. Fenech offers a compelling new examination of one of the only Persian compositions attributed to the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708): the Zafar-namah or 'Epistle of Victory.' Written as a masnavi, a Persian poem, this letter was originally sent to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (d. 1707) rebuking his most unbecoming conduct. Incredibly, Guru Gobind Singh's letter is included today within the Sikh canon, one of only a very small handful of Persian-language texts granted the status of Sikh scripture. As such, its contents are sung on special Sikh occasions. Perhaps equally surprising is the fact that the letter appears in the tenth Guru's book or the Dasam Granth in the standard Gurmukhi script (in which Punjabi is written) but retains its original Persian language, a vernacular few Sikhs know.
Drawing out the letter's direct and subtle references to the Iranian national epic, the Shah-namah, and to Shaikh Sa'di's thirteenth-century Bustan, Fenech demonstrates how this letter served as a form of Indo-Islamic verbal warfare, ensuring the tenth Guru's moral and symbolic victory over the legendary and powerful Mughal empire. Through analysis of the Zafar-namah, Fenech resurrects an essential and intriguing component of the Sikh tradition: its Islamicate aspect.


Saturday 19 January 2013

Dr Harbhajan Singh's paper on the Rag Mala



Evidence of the Rag Mala from the first recension of the Adi Granth, the Kirtarpuri Sarup.


Gurmukhi fonts - How to Install


GurbaniAkhar type-faces
, (Regular, Light, Slim & Heavy) are a family of Gurmukhi fonts that are optimized for writing text of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the customary format (i.e.; these fonts fulfill the requirement of writing 19 lines of Gurbani text per page in the landscape page orientation and with a decent font size). Most characters in these fonts have lesser width than the AnmolLipi or AmrLipi family of type faces. This font family is needed to view the Banis for Download, the SikhNet Daily Hukamnama Email, andShabads for Printing pdf versionFont by Kulbir S. Thind.
DOWNLOAD GurbaniAkhar.zip
 ,DOWNLOAD GurbaniAkhar.EXE ,G-Akhar Kmap.doc
font
Gurbani Web Thick
 - This type face will be needed to view the fonts on the SikhiToTheMax search engine. 
DOWNLOAD GurbaniWebThick.ttf
 see example
Prabhki, handwritten calligraphy style with tails, primarily designed as a display font (for use in titles and so on) - Font byAlbel Singh
DOWNLOAD Prabhkii.ttf
 , Learn more about this font
see example
Lanmathe same handwritten style (with the same extended key mappings) but with longer, more decorative tails, primarily designed for use as a display font for use as, say, certificate or book titles or fancy images. Font by Paul Grosse
DOWNLOAD lanma.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD lanma.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux)
see example
Raaj, a handwritten style with tails, primarily designed as a display font (for use in titles and so on) - especially the script versions. Each Raaj and Rajaa font is in seven styles: thin, light, normal, bold, black, script-thin and script. Font by Paul Grosse
DOWNLOAD raaj.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD raaj.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux)
 see example
Raajaa, the same handwritten style (with the same extended key mappings) but without the tails, primarily designed for use in body text. Each Raaj and Rajaa font is in seven styles: thin, light, normal, bold, black, script-thin and script. Using the same key mappings means that you can change the font from Raaj to raajaa without having to re-work any special sequences you have set; Font by Paul Grosse
DOWNLOAD raajaa.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD raajaa.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux)
  see example
Magaz, A clean, stylized, legible, font, designed to work down to really small sizes if required but keeping a consistent size and clean appearance as large as you like; The Magaz font is in five weights: thin, light, normal, bold and black. They are fully hinted and because of colour-balancing, the bold font will work at very small pixel sizes (clear at 9 px em size) like so . . . Magaz font legible at very small sizesFont by Paul Grosse
DOWNLOAD magaz.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD magaz.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux)
   see example
Karmic Sanj, A clean, informal, font, designed to be a Gurmukhi mirror for the ComicSansMS font that you see just about everywhere; The Karmic Sanj font has seven weights: thin, light, book, medium, bold, heavy and black.Font by Paul Grosse
DOWNLOAD karmic.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD karmic.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux)
 see example
Bulara, A clean, legible, font, designed to work as a display font. Comes in various bold styles as well as true, hollow styles which, unlike many other hollow or outline fonts, has endcaps; Font by Paul Grosse
DOWNLOAD bulara.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD bulara.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux)
 see example
GHW Adhiapak, This is a real-life Gurmukhi handwritten font. It is still highly legible as it keeps largely to the Gurbani style of character production - the sort of style that your teacher would use. However, on the other hand, it turns your machine-produced-looking text into something that a real person would have written, capturing the energy and flow of the writing.
It appears in 9 different weights from Thin to Black.;
 Font by Paul Grosse
DOWNLOAD ghw-adhiapak.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD ghw-adhiapak.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux)
 see example
GHW Dukandar, an informal font, designed to look like Punjabi shorthand, for example the kind of handwriting that a shop keeper (dukandar) in Punjab might use. Comes in regular and bold, marker, and marker bold; Font by Paul Grosse
DOWNLOAD ghw-dukandar.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD ghw-dukandar.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux)
 see example
Punjabi Typewriter, A monospaced, font, designed to represent the output of a typewriter. At 10 points, this gives 80 characters across on A4 paper with a reasonable border. Font by Paul Grosse.
DOWNLOAD puntype.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD puntype.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux) 
 see example
Rupe, Primarily designed as a display font, although it has the legibility of a body text font as well, this highly stylised font takes the efficiency of GHW Dukandar - eliminating any part of a character that does not help to differentiate it from other characters (such as between ਮ and ਸ) but with the overriding requirement that it is still legible with as little effort as possible -and formalises it into a clean, consistent font. Font by Paul Grosse.
DOWNLOAD rupe.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD rupe.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux) 
 see example
Gurvetica A, a highly legible font, designed to work extremely well both in display and body text. Attention has been paid to differentiating between vowels so that people with less than perfect vision can read smaller point sizes better - thus making reading newspapers, books and leaflets easier to read. Font by Paul Grosse.
DOWNLOAD grvta.zip (Windows), DOWNLOAD grvta.tar.bz2 (Unix/Linux)
font
Web Akhar Th
ickwill be needed to view the online Siri Guru Granth Sahib and Shabads for Printing html version on SikhNet.
DOWNLOAD WebAkharThick.ttf
font
Web Akhar Slim
, is the slim version of the above font. Required for viewing the Hukamnama on the SGPC website. 
DOWNLOAD WebAkharSlim.ttf
font
GurbaniHindi
, a Hindi font that is optimized for writing Gurbani in Hindi. Font by Kulbir S. Thind.
DOWNLOAD Gurhindi.ttf , Hindi Keymap.doc
font
GurbaniRomanizing,
 a font optimized for romanizing Gurbani (& Gurmukhi).
DOWNLOAD Gurrom.ttf.
font
AnmolLipi type-faces
, (Regular, Light, Slim, Bold, Thick, Raised, Ubhri, Kalmi) are a family of Gurmukhi fonts with variations in display that are suitable for writing modern Punjabi where international numbers are used as a routine. Classic Gurmukhi number characters are also included as symbols. Font by Kulbir S. Thind.
DOWNLOAD AnmolLipi.zip , DOWNLOAD AnmolLipi.EXE , Anmol Keymap.doc , Anmol Keymap2.doc
font
AmrLipi type-faces
, (AmrLipi, AmrLipiLight, AmrLipiSlim) are a family of Gurmukhi fonts with variations in display that are suitable for writing Punjabi where classic Gurmukhi numbers are used as a routine. Font by Kulbir S. Thind.
DOWNLOAD AmrLipi.zip , DOWNLOAD AmrLipi.EXE , Amrlipi Keymap.doc , Amrlipi Keymap2.doc
font
GurbaniLipi & GurbaniLipiLight
, along with their bold versions are a family of Gurmukhi fonts with variations in thickness that are optimized for writing text of Shree Guru Granth Sahib in the customary format. Font by Kulbir S. Thind.
DOWNLOAD Gurblipi.ttf , DOWNLOAD Gurbli_l.ttf , GLipi Kymap1.doc , Amrlipi Keymap2.doc
font
Web Lipi Heavy,
 is another font thay may be used by some websites. 
DOWNLOAD WebLipiHeavy.ttf.



All fonts available here use this key map
keymap
Fonts by Dr. Kulbir S. Thind
These fonts are available for download to use with the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Files. These fonts, are free for individual use. Any other use of the fonts, including mirroring or copying, is prohibited without the express written consent of Dr. Kulbir S. Thind. For PC users, the file to download is a compressed "zip" file. After downloading the font files and unzipping to your chosen folder follow the instructions to install the fonts on your computer.
Gurbani Font Manual: For complete information on the fonts you can read the Font Manual. 
Font Manual.zip , Font Manual.doc
Download Dr. Thind's fonts compressed in a single compressed "Zip" file:
(If your computer ius a macintosh you can de-compress by downloading the  Aladdin Stuffit ExpanderCompressed in Zip format
Download Dr. Thind's fonts compressed in a self extracting archive (windows). After dowloading just double click on the file with your mouse and select a location where you want the files extracted to. Then proceed to read how to install the fonts. Self Extracting Archive (Compressed)
 Licensing PolicyDr. Thind's Type-faces are free but are licensed for use only. Users are not permitted to illegally sell his type-faces or to modify the outlines for making profit or for other purposes. They are also not to distribute copies of his type-faces to others, free or otherwise. The distribution should be left to Dr. Thind and to individuals authorized by him as there are many advantages in doing so. If you do want to give Dr. Thind's fonts to others, you must, first obtain permission from him.

If you have any of the GurbaniAkhar fonts installed on your computer then Gurbani text should display when viewing pages like the Daily Hukamnama. Some of the fonts are varied thickness (GurbaniThick, GurbaniThin, GurbaniAkhar, etc) so it is a good idea to install at least a few of the different fonts for optimum display. 
Instructions for Windows XP and Windows Vista users:
 1. Download any/all of these fonts GurbaniWebThick, GurbaniAkharThickGurbaniAkhar RegularGurbaniAkharSlim,WebAkharThick (right-click on the link and choose "Save Link As" or "Save Target As...") The font file will download to your computer. Usually it will download to your desktop, but it may be another folder.  Remember where you saved the font file! It's called something like: "gurakh_s.ttf".
NOTE: WebAkharThick or GurbaniWebThick fonts should be installed if you are using using the Internet Explorer web browser, due to some spacing issues. There are also other Gurbani fonts that you can also install, but only the "Akhar" fonts will work for displaying the Hukamnama.
 2. Open the Control Panel (Start - Control Panel) and choose the "Classic View" and then Double-click on the"Fonts" icon.
 
3. The Fonts Folder will Open. Click "File" and then "Install New Font"
 
4. In the "Add Fonts" dialog box that appears, navigate the folder tree to the place you saved the font file. Select the file in the "List of fonts" box and press the "OK" button.
 
5. You are done! Now go to the Daily Hukamnama Web page and Refresh the page by pressing Ctrl+R on your keyboard.
Instructions for how to install Gurmukhi Fonts on a Mac:
1. Download any/all of these fonts Gurbani Akhar ThickGurbani Akhar RegularGurbani Akhar SlimThe font will automatically download to your “download” folder.
2) Open your download folder and click on the font file.
3) In the dialog box check “install font”.
 
Note: Other similar Gurbani fonts will also work to display the hukamnama page, so if you have other fonts installed then it will work as well. (WebAkharSlim, GurbaniAkharSlim, GurbaniWebThick, GurbaniAkhar, GurbaniAkharHeavy)
source: www.sikhnet.com

Thursday 17 January 2013

A brief guide to researching Gurmukhi manuscripts and some photos of a research visit to Punjab

During the Singh Sabha movement a lot of manuscripts were edited. For scholars this creates obvious problems, so it is necessary to turn to primary sources to understand history and other issues more accurately. In some printed editions words have been changed all to often, as well as whole paragraphs, sections, pages, and chapters being excised! Another issue is that many manuscripts have never been printed, so there is ample new material out there, which is mind blowing! I have added a few photographs of my travels with a list of places you can find manuscripts, lithographs, and first editions:

United Kingdom

1. British Library ww.bl.uk
http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/

Click here for an overview:
http://www.asiamap.ac.uk/collections/collection.php?ID=219&Browse=Region&Region=5

2. Wellcome Trust Library
 http://library.wellcome.ac.uk/about-us/about-the-collections/archives-and-manuscripts/

3. Cambridge University Library
http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/library/special_collections/manuscripts/oriental_manuscripts/

4. Oxford University - Indian Institute Library
http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/

5. Guru Nanak Sikh Museum, Leicester
http://www.thesikhmuseum.com/contact.htm

6. John Rylands Library, Manchester
http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/

America

Some great secondary sources and first editions at the center for research libraries:
http://catalog.crl.edu/

India - Punjab

1. Amritsar

Guru Nanak Dev Ji University
http://library.gndu.ac.in/Manuscripts.asp



Khalsa College
http://www.khalsacollegeamritsar.org/library.html



Bhai Santokh Singh Library, Sri Darbar Sahib




2. Ludhiana


Jawadi Taksal
Panjabi Sahit Academy, Punjabi Bhawan
http://www.psaldh.org/pb/



3. Patiala
Punjabi University, Library

Bhasha Vibhag
http://www.pblanguages.gov.in/

I had a look at a number of manuscripts related to the Dasam Granth Sahib and Court Poetry of the Tenth Guru. I made some amazing finds that I hope to share in the future!


By chance I met with Prof. Gurinder Singh Mann pictured behind me!



States Archives
http://www.e-corpus.org/punjab.html


Najabat Ali head of Gurmukhi, Persian and Urdu manuscripts in the State Archives


Central Public Library


At this library the head of the manuscript section is a great and generous individual Dr Rupinder Singh. he has recently written this essay: 'RARE MANUSCRIPTS OF MUSAFIR MEMORIAL CENTRAL STATE LIBRARY, PATIALA : A HIDDEN TREASURE' . At this Library I looked at some very old Gurmukhi manuscripts one called the Baznama related to how to look after Birds of Prey, from the Court of the Guru, as well as many others to recount!


Dr Rupinder Singh showing me an eighteenth century manuscript of the Holy Qur'an.



4. Chandigarh



Punjab University Library
www.library.puchd.ac.in



Punjab Digital Library online : 

http://www.panjabdigilib.org/webuser/searches/mainpage.jsp



Pakistan



Punjab University Library
http://www.pulibrary.edu.pk/
http://www.pulibrary.edu.pk/personalCollections/mianJamilAhmadSharaqpuri/List_of_collection_MianJamilAhmad.xls
http://www.qal.org.pk/


You can also search this:

http://www.e-corpus.org/search/search.php?place=organization_id_281&page=1&search=search&q=Sikh
Also see: 
https://coral.uchicago.edu:8443/display/lasa/Punjab+%28India%29

There are many more manuscript collections around the world more information coming soon!!