Cutting Cannabis out of Sikh History
In the last century, in the newly printed versions of foundational historical texts like Gurbilas Patshahi 6 (1719), publishers have chopped out references to cannabis.
One striking mention is of Guru Nanak:
ਪੀਵਤ ਭਾਂਗ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖ ਸਾਗਰ “The Ocean of Bliss [Guru Nanak] would always drink cannabis”
This was changed in the modern version to:
ਰਹਹਿ ਨਿਚਿੰਤ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖ ਸਾਗਰ “The Ocean of Bliss would forever remain carefree”
This line provides context to the story where Babar offers cannabis to Guru Nanak. In the Gurbilas, a text written at the direction of Bhai Mani Singh Shahid, Guru Nanak requests this cannabis from Babar, who brings back ਸੁੰਦਰ ਭਾਂਗ, cannabis of great quality. The Guru was pleased and blessed Babar with Raaj.
References:
Image One: Panjab Digital Library manuscript of Gurbilas
Image Two: Punjab University Patiala version (1997) of Gurbilas Patshahi 6, Page 228
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This is a truly panthic effort, we would be honoured to add your findings here. Please provide the exact reference and content in either Gurmukhi or English. Puraatan ithihaas, puraatan rehit or Gurbaani is foundational. But if you have any other useful and relevant references we will certainly consider it.