Akal Ustat

Akal Ustat
ਅਕਾਲ ਉਸਤਤਿ
Dasam Granth
Akal Ustat composition of Guru Gobind Singh inscribed on a plate of the 'Charaina' (translates to “four mirrors”) body armour worn by Guru Gobind Singh in the battle of Bhangani, ca.1688
Information
ReligionSikhism
AuthorGuru Gobind Singh
Verses271 and a half[1][2]
Part of a series on the
Dasam Granth
ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ
Main compositions
Apocryphal compositions (Asfottak Banis)
Various aspects
Poetical metres, modes, measures, and rhythms

Akal Ustat (Punjabi: ਅਕਾਲ ਉਸਤਤਿ, pronounced [aːkaːl ʊsteːti], lit. ‘the praise of the Timeless One’) is the name given to the second Bani (sacred composition) present in the second holy scriptures of the Sikhs called the Dasam Granth.[3] It is composed of 271 verses, and is largely devotional in nature.[4][3]

  1. ^ 'Makin', Gursharan Singh. Zafarnama: The Epistle of Victory (1st ed.). Lahore Book Shop. p. 13. ISBN 8176471798.
  2. ^ Singha, H.S. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (Over 1000 Entries). Hemkunt Press. p. 54. ISBN 9788170103011.
  3. ^ a b Pashaura, Singh; Fenech, Louis E. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford University Press. pp. 241–243. ISBN 978-0-19-100412-4. Akal Ustat (Praise of the Timeless One): Akal Ustat is a series of verses praising God, using phrases such as Akal Purakh or the Timeless Primal Being or Lord, and Sarbloh or the 'Lord of all Steel'. There are verses that explain that this lord takes form in numerous gods and goddesses, and also in Hindus and Muslims. This composition refers most frequently to Hindu mythology (e.g. mentioning God as manifesting as a demon-slaying goddess), with a few passing references to the Quran and Muslim practices as well. Many verses criticize an overemphasis on ritual as the best way to gain knowledge of God. A number of Sikh interpreters have concluded that this section is incomplete, and some have speculated that there are parts of this text that are later interpolations or that may actually belong in other parts of the Dasam Granth.
  4. ^ The encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Vol. 1. Harbans Singh. Patiala: Punjabi University. 1992–1998. pp. 60–61. ISBN 0-8364-2883-8. OCLC 29703420.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)