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First Sikh
In this highly accessible and comprehensive biography, Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh deftly mines the available sources to construct a vivid and complex account of Guru Nanak's life and legacy, his personality and background, the pluralistic world he lived in, his teachings and philosophy, and even the manner in which he has been understood by believers and scholars over time. What emerges is a majestic and magisterial portrait of a great enlightener who not only founded one of the world's major religions but whose singular message of unity and hope has endured centuries after he first walked the earth.
The First Sikh unites rigorous scholarship with a deep love for the subject, offering fascinating insights into Guru Nanak's life and times even as it explores key facets of Sikhism. Moreover, it shows us how Guru Nanak continues to remain relevant in a twenty-first-century reality.
The First Sikh unites rigorous scholarship with a deep love for the subject, offering fascinating insights into Guru Nanak's life and times even as it explores key facets of Sikhism. Moreover, it shows us how Guru Nanak continues to remain relevant in a twenty-first-century reality.
- GenresReligion
264 pages, Hardcover
Published November 8, 2019
4 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 1, 2021
Dr. Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh has a way of taking something very academic and making it accessible. She doesn’t just do a great job of telling the reader the story of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. But adds context through historical background to help us really appreciate the revolutionary nature of the first Sikh. I am by no means a religious scholar but the context she adds throughout this book, especially the context related to language and the nuance behind various translations is empowering for anyone who wishes to engage further with Sikhi and directly with gurbani.
April 16, 2020
I picked up this book as I was interested in learning about the life of Guru Nanak through a scholar's view.
When I first started reading, I found the diction extremely difficult for laymen. At first it felt like I wouldn't take away too much because my reading was interrupted on almost every page to look up a new word.
I persisted anyways.
Through the process of reading this novel, I learned a number of philosophical terms, which in themselves offer a new way of looking at the world. Often the author's use of terminology reflects her precision in choosing her words and arguments.
Vocabulary aside, I learned a lot about Guru Nanak, Sikhism and Sikh history. It reaffirmed the things I believed Sikhism to mean, and strengthened my connection with the religion. I loved that the author matched Guru Nanak's message with modern issues including equality, feminism, power/corruption and the environment.
When I first started reading, I found the diction extremely difficult for laymen. At first it felt like I wouldn't take away too much because my reading was interrupted on almost every page to look up a new word.
I persisted anyways.
Through the process of reading this novel, I learned a number of philosophical terms, which in themselves offer a new way of looking at the world. Often the author's use of terminology reflects her precision in choosing her words and arguments.
Vocabulary aside, I learned a lot about Guru Nanak, Sikhism and Sikh history. It reaffirmed the things I believed Sikhism to mean, and strengthened my connection with the religion. I loved that the author matched Guru Nanak's message with modern issues including equality, feminism, power/corruption and the environment.
October 27, 2021
BOOK REVIEW: The First Sikh: The Life and Legacy of Guru Nanak
Author: Nikky Guninder Kaur Singh
Publishers:
Points: 7/10
“Ikk Oankar Satnam, Karta Purakh, Nirbhau, Nirvair, Akal Murat, Ajuni, Sahiban, Gurparsad”
So, this is a beautiful book from the cover to the contents of the book. During reading this book, you would experience a spiritual energy in you. Through this, the reader will assimilated with the unheard beats of the creator of this universe.
So, the book starts with proving the firstness of the first Sikh. Apart from some similarities with other religions, Sikhism has some distinct natures. The guru inherited the knowledge by the universal creator himself and he presented it to his Shishyas or Sikhs. The guru gave importance to listening, because we can ignore what we can watch but we can’t ignore what we hear. The book described how the knowledge of Guru Nanak flowed to next Gurus as his legacy. Our mind can shine like gems, when we hear a Guru's teachings.
The next chapter contains a short biography of Guru Nanak through his Janmasakhis. We can understand that how the guru met with people and saints of different cultures, races, linguistics and countries. Guru Nanak’s miracles are also important steps of his teachings.
Guru Nanak’s universal love was just not for only human beings but also every creations of the universal creator. We can feel how the beautiful this World is through his teaching.
He was also an revolutionary thinker who opposed many meaningless rituals like the caste system in different religions and he opposed the complete Islamisation by the Invaders of India. He was also an environmentalist who loved the environment created by the supreme creator.
Author: Nikky Guninder Kaur Singh
Publishers:
Points: 7/10
“Ikk Oankar Satnam, Karta Purakh, Nirbhau, Nirvair, Akal Murat, Ajuni, Sahiban, Gurparsad”
So, this is a beautiful book from the cover to the contents of the book. During reading this book, you would experience a spiritual energy in you. Through this, the reader will assimilated with the unheard beats of the creator of this universe.
So, the book starts with proving the firstness of the first Sikh. Apart from some similarities with other religions, Sikhism has some distinct natures. The guru inherited the knowledge by the universal creator himself and he presented it to his Shishyas or Sikhs. The guru gave importance to listening, because we can ignore what we can watch but we can’t ignore what we hear. The book described how the knowledge of Guru Nanak flowed to next Gurus as his legacy. Our mind can shine like gems, when we hear a Guru's teachings.
The next chapter contains a short biography of Guru Nanak through his Janmasakhis. We can understand that how the guru met with people and saints of different cultures, races, linguistics and countries. Guru Nanak’s miracles are also important steps of his teachings.
Guru Nanak’s universal love was just not for only human beings but also every creations of the universal creator. We can feel how the beautiful this World is through his teaching.
He was also an revolutionary thinker who opposed many meaningless rituals like the caste system in different religions and he opposed the complete Islamisation by the Invaders of India. He was also an environmentalist who loved the environment created by the supreme creator.
March 10, 2024
Nikky has done a beautiful job in helping one to connect with their Guru and spirituality.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews