Takhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra

One of the five Sikh Takhat’s Shri Hazur Sahib is located in Nanded (a distance of about 650 kms from Mumbai) about half a km from the banks of the Godavri river.


Nanded is associated with the first and the tenth six Gurus as well the present Guru, Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. While Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited Nanded during his extensive travels, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji spent last few days of his earthly life here.

This is also the place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji passed over the Gurgaddi (Guruship) to Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji on October 5, 2008 before his Parlokgaman or heavenly journey on October 7-8, 2008.

Agya Bhai Akal ki tabhi chalayo Panth,

Sab Sikhan ko hukam hai Guru manyo Granth.

Guru Granth ko Manyo pargat Guran ki deh

Jo Prabhu ko milna chahe khoj sabad men leh

Meaning: "The Eternal Father willed and I raised the Panth. All my Sikhs are hereby ordered to accept the Granth as their Preceptor. Have faith in the holy Granth, as your master and consider it the visible manifestation of the Gurus. He who hath a pure heart will seek guidance from its holy words."

The Gurudwara was built between 1832 and 1837, under instructions from Maharaja Ranjit Singh and is called ‘Takht Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib”. The inner room is called Angitha Sahib which is where Guru Gobind Singh was cremated. Some of the sacred relics of Guru Gobind Singh are also preserved in this Gurudwara including a golden dagger, a matchlock gun, an archer and five golden swords.

Its interiors are artistically ornamented; the walls of Angitha Sahib are covered with Golden plates.

Preprations for the tercentenary celebrations (300 years of Guru Granth Sahib Ji as the in October 2008) in Nanded are in full swing. Several large projects have been undertaken over the last two years, including significant development of facilities at the Gurudwara premises, upgradation of infrastructure including air traffic, railway, tourist management and other aspects (see http://www.gurtagaddinanded.com/GurTaGaddiProjectPlan/ for details)

Gurudwara Guptsar Sahib, Manmad, Maharashtra

Gurudwara Guptsar Sahib is located at Manmad in Nasik District of Maharashtra. It is a 240 km drive from Mumbai and about 80 kms from Nasik.

The Gurudwara Sahib is located close to the Manmad railway station which is a major junction for many trains connecting Delhi to Shri Hazur Sahib in Nanded and Pilgrims use to take a break at Manmad and also participate in the 24 hr Langar in this Gurudwara.

The historical connection of Manmad is to the tenth Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji who during his stay at Nanded, secured the release of two Maratha chiefs- Bala Rao and Rustom Rao from the Satara Fort and brought them to Manmad.

Baba Nidhan Singh started karseva for construction of this Gurudwara in 1931. A hidden well was found with sweet water, because of which the Gurudwara was named Gurudwara Guptsar Sahib.

A large two-storeyed entrance gated leads to the courtyard. To the left is the large diwan hall with walls decorated with multicoloured glass pieces and reflective mirrors arranged in geometrical patterns.

Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab

Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib (or the birth place of the Khalsa) is located at Anandpur Sahib in Ropar District of Punjab (at a distance of about 90kms from Chandigarh).



Keshgarh Sahib is where the first Khalsa as the Saint Soldier was initiated by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on Baisakhi day in 1699. The tenth Guru baptised the Panj Pyaras (the five beloved ones) and laid the foundation of the Khalsa Panth here.

The ninth Guru Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib founded this town in 1965 and named it Chakk Nanaki (after his mother). It was later in 1689 that Guru Gobind Singh Ji named it Anandpur Sahib (meaning the holy city of bliss).

The Takht Sahib is a square hall with a balcony in front overlooking a spacious courtyard on a lower level. In the middle of the inner domed room are placed some weapons preserved as sacred relics.

The space being limited on the top of the hill, the sarovar is on the plain ground west of the Takht Sahib.

Although the town is small but on the occassion of Hola Mohalla every year in the month of March it booms into boisterous activities and recaptures its old glory and splendor.

Gurudwara Hemkunt Sahib, Uttaranchal

Gurudwara Shri Hemkunt Sahib is the highest Gurudwara in the world – at a height of 15210 ft (4636 mtrs) above sea level. 550kms drive and 20km climb from Delhi, Shri Hemkunt Sahib is accessible only in the summer months – from June till September each year. Heavy snows make the passage impossible for rest of the year.

The drive from Rishikesh to Gobind Ghat (on the Badrinath route) is picturesque crossing various Prayags (Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karanprayag, Nandprayag) to reach Joshimath and then Gobind Ghat.

From Gobind Ghat one has to climb up either on foot or on a horseback. The first part of the walk is from Gobind Ghat to Gobind Dham (also known as Ghangaria) which is around 13 kms. The initial 10 kms is not very steep though the final 3 kms get much steeper. Most of those on foot take night’s halt at Gobind Dham and proceed towards Hemkunt Sahib the following day.





The second part of the walk from Gobind Dham to Hemkunt Sahib is about 7 kms and is more steep than the previous climb. After around 6 kms plus, one has a choice to trek further else climb over a 1000 steps to the Gurudwara Sahib.

The Gurudwara Sahib building now is a two storey building; Upper story which was completed in 1993 is where Guru Granth Sahib ji’s Prakash is done now. Right in front of the Gurudwara Sahib is the Langar Hall and right behind is the Hem kund (or the lake of ice).

Pilgrims usually take a dip (or more) in the freezing cold water of the Hem Kund (part of the lake is frozen even when the Gurudwara is opened in June) before visiting the Gurudwara.

The location at which the Gurudwara is now situated was described by Guru Gobind Singh ji in his composition ‘Bachitra Natak’

.

Ab mai apni katha bakhano
Tap sadhat jhi bidh muh ano
Hemkunt parbat hai jaha
Saptsring Sobat hai taha
Saptsring tih naam kahava
Pandaraj jah jog kamava
Tah ham adhik tapasia sadhi
Mahakal kal ka aradhi

.

In this verse, taken from chapter six of ‘Bachitra Natak’ Guru Gobind Singh Ji talks about his previous incarnation (as Dusht Daman). The verse describes a place high in the Himalayas with a lake of ice and surrounded by seven peaks, as the same place where King Pandu had been – this was the place where he did intense meditation till he achieved Union with God. From here, the Guru was summoned by God to be reborn into the world to teach the people the true path.

Search for the place which fits description given in Bachitra Natak started in late 19th century. Several scholars including Pandit Tara Singh Narotam in 19th century and Bhai Vir Singh researched and described the possible locations. In 1933 Sant Sohan Singh, a retired granthi from the Indian army working in a Gurudwara in Tehri Garhwal set out to search for this place. When he came across this place, which fit the description – he spoke to various authorities who at first did not listen to him. He then went to Bhai Vir Singh who then committed himself to the cause of developing Hemkunt Sahib and asked Sant Sohan Singh to start a small construction.

Sant Sohan Singh was joined in this task by Havaldar Modan Singh, and in 1937 Guru Granth Sahib was installed in the hut on the lake. A new Gurudwara was constructed in late 1960s, and improvements have been ongoing. The upper story where Guru Granth Sahib Ji is now installed was completed in 1993 and Guru Granth Sahib installed in June 1994.