1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 44
3 held by the Hindoos, was no doubt received, as a
4 sure proof of the future greatness of TN anu.k,
5 Nanuk’s precepts for the guidance of his follow¬
6 ers are contained in the “ Grunth,’ or Holy Book
7 of the Sikhs; it was begun, and the first part of it
8 written, by Nanuk and Ins immediate successors.
9 This part is named Adi-Grunth, to distinguish it
10 from the second portion, composed exclusively by
11 the great reformer Gooroo Govind, Nanuk’s suc¬
12 cessor. This second part is accordingly named
13 the " Dasuma Padshah ka Grunth,” or f‘ Book of
14 the tenth king.” The religious tenets of Nanuk, or
15 contained in the Adi-Grunth, continued in force,
16 with slight modifications, until the time of Gooroo
17 Govind, who effected a total reform in the religion,
18 manners, and habits of the Sikhs; and it is now m
19 vain to look for the observance of any of his peace¬
20 ful doctrines, excepting among the descendant of
21 Sree Chund, or the Nanuk Pootras. Before the
22 time of Govind, however, some of the Gooroos had
23 armed their followers, but this was chiefly done for
24 the purpose of defence; with this exception, all
25 the tenets of Nanuk were religiously preserved
26 until Govind: Singh gave an entirely new character
27 to the Sikhs, who from being quiet and peaceable,
28 became at once a war-like tribe, spreading terror
29 and desolation wherever they went.
30 •The Grunth is written in the Goomoocki cha¬
31 racter, “ a modified, species of the Nagari.” It is
32 placed in the holy temple of Umritsir, and con¬
33 stantly referred to iu all matters by the Sikhs.