Raj kumar at 23:41, 31 March 2026

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{{Short description|17th and 18th-century Sikh court of poets}}
[[File:Painting of the court of Guru Gobind Singh.jpg|thumb|Painting of the court of Guru Gobind Singh. Illustration from a manuscript of [[Chaubis Avtar|Krishnavatar]].]]
{{Sikh literature}}

'''Kavi Darbar''' (literally "poet court") is a term that refers to historical Sikh ''[[Durbar (court)|durbars]]'' (courts) composed of congregations of poets, litterateurs, artists, and scholars that were established and had flourished during the [[Guru Gaddi|guruship]] period of [[Guru Gobind Singh]] in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Fenech|first1=Louis E.|title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism|last2=McLeod|first2=William H.|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2014|isbn=978-1-4422-3600-4|edition=3rd|series=Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements|location=Lanham, Maryland|pages=|author-link2=W. H. McLeod}}</ref>{{Rp|page=62–63}}{{Efn|The term "Kavi Darbar" is alternatively spelt as 'Kavi Durbar'.|group=note}} These establishments served as Sikh centres of learning and scholarship. They played a pivotal role in the history of Sikh literature.

== History ==
According to popular Sikh tradition, [[Guru Gobind Singh]] established a court of poets consisting of fifty-two members, known as ''Bavanja Kavi'' (literally "fifty-two poets").<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=62–62}} According to [[Kahn Singh Nabha]]'s [[Mahan Kosh|Mahankosh]], the names of the fifty-two poets are as follows:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Singh|first=Roopinder|date=8 April 2018|title=Baisakhi in the City of Bliss|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/baisakhi-in-the-city-of-bliss-570219|access-date=20 January 2024|website=The Tribune|author-link=Roopinder Singh}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Uday Rai
* Ani Rai
* Amrit Rai
* Allu
* Asa Singh
* Alim
* Ishavar Dass
* Sukh Dev
* Sukha Singh
* Sukhia
* Sudama
* Sainapat
* Shyam
* Heer
* Hussain Ali
* Hans Ram
* Kallu
* Kuveresh
* Khan Chand
* Gunia
* [[Bhai Gurdas Singh|Gurdas]]
* Gopal
* Chandan
* Chanda
* Jamaal
* Tehkin
* Dharam Singh
* Dhanna Singh
* Dhayan Singh
* Nannoo
* Nishchal Dass
* Nihal Chand
* Nand Singh
* [[Bhai Nand Lal|Nand Lal]]
* Pindi Dass
* Ballabh
* Balloo
* Bidhi Chand
* Bulland
* Brikh
* Brij Lal
* Mathura
* Madan Singh
* Madan Giri
* Malloo
* Maan Dass
* Mala Singh
* Mangal
* Ram
* Rawal
* Roshan Singh
* Lakha
{{div col end}}
[[File:Kavi Kuvresh.jpg|thumb|Modern painting of Kavi Kuvresh by the Anandpur Art Project]]
The three most prominent and famous of the fifty-poets were Bhai Nand Lal Goya, Kavi Chandra Sain Sainapati, and Bhai Gurdas Singh.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=62–63}}{{Efn|Bhai Gurdas Singh is not to be confused with [[Bhai Gurdas|Bhai Gurdas Bhalla]].|group=note}} After analyzing the surviving pieces of literature produced by the Kavi Darbars, [[Sikh Studies|Sikhologists]] Louis E. Fenech and [[W. H. McLeod]] propose the number of poets in the darbars established by the tenth Sikh guru would have been considerably greater than the traditional narrative of there only being fifty-two.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=62–63}} They further state the number 52 came into popular parlance and tradition due to its auspicious associations in Sanskrit and Devanagari, and therefore was "used in order to convey an amount of sanctity on this assembly".<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=62–63}} There was a great deal of movement of intellectuals between the various sub-imperial courts during this era.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=62–63}} [[D. P. Singh (writer)|D. P. Singh]], on the other hand, states the 52 poets were the ones who were permanently employed in the Kavi Darbar.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Singh|first=Devinder Pal|date=April 1999|title=The Literary Genius of Guru Gobind Singh|url=https://philarchive.org/archive/SINTLG|format=PDF|journal=The Sikh Review|volume=47|issue=4|pages=35–39|via=PhilPapers|author-link=D. P. Singh (writer)}}</ref>

Guru Gobind Singh accorded the [[Braj Bhasha|Braj]] language as the "principal literary language of his court" (with Persian also being gifted a similar status) for the effect of challenging the Mughal court's status, fame, and reputation.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=72–73}} The number of intellectuals working, engaged, and associating with and in the Sikh Darbar assemblies changed over time.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=126}} The popular narrative of the Kavi Darbars claims the poets all wrote in Braj, with the exception of two who wrote in [[Persian language|Persian]] instead.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=126}} Guru Gobind Singh may have established the Kavi Darbar assemblies due to the influence of Mughal (and to a lesser extent, [[Hill States of India|Pahari Raja]]) courtly norms and functions.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=126}} The Sikh Kavi Darbars were distinguishable from their Mughal and Pahari counterparts in a few ways, with the most noteworthy being the nature of manuscript-making and music at the Sikh assemblies.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=126}} The authors of the Sikh Kavi Darbars produced literature typically about popular subjects of the era using fancy language, emulating their contemporaries found within other poetical courts of the subcontinent at the time.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=193}} Common topics covered by the writings of the Kavis were ''ritigranths'' (style manuscripts) and Braj interpretations of the [[Mahabharata]] epic but also other [[Hindu texts|Indic texts]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=193}}
[[File:Painting of Guru Gobind Singh holding court, from a Gobind Gita manuscript, circa early 19th century.jpg|thumb|Painting of Guru Gobind Singh holding court, from a ''Gobind Gita'' manuscript, circa early 19th century]]
According to [[Roopinder Singh]], when the guruship passed from [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]] to Guru Gobind Singh, the latter inherited his father's courtly poets.<ref name=":1" /> The poets produced literature in a variety of languages, some examples being Braj, [[Sanskrit]], Persian, [[Arabic]], and [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]].<ref name=":1" /> According to [[Kavi Santokh Singh]] in the ''[[Suraj Prakash]]'', the total weight of the literature produced by the Anandpur Darbar assembly weighed a total of 350 kilograms.<ref name=":1" /> However, all of this literature, aside from a tiny surviving portion of material transferred out of the area earlier, was lost when the [[Khalsa]] evacuated Anandpur in 1704 or December 1705 due to [[Second siege of Anandpur|aggression from hostile forces]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Satnam |title=The Road to Empire: The Political Education of Khalsa Sikhs in the Late 1600s |date=15 October 2024 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520399389 |pages=200–205 |chapter=The Sikh Raj of Anandpur - The Evacuation of Anandpur and the Loss of the Vidiya Sagar}}</ref> The literature produced by the Anandpur Kavi Darbar was lost in the ensuing action of the Sikhs crossing the [[Sarsa river|Sirsa Rivulet]], splitting up from each other in confusion, and being attacked by [[Army of the Mughal Empire|Mughal forces]], including at [[Battle of Chamkaur|Chamkaur Sahib]].<ref name=":1" /> According to D. P. Singh and [[Khushwant Singh]], it is said around fourteen ''maunds'' (approximately 498 kilograms) worth of literature produced by the Sikh Kavi Darbars was lost during the Sirsa Rivulet crossing.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Singh|first=Khushwant|date=January 1987|title=Guru Gobind Singh|journal=The Sikh Review|volume=35|issue=397|pages=13–18|author-link=Khushwant Singh}}</ref><ref name=":4" />{{Efn|A ''maund'' is a traditional Indic unit of weight measurement. One maund is equivalent to around 35.55 kilograms.|group=note}}

== Paonta Darbar ==
The Paonta Darbar was based in [[Paonta Sahib]]. It was established after [[Mat Prakash|Raja Medini Prakash]] of [[Sirmur State|Nahan]] invited Guru Gobind Singh to settle in his domain in April 1685.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=204}} The Guru built a fort in the area of Paonta and would establish a poetic court as a result.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=204}} As per the ''[[Guru Kian Sakhian]]'', fifty-two poets arrived at Paonta, with a literary darbar being held everyday at Paonta. Some notable poets included Amrit Rai of Lahore, Tehkan of Gujrat, Ani Rai, and Alam.<ref name=":32">{{Cite book |last=Grewal|first=Jagtar Singh|title=Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708): Master of the White Hawk|date=25 July 2019|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780190990381|chapter=Literary Activity Recorded in Eighteenth-Century Sikh Literature}}</ref>

== Anandpur Darbar ==
[[File:Select Overview of Literature and Scriptures Studied in the Anandpur Darbar.jpg|thumb|A selection of literature produced by the Anandpur Darbar]]
The Anandpur Darbar was based in [[Anandpur Sahib]]. The names of the poets active at the Anandpur Darbar were Amrit Rai, Ani Rai, Siam, Sainapati, Alam, Tahikan, Daya Singh, Sukha Singh, and Dharam Singh.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Singh|first=Harbans|title=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism|publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala|year=2004|edition=2nd|volume=IV: S–Z|pages=426|author-link=Harbans Singh}}</ref> They were tasked with translating [[Sanskrit literature|ancient Sanskrit treatises]] into Braj, [[Sadhu bhasha|Sadh Bhakha]], and Punjabi.<ref name=":2" />

It is at the Anandpur Kavi Darbar that the voluminous and massive ''Vidya Sagar Granth'' literary corpus and tome was commissioned and prepared.<ref name=":2" /> The literary corpus is said to have contained the compositions of the tenth Sikh guru, various poets, and scholars.<ref name=":2" /> According to popular Sikh tradition, the tome weighed nine ''[[Maund (unit)|maunds]]'' (approx. 320 kilograms) when it was finished.<ref name=":2" /> However, the tome was lost whilst the Sikhs were crossing the Sirsa Rivulet in 1705 during the evacuation of Anandpur.<ref name=":2" /> Surviving portions of the tome may have been recovered or been sourced to copies made by devotees when the tome was extant.<ref name=":2" /> The tome likely mostly consisted of translations of ancient Sanskrit works into Braj, Punjabi, and Sadh Bhakha.<ref name=":2" />

== Lakhi Jungle Darbar ==
The Lakhi Jungle Darbar was based in the [[Lakhi Jungle (jungle)|Lakhi Jungle tract]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Padam |first=Piara Singh |title=Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji De Darbari Rattan |year=1976 |language=pa}}</ref> After the evacuation of Anandpur, the Guru held a poetic court within Lakhi Jungle.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Manjit |url=https://sgpc.net/gurdwara-gaz/2020/October/Oct%20-English.pdf |title=Gurdwara Gazette |last2=Vakta |first2=Harbhajan Singh |date=October 2020 |publisher=Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee |pages=211, 214 }}</ref> According to Piara Singh Padam, it was attended by Behari, Lal Das Khiali, Adha, Jado Rai, Fat Mal, Keso, and Bhagtu.<ref name=":3" />

== List of literature produced ==
{{Expand section|date=June 2024}}
* ''Das Gur Katha'', authored by Kavi Kankan, a versified account of the ten human [[Sikh gurus]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=94}}
* ''Ganj-namah'' ("treasure book"), authored by Bhai Nand Lal Goya, a versified account of the ten Sikh gurus with particular focus placed on Guru Gobind Singh.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=120}}
* ''Pingal Sar'', authored by Kavi Giridhar Lal, text on Hindi prosody.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=125}}
* ''Drona Parva'', authored by Kavi Kunvaresh, interpretation of the [[Mahabharata]]'s portion on [[Drona|Dronacharya]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=187}}
* Braj interpretation of the ''[[Shalya Parva]]'' of the Mahabharata, authored by Kavi Mangal Rai.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=199}}
* ''Prem Abodh'' ("love indiscriminate"), authored by Kavi Hari Das, a text which recounts the lives of sixteen prominent [[Bhakti movement|Bhakti]] saints, including [[Mirabai]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=207, 249}}
* ''Rajniti Granth'' ("book of politics"), authored by Kavi Tansukh Lahauri, Braj interpretation of the ''[[Hitopadesha]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=302}}''
* Braj interpretation of a ''Parva'' (section) of the Mahabharata by Kavi Amrit Rai.''<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=31}}''
* ''Vidya Sagar Granth'' ("book of the ocean of wisdom"), a massive tome produced as a joint effort by the Kavis.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Kamalroop |title=The Granth of Guru Gobind Singh: Essays, Lectures and Translations |last2=Mann |first2=Gurinder Singh |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2015 |isbn=9780199458974 |quote=It is in this rahitnāmā that we find the terms Avatār Līlā (Bachitra Nāṭak) as well as Sāgar Graṅth. The second work is accepted in the tradition to have been composed by the court poets and was also known as Vidiāsāgar. Chaupa Singh makes it quite clear that Avatār Līlā and Sāgar Graṅth were two separate works, and this is clarified further by a hagiography of the Sikh gurus by Sarup Das Bhalla.}}</ref>{{Efn|Alternatively spelt as 'Vidia Sagar Granth'. Also known simply as the "Sagar Granth". Another name for the tome is "Samund Sagar Granth".|group=note}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Sikhism}}

[[Category:Sikh literature]]
[[Category:History of Sikhism]]

Kavi Darbar - Revision history

Raj kumar at 23:41, 31 March 2026