This book was conceived in 1950, during a period of what the author qualifies as "forced leisure and detention" at Simla, in the foothills of the Himalayas, where he had come on holiday.
In the course of this stay, Sirdar Kapur Singh met an old friend, Sri Sardari Lal Parasara, Principal of Simla's Government School of Arts. Over time the two enjoyed numerous conversations and discussions, from this arose Parasaraprasna ("The Questions of Parasara") born and published in 1959.
This masterpiece by Kapur Singh, a leading thinker of the Sikh tradition, imbues each page with insight and intellect providing wonderfully well connected arguments and counter-arguments. Kapur Singh's deep knowledge of religion, mythology and religion is clear throughout.
The book's central aim being "An enquiry into the genesis and unique character of the Order of the Khalsa with an exposition of the Sikh Tenets". From the start Kapur Singh is clear the Khalsa is a "Third Panth" totally and completely divorced from the Aryan and Semitic religions. The following chapters follow suit outlining various aspects of the unique nature of the Khalsa.
The book chapters are:
- The Baisakhi of Guru Gobind Singh
- How a Sikh is knighted a Singh
- The Blessed Fort of the Uncut Hair
- Thou Shalt Not Smoke
- Five K's
- The Archetypal Form of Guru Gobind Singh Ji
- The Guru Granth
- Parthenogenesis
- A Sikh and A Singh
- The Church and the State
- The Sikh Raj
- The Hindu Caste and Sikhism
- Ardas or the Sikh Congregational Prayer
The book conforms to - A5 (5.83 x 8.27 in / 148 x 210 mm), 350 Pages, Black & White Premium, 80# (118 GSM) White Paper, Paperback, Matte Cover