The Name of My Beloved: Verses of the Sikh Gurus

by Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh (Introduction)

The first contemporary English translation of hymns and prayers from the Guru Granth Sahib - the principal sacred text of the Sikh religion - and the Dasam Granth, the poetry of the tenth Sikh Guru.
The vision of Guru Nanak, the fifteenth-century founder of the Sikh faith, celebrated the oneness of the divine that both dwells within and transcends the endless diversity of life. Guru Nanak's vision inspired the rich and inclusive philosophy of Sikhism, which is reflected in this first modern English translation of poems from the central Sikh text, the Guru Granth Sahib, and from the highly esteemed Dasam Granth, the Guru Granth Sahib consists of poems and hymns by Guru Nanak, his successors, and Hindu and Islamic saints and the Dasam Granth collects the poetry of the tenth Sikh Guru. Poetry from both texts is heard daily and at rites of passage and celebration in Sikh homes and gurudwaras, carrying forward Sikh belief in the oneness and equality of all humanity.

251 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1995

Reviews

[Joseph]

I'm not Sikh, but I am trying to read the major religious texts of the world. Since I can't find a whole English translation of the Guru Granth Sahib online, and because it's also very long, I figured this book would be a good sampler, since it seems to select some of the most important passages (along with a few other important Sikh writings).

As far as I can tell, the Guru Granth doesn't seem to have rules or stories per se; it's more like the Book of Psalms from the Bible. That said, compared to Psalms, it seems a lot more repetitive—I often felt like I was reading the same couple of praises over and over again. That said, I want to learn more about Sikhism in the future, because there's a lot about the underlying philosophy that I find intriguing.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book. I want to be a Sikh. ❤️

[Amos Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am astonished that this book doesn't have numerous five star ratings! In college I started out as a student of religion and in one of my independent studies classes I endeavored to read all of the primary scriptures of the world's religions. This book was hands down my most delightful experience outside of my own Christian tradition. Part of the reason for my delight may be the fact that the Sikhism is the youngest of the world's religions and has a sweeping poetic approach to religion. I loved the poetry of this text. It jumped of the page for me.
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)

[HadiDee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy to find a modern translation of some key Sikh verses. Hope she gets funding to translate the whole Adi Granth and Dasam Granths

[Avi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful exploration of the Guru's verses. Makes me more determined to read them in the original gurmukhi.