Saloko Moto

INTRODUCTION OF SALOKO MOTO OF PIR SHAMSHUDDIN (R.A.)

&

SALOKO NANO OF PIR SADARDIN (R.A.)

COMPILED BY

ALWAIZA ZARINA KAMALUDDIN

ALWAIZ KAMALUDDIN ALI MOHAMMAD

Shlok (Slok) is a term derived from Sanskrit which means a hymn of praise, verse, stanza, a saying (specially the epic stanza, consisting of two verses, each of sixteen syllables.)

In Indian Ismaili literature there are two Granths (long Ginans with independent titles) known as Saloko: Saloko Moto (Long Slokas) attributed to Pir Shams (r.a.) consisting of 240 stanzas and Saloko Nano (Short Slokas) attributed to Pir Sadardin (r.a.) consisting of 120 stanzas. Both the Granths are recited in the same way. The language of these two Granths is Gujarati and theme is piety and religious life.

In Saloko Moto the author talks about the presence of the Light of the Divine in heart; characteristics of a Satpanthi (one who follows Satpanth i.e. the True Path); Divine love; silent dhikr; barakat of prayer-house; harm of telling lie, hypocrisy and backbiting; practice of faith; five evils; Iman; Dasond; preaching; looking for faults in others; preserving the secret of faith; infatuation for the body and the world; false accusation; virtue of forgiveness; Shukarvari (Friday) Bij; keeping away from other’s women; Chhanta; obedience; and the qualities of his disciples Chandrabhan and Surbhan. 

In Saloko Nano the author dwells on the matters of Divine love, silent dhikr, light of faith; sacrifice for faith and beloved; light of Imam in the heart; five evils; merit of Satpanth; self-control; obeying the command of Imam etc.

For the text of these two Granths we have relied on “12 Granths 105 Ginans” published by Mukhi Lalji Bhai Devraj from The Khoja Sindhi Chhapkhanu, Mumbai in s.v.1960 (approximately 1903 AD).