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Title Sub Title Publisher ISBN |
The Magic 'Degh' Sikh Stories For Children
KNOWLEDGE WORLD PUBLISHERS PVT LTD 9789380502632 |
Review:
The Magic Degh retells those Sikh stories and legends which highlight the core values propounded by Guru Nanak. They flow from his fundamental belief that all human beings - men and women - are created equal.
These values have resonated through the centuries.
The episodes illustrate Guru Nanak's Golden Rules: live and work honestly [kirat - ED]; share your earnings with the needy [Vand Shakna - ED] and always remember the Creator [Naam Japna - ED].
They also highlight the Sikh traditions of sewa and sacrifice, which remain vibrant even in the 21st Century, as the book recounts.Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa to defend people of all faiths against tyranny and State terror as reflected in the Sikh salutation, Degh; Tegh; Fateh!.
This has added relevance in today's turbulent times. The stories aim at kindling children's interest in the traditions and universal values of the Sikhs.
----------------------In Chaubis Avtar which is part of the Dasam Granth, Guru Gobind Singh says:
"Deg Teg Jag Maih Dou Chleha" which means "May both the kitchen and the sword prevail in the world"
ਅਪਨਾ ਜਾਨ ਮੁਝੇ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਰੀਐ ॥ ਚੁਨ ਚੁਨ ਸ਼ੱਤੁ ਹਮਾਰੇ ਮਰੀਐ ॥
ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ ਜਗ ਮੈ ਦੋਊ ਚਲੈ ॥ ਰਾਖ ਆਪ ਮੁਹਿ ਅਉਰੁ ਨ ਦਲੈ ॥੪੩੬॥
Apnaa Jaan Muje Pratpareeai|| Choun Choun Shattru Hamdaredareeai||
Deg Teg Jag Mai Dooo Chalai|| Raakh Aap Muh(i) Aur(u) Ma Dalai|| 436||.
In this line the Guru ordained that the kitchen to feed the poor and the sword to teach the tyrant should go together hand-in-hand.
Deg (Degh) and Teg are Persian words, meaning the kettle and the sword respectively. Deg literally means a cooking-pot. It symbolically stands for the free kitchen or Langar;
Banda Singh who first occupied territory in Punjab for the Khalsa, had a Persian inscription on his seal which, rendered into English, read: "Kettle and Sword (symbols of charity and power) and Victory and Ready Patronage have been obtained through the grace of Guru Nanak Gobind Singh."
Here tegh (sword) is used as a symbol of victory over tyranny and degh (kettle) as a symbol of ready patronage (welfare) for the good.