| Hikaaitaan ਹਿਕਾਇਤਾਂ • حکایت | |
|---|---|
| Dasam Granth | |
 Heading of the second "Hikayat" of the Dasam Granth, written by Bhai Daya Singh, present within the "Aurangabadi Bir" | |
| Information | |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Author | Guru Gobind Singh |
| Chapters | 11 or 12 (if counting the Zafarnama "Dastaan") |
| Verses | 756[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 |
Hikaaitaan or Hikāyatān (Punjabi: ਹਿਕਾਇਤਾਂ (Gurmukhi) • حکایت (Persian), pronunciation: [ɦɪkäːɪt̪ãː], lit. ‘realities’) is a title given to the semi-legendary set of 11 tales (hikayat; Gurmukhi: ਹਿਕਾਇਤਾ, romanized: Hikā'itā), composed in the Gurmukhi/Persian vernacular (with a few words in the Majha dialect),[3] whose authorship is traditionally attributed to Guru Gobind Singh. It is the last composition of the second scripture of Sikhs, Dasam Granth, and some believe it to be appended to Zafarnamah—the letter to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Traditionally, the set of tales is said to have been written with the Zafarnama at Dina, Punjab, in 1704 CE, whereas an opposing view is that they were written in 1698 CE at Paonta Sahib.[4] In total, there are 11 tales—composed of 752 couplets; however, some individuals count the Zafarnama as the first hikayat, which brings the count to 12.[5] Each tale begins with praise of the Almighty.[6] This composition is present in all old manuscripts, including those of Mani Singh, Motibagh, Sangrur, Anandpuri, and Patna manuscripts.[7]
- ^ Makin, Gursharan Singh (2005). Zafarnama: The Epistle of Victory (1st ed.). Lahore Book Shop. p. 13. ISBN 8176471798.
- ^ Singha, H.S. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (Over 1000 Entries). Hemkunt Press. p. 54. ISBN 9788170103011.
- ^ Page 93, The A to Z of Sikhism, W. H. McLeod
- ^ Birk, Kamalroop Singh (December 2013). Dasam Granth re-examined: an examination of the textual history with reference to key authors and commentators (d_ph thesis). University of Birmingham.
- ^ Grewal, J. S. (2019). "Appendix 9A: Perspectives on the Zafarnama". Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708): Master of the White Hawk (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Sikh Religion, Culture and Ethnicity, C. Shackle, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, Gurharpal Singh