With the grace of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, we are honoured to present the first-ever detailed exegesis and exposition in English of the Akaal Ustat in commemoration of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s 352nd Perkash Diharra.

There are a number of quotes throughout this book cited from the early sources including the Bhai Gurdas Vaaran & Kabitt, Rehatnamas, Bhai Nand Lal’s ghazals and as well with interspercing of quotes from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji and Sri Sarabloh Granth Sahib Ji. Along with this, we have also included Sufi theology, various Greek, Egyptian and Chinese scholars’ quotes. The Punjabi meanings has been largely utilized from Dasam Guru Granth Sahib Steek by Pandit Narain Singh Giani with some omissions and additions.

The primary text of Akaal Ustat has been taken from the personal prayer book (Gutka) of Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed, the first Jathedar of Damdami Taksal & Damdama Sahib is currently kept at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Sabo Ki Talwandi. The text in this Gutka and the one of Baba Jit Singh Ji’s Gutka, the second Jathedar of Damdama Sahib is almost similar. Further, the calligraphy of this manuscript with Baba Ji’s written Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji present at Takht Sahib is similar, making it a reliable source.
Further, contemporary original paintings of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in his stages of life namely, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, adulthood and middle age has been supplied upon the completion of stanza 140. Of note, amongst these, is a portrait of Guru Ji in His adolescence with a qalam (pen) denoting the phase where Guru Ji started to compose His bani.

In order to make it more relevant to this day and science, there has been an amalgamation of physics, metaphysics, cosmology and astronomy to create a holistic approach in understanding some core principles and makes the readers contemplate on the intellectual brilliance of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. A plethora of history has been supplied with relevance to the Akaal Ustat in order to make this a concise reference book.

The opening invocation of this book, Akal Ji Sahay Ji (Akwl jI shwX jI) has been taken from the invocation used by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji whilst writing His
composition namely Jaap Sahib, Chandi Charitr, Gian Parbodh, Mohni Avtar (partof Chaubis Avtar) among others. Example of this is shown later in our book under the note of ‘Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s handwritten Sri Dasam Granth’.

Additionally, images of prominent manuscripts namely, Anandpur Darbari Manuscript of Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji dated 1695-1698AD, Sri Dasam Granth Sahib of Patna Sahib dated 1698AD, Bhai Param Singh Ji’s prayer book (Gutka), Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed’s Gutka and Baba Jit Singh Ji’s Gutka has been given along with the variation in text seen amongst the manuscripts for research purposes.

Akaal Ustat touches on all the principles and ethos of the Sikh faith and the nature contained therein and we have mildly given elucidations in order to invigorate the readers to think on the One Akaal.

This book aims to guide the readers through the journey of spiritual upliftment wherein the finite becomes the infinite.
This book is meant to the general society and also the preachers alike. Our effort sums up to a grain of soil in a boundless desert and we thank Guru Ji for giving us such opportunity for which we were never qualified.

Author: Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy
Year – Poh Sudhi 7, 2075 Bikarmi (13th January 2019 CE)
538 Pages
Hardback
Colour