Steek (Sikh literature)

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Steek/Teeka

Teeka (exegesis) on the Sikh "Asa Di Vaar" Composition

Part of a series on
Sikh literature
Hagiographical Janamsakhi Suraj Parkash Sau Sakhi
Lexis Mahan Kosh
Praxis Rehatnamas Jhatka Parkash
Historiographical Bhat Vahis Prachin Panth Prakash Twarikh Guru Khalsa
Rebuttals Ham Hindu Nahin
Exegeses Gobind Gita Hanuman Natak Faridkot Teeka Steek (Sikh literature)
Periodicals Akhbar Sri Darbar Sahib Khalsa Akhbar Khalsa Samachar The Khalsa Advocate Gurmat Parkash
Letters Hukamnama
Authors Bhatra Sikhs Kavi Darbar Kavi Santokh Singh Ratan Singh Bhangu Giani Gian Singh Tara Singh Narotam Kahn Singh Nabha Sumer Singh Vir Singh Faridkot Teeka Committee
Sikh scriptures • Punjabi literature
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A steek or teeka [other spellings may exist such as stik or tika] (Gurmukhi: ਸਟੀਕ, romanized: steek; 'Exegesis') is an exegesis or commentary on a Sikh Religious Text,^[1][2] usually Gurbani, but can also include other writings like the Ghazals of Bhai Nand Lal. An author of a steek or teeka is known as a teekakar (Gurmukhi: ਟੀਕਾਕਾਰ).^[1] A steek always includes an explanation, or viakhya (Gurmukhi: ਵ੍ਯਾਖ੍ਯਾ)^[1] of the specific religious text, but depending on the complexity of the steek, it can also include footnotes, commentary, and contexts to the specific verses and where they were first written/revealed (known as an "Uthanka" [Gurmukhi: ਉਥਾਨਕਾ]).

There are different characteristics and variations between steeks. Traditional Sikh Commentaries on Sikh Scripture is known as a Sampardai Steek/Teeka (Gurmukhi: ਸੰਪ੍ਰਦਾਈ ਟੀਕਾ/ਸਟੀਕ), and usually includes more detailed exegesis of Sikh Scripture.