Steek (Sikh literature)

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, 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). A steek always includes an explanation, or viakhya (Gurmukhi: ਵ੍ਯਾਖ੍ਯਾ) 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 are known as a Sampardai Steek/Teeka (Gurmukhi: ਸੰਪ੍ਰਦਾਈ ਟੀਕਾ/ਸਟੀਕ) and usually includes more detailed exegesis of Sikh Scripture.