Ugardanti


Ugardanti is a poetic composition written by Guru Gobind Singh, after the creation of the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib. The composition is present in Dasam Granth Bir Patna Sahib. The bani contains information about the creation of the Khalsa Panth, the dress code of the Sikhs, and is strictly against ritualism.

Overview

Etymologically, Ugardanti is a feminine term made of two words, Ugar means Fierce and Danti means Tooth. One having Fierce Tooth, is called Ugardanti. Guru Gobind Singh is praying to Ugardanti, writing various attributes of Ugardanti and asking for blessings of prospering of new Panth which is free from hypocrisy, ritualism, casteism, human worship and worship only One Immortal God. In Gurmat, Fierce Tooth is explained as Hukam/Command/Will Power of God which tears off and destroys enemies.
In Bansavalinama Dasan Patshahian ka, the author Kesar Singh Chibbar explains and quotes a few passages from Guru Gobind Singh's Ugardanti.
In Hum Hindu Nahi, the author Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, believed that Ugardanti Bani was not written by Guru Gobind Singh but by Bhai Sukha Singh, a priest at Patna. However, Sukha Singh's works came into being after the Bansavalinama of Kesar Singh Chibbar.
Nihang and Namdhari Sikhs believe it to be written by Guru Gobind Singh and is part of their daily liturgy. It was and is read to inspire warriors to stand up for truth and righteousness in the face of tyranny and oppression. The Composition is divided into six verses called Chhands in which the syllables and the rhythm are arranged in a precisely controlled pattern. The Type of Chhandd used is Bhagvati Chhand.