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Synopsis The Encyclopaedia of Sikh Religion and Culture was first published in 1995, and the response from the Press, students and readers far exceeded our expectations. This prompted us to revisit the old text, revise and enlarge it, and the result is the new second edition titled The Sikh World: An Encyslopaedic Survey of Sikh Religion and Culture that makes an attempt to cover the entire field of the Sikh religion. The title of the second edition includes a reference to Sikh religion and culture because the adherents of Sikhism regard all the ten gurus as founders of their faith-the first five being the builders of the faith and the last five being its defenders. Before his death, guru Gobind Singh appointed Banda Bahadur as head of the Sikh army and, for the first time in Sikh history, he brought the country between Lahore and Jammu under the control of Sikhs. Sikh misals (clans) tried to capture Panjab, but they became the sovereign power in that part of the country during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839). The study of Sikhism needs to involve a study of their faith in its original form, which would include a systematic study of the writings, teachings and culture in which they grew and propagated their beliefs. This second edition makes an attempt to do that. Though the first edition is the foundation on which the present volume is based, the entire text has been revised the corrected wherever necessary. The second edition has many new articles on culture, music, people connected with Sikhism, tribes, castes and folklore, and a chronology of Sikhism from Guru Nanak to modern times. It goes further than that-all the flowers, animals, birds, rivers and places mentioned in the Holy Granth find a reference in the volume. The Sikhs are men of action, with spirit and energy. Their religion is open to all castes and creeds. They believe that God is always there with an individual to help and guide him. This belief makes them adventurous, bold and fearless. They can undertake anything honourable in the name of God, Guru and the Holy Book. The present volume gives a fairly complete picture of their religion, history and culture.