Whether you are a dabbler in Sikh history or a serious scholar of Sikhism, reference books are vital to your research. No Sikh library is complete without these.
1. The Punjabi Dictionary (Roman--Panjabi--English)
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Compiled by Bhai Maya Singh, (Nataraj Books, 1992) this dictionary presents each word with a Romanized spelling, followed by Punjabi spelling, and English definitions. Words are also used in Romanized Punjabi phrases (shown in italics) with English explanations. A must have reference for bi-lingual and in-depth study of meanings of words commonly used in Sikhism.
2. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism
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By Harbans Singh, Editor-in-Chief, (Punjabi University, Patalia). This 4 volume set of encyclopedias with over 800 entries is a must have for conducting studies in Sikhism. Written in English, it contains a pronunciation key for Romanized references to all non-English words used. There is also a key to indicate whether Christian, Bikrami, or Hijri dates are shown, and other essential information pertaining to calendar entries. (Volumes may be sold separately unless otherwise specified.)
3. The Sikh Religion, Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors (1909) 3 Book Set
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By Max Arthur Macauliffe (offered by Low Price Publications 1990). This 6 volume set originally published in 1909 is available in hardcover as a set of 3 books, each of which contain two of the original volumes. (Books may be sold separately unless otherwise specified.) Macauliffe did exhaustive research with the most learned Sikh scholars of his time while in Punjab. He writes of the lives of the ten gurus and other authors of Guru Granth in the English language of the late 1800’s - early 1900’s, using anecdotes as backdrop for one of the earliest English translations of Sikh scripture. This is a must have resource for researching Sikh history and the compositions of its founders.
4. The Sikh Religion, Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors (1909) 6 Volume Set
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By Max Arthur Macauliffe (Offered by Obscure Press, Kessinger Publishing, and Lightning Source Inc.). This 6 volume set originally published in 1909 is now also being reprinted in 6 individual volumes, in both paperback and hardback. (Volumes may be sold separately unless otherwise specified.) Macauliffe did exhaustive research with the most learned Sikh scholars of his time while in Punjab. He writes of the lives of the ten gurus and other authors of Guru Granth in the English language of the late 1800’s - early 1900’s, using anecdotes as backdrop for one of the earliest English translations of Sikh scripture. This is a must have resource for researching Sikh history and the compositions of its founders.
