Varan Bhai Gurdas

Varan Bhai Gurdas
ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ
Folio of an 18th or 19th century manuscript of Varan Bhai Gurdas
Information
ReligionSikhism
AuthorBhai Gurdas
PeriodCirca late 16th century
Chapters40 vaars

Varan Bhai Gurdas (Gurmukhi: ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ vārāṁ bhā'ī guradāsa; meaning "ballads of Bhai Gurdas"), also known as Varan Gyan Ratnavali (Punjabi: ਵਾਰ ਗਿਆਨ ਰਤਨਾਵਲੀ, romanized: Vāra gi'āna ratanāvalī, lit.'ballads of gems of knowledge'),[1] is the name given to the 40 vars (a form of Punjabi poetry) which is traditionally attributed to Bhai Gurdas.[2][3]

  1. ^ Singh, Pritam (1992). Bhai Gurdas. Makers of Indian literature (1st ed.). New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 33–40. ISBN 978-81-7201-218-2.
  2. ^ Singh, Pritama (1992). Bhai Gurdas. pp. 33–36. ISBN 9788172012182.
  3. ^ Singh, Bhupender (23 December 2022). Baba Nanak Shah Fakir (1st ed.). Blue Rose Publishers. pp. 22–23. ISBN 9789357046602. 3. Vars of Bhai Gurdas (1551-1636): Bhai Gurdas, a contemporary of Guru Arjan and Guru Hargobind, was the son of Bhai Ishar Das Bhalla (one of Guru Amar Das's cousins) and Mai Jivani. The entire text of the sacred volume (Guru Granth Sahib) was inscribed by Bhai Gurdas, the nephew of Guru Amar Das under the direction and supervision of Guru Arjun. The thirty-nine Vars (heroic odes or ballads) of Bhai Gurdas, written fifty to seventy years after the demise of Guru Nanak, only briefly mention some of the events of the Guru's life; the rest is all eulogy (writing in praise of someone). Var 1 contains information on Guru Nanak. When Bhai Gurdas was composing his Vars, many people who personally knew the Guru were alive, particularly Baba Buddha who, was well known to the author, as well. Unfortunately, Bhai Gurdas did not avail of his knowledge. Nevertheless, whatever reference he makes in the Vars must be taken to be authentic.