Sidh Gosht, or “Dialogue with the Siddhas,” is a bani that recounts various meetings between Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, and a group of Hindu ascetics (Siddhs), who practiced yoga and had renounced the world, living in the caves of the Himalayas. This bani was compiled by Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru, who collected Guru Nanak’s accounts of these events and included them in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib (Ang 938-946).

The Siddhs believed that mental and physical exercises were necessary for acquiring magical powers (also known as siddhis) that would lead to the attainment of liberation.

Sidh Gosht recounts Guru Nanak’s discourse with Nath Yogis including Bhangarnath, Chaqrpatnath, and Luhairipaa. Guru Nanak had such discourses with various Yogis during his Udasis (journeys), at places such as Achal Batala, Nanakmata, and Nanded.

While ascetics believed one must withdraw from society and one’s family, Guru Nanak believed that liberation can be attained while living in the world as a truth-oriented “householder,” earning a living by honest work. For Guru Nanak, true yoga is a meditative remembrance of the Word (Simran) combined with Seva (selfless service) to those in need in the community.

Read an English Translation of Sidh Gosht in full on SikhiWiki

~From “Sidh Gosht” (SikhiWiki).