Kavi Santokh Singh (1787-1843) was a major Sikh poet-historian, author of Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth and Nanak Prakash.
Portrait via Wikimedia Commons.
Courses
Guru Nanak Dev Ji: Life and Teachings
This course studies the life and message of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh faith, in an academic but accessible way. It traces his birth at Nankana Sahib, the spiritual awakening at Sultanpur Lodhi, the four Udasis or great journeys, his central teachings on the One Creator, honest work,…
The Lives of the Ten Gurus
This course surveys the lives, teachings, and contributions of the ten human Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and the conferral of eternal Guruship upon ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ. It pays special attention to how the devotional chronicles of Kavi (Bhai) Santokh Singh, above all his Sri Gur…
Guru Amar Das Ji: Equality and Reform
Guru Amar Das Ji (1479-1574), the Third Guru of the Sikhs, led the community from 1552 to 1574. This course studies his life and his lasting reforms. He built the town of Goindwal and its famous Baoli Sahib, and he made the rule that every visitor, of any rank, must first sit together and eat in the langar before…
Guru Angad Dev Ji: The Second Master
This course studies the life and contributions of Guru Angad Dev Ji (1504-1552), the Second Master of the Sikhs. Born Bhai Lehna, he met Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Kartarpur and was chosen as successor in 1539, over Guru Nanak's own sons, because of his humility and devoted service. As Guru he settled at Khadur Sahib,…
Guru Har Krishan Ji: The Child Guru's Seva
Guru Har Krishan Ji (1656-1664) was the Eighth Guru of the Sikhs and became Guru as a young child, around the age of five, in 1661. This course studies his short but luminous life: his early succession after Guru Har Rai Ji, his journey to Delhi at the call of the Mughal court, and his remembered service to the…
Guru Har Rai Ji: Compassion and Care
Guru Har Rai Ji (1630-1661) was the seventh Sikh Guru, serving the community from 1644 to 1661. A grandson of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, he is remembered above all for his deep compassion and gentleness toward every living creature. This course studies his life and leadership: how he kept the Sikh community strong…
Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the Birth of the Khalsa
This course studies the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru, and the founding of the Khalsa. It follows his birth in 1666, the martyrdom of his father, the founding of the Khalsa on Vaisakhi 1699, the first Amrit Sanchar and the Panj Pyare, the sacrifice of the Sahibzade, and the 1708 conferral of eternal…
Guru Ram Das Ji: Founder of Amritsar
Guru Ram Das Ji (1534-1581) was the fourth of the ten Sikh Gurus and led the community from 1574 to 1581. Born in Lahore as Bhai Jetha, he is remembered for founding the settlement of Ramdaspur, which later grew into the city of Amritsar, and for beginning the excavation of its great sarovar (sacred pool). He…
Guru Arjan Dev Ji: The Scripture and the First Martyrdom
Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563-1606), the fifth Sikh Guru, guided the community from 1581 to 1606. His era shaped Sikhi in lasting ways. He completed the Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) at Amritsar and gave it doors on all four sides as a sign of openness to all people. He compiled the Adi Granth in 1604, gathering…
Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji: Miri-Piri and the Akal Takht
Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji (1595-1644), the Sixth Nanak, became Guru in 1606 following the martyrdom of his father, Guru Arjan Dev Ji. This course studies how he gave the Sikh community a balanced direction by joining spiritual life with worldly responsibility. He wore two swords, one for Miri (temporal authority) and…
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji: Shield of Conscience
This course studies the life, travels, teaching, and martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621-1675), the Ninth Guru of the Sikhs. He became Guru in 1665, journeyed across northern and eastern India, and founded the town that grew into Anandpur. In 1675 he was executed in Delhi under the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb…
Classical Sikh Poetics
An academic introduction to the classical poetic forms used in Sikh literature, studied through the great narrative works of Kavi (Bhai) Santokh Singh. The course examines metre, figures of speech, mood, and the heroic ballad, and asks how poetic form helps shape religious and historical meaning.
The Garab Ganjani Teeka: A Commentary on Japji Sahib
This course studies the Garab Ganjani Teeka, a prose commentary on Japji Sahib written by Kavi (Bhai) Santokh Singh in the Nirmala tradition of Sikh exegesis. Students learn what a teeka is, who Santokh Singh was, why this particular commentary was written, and the interpretive debate it addressed. The course…