**4. Conclusions**

The increasing availability and accessibility of online forums discussing Sikhi have created a space for a wider range of people, including increasing numbers of women, to join the debate about the Dasam Granth. Put another way, the presence of gender-related themes is the text is now complemented by the presence of women's voices and more focused attention on gender construction. These lively and at times contentious online arguments and counter-arguments reflect the growing tendency to explicitly incorporate the Sikh ideal of gender equality in this controversy, adding an important component to the existing scholarly literature which for the most part has been silent on such matters. As the examples explored here suggest, thus far the emphasis has been on understanding how the notion of the female character or female behaviors as depicted in *Caritropakhi ¯ an¯* might be reconciled in light of the gender equality ideal. Interestingly, with the notable exception of the work of scholars such as Nikky Singh, there has as ye<sup>t</sup> been less exploration of the complex issues related to gender and divinity that are raised by the goddess compositions and the usage of the term *bhagaut¯ı* in those and

<sup>27</sup> CdnSikhGirl. Response to thread "Charitropakhyan or Erotica? viewer discretion advised." 26 July 2015. http://www.sikhawareness.com/topic/16831-charitropakhyan-or-erotica-viewer-discretion-advised/. Viewed 25 June 2019.

<sup>28</sup> Guest, Response to thread, "Charitropakhyan or Erotica? viewer discretion advised." 26 July 2015. http://www.sikhawareness.com/topic/16831-charitropakhyan-or-erotica-viewer-discretion-advised/. 27 July 2015. Viewed 25 June 2019.

<sup>29</sup> Sanjam Kaur, "Charitropakhyan and I, a Woman." https://sikhunity.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/charitropakhyan-and-i-awoman/. Viewed 30 September 2019.

<sup>30</sup> Pritpal Singh, "Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Jee on women in the Charitropakhyan," https://sikhunity.wordpress.com/2014/ 01/14/sri-guru-gobind-singh-sahib-jee-on-women-in-the-charitropakhyan/. 14 January 2014. Viewed 2 October 2019.

other sections of the Dasam Granth. Given, however, that the Dasam Granth controversy as ye<sup>t</sup> shows little sign of waning, that notable absence may as ye<sup>t</sup> make its presence known.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The author declares no conflicts of interest.
