Dasam

Dasam generally refers to the Dasam Granth, a Sikh scripture attributed primarily to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhism. The name Dasam Granth means “Book of the Tenth.” The compilation is believed to have formed in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, though the authorship of some pieces remains disputed. It is not included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the primary canonical scripture of Sikhism, and Sikh authorities typically treat it as a separate text with varying degrees of doctrinal authority.

Contents and themes commonly associated with the Dasam Granth include Jaap Sahib, Tav Prasad Svaiyian, Bichitar Natak, Chandi Charitar, Charitropakhyan, and Zafarnama, among other compositions. The works cover praise of God, martial ethos, narratives about divine or heroic figures, and ethical exhortations. Some portions are poetic hagiographies or moral tales, while Zafarnama is often highlighted as a petition or account addressed to Mughal ruler Aurangzeb in Persian verse in some traditions.

Authorship and textual history are debated. While the core is attributed to Guru Gobind Singh, scholars note contributions by others in his circle and possible later interpolations. The Dasam Granth exists in multiple manuscript versions, and questions about authenticity have influenced Sikh scholarship and practice in various regions.

Influence and status vary by community. In some traditions, notably the Nihang order and certain scholarly groups, the Dasam Granth is studied alongside the Guru Granth Sahib; in mainstream Sikhism, it is treated with caution and does not hold the same canonical status as the Guru Granth Sahib.