PARNAMI TEMPLE IN MALKA HANS, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN (2018)

Date of Visit 06.03.2018

References SA Sherazi articles, all pictures are owned

•          PARNAMI TEMPLE IN MALKA HANS, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN
•    PRANAMI SUB-TRADITION IN HINDUISM
•        MALKA HANS HISTORY
•        Who was Ran Singh Nakka?

PARNAMI TEMPLE IN MALKA HANS, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

The dilapidated relics of the Parnami temple used to be one of the central ashrams of the Parnami faction of Hindus. Mahant Darbara Singh had constructed this five-story majestic building of the temple over 200 years ago. Dust of ages has settled in deep layers on the pedestal where Samadhi of Dya Ram - the founder of the Parnami sect used to rest in the main chamber of the temple. "A large number of Hindus had been visiting here before partition and there use to be a big annual Mela in the month of Chetar," informed a Painde Khan is using this place as a house. "I am paying rent to Auqaf for living in this Khandar," he complained a little wistfully.

This grand monument of the past with sold masonry and ornate designs wrought by artisans and artists centuries ago was one of the fine specimens of Hindu architecture. Termite is eating Wood but exquisite quality of woodwork on windows, doors and murals on the battered walls can still be seen. The thin red bricks excavated from this monument have been used in adjacent houses in the compound. And, sadly, the temple cannot be defined in the images. Auqaf does not appear to have any idea about what to do with these splendid remains of the Hindu architectural legacy, except perhaps recovering the rent from the tenants. "Last time Auqaf got the place cleaned was when Indian dignitaries visited the temple", told Painde Khan. Legend has it that there was a tunnel from this temple to Pakpattan,

PRANAMI SUB-TRADITION IN HINDUISM

Pranami(Meaning: Those who bows on), also known as Dhami, is a Vaishnavism sub-tradition within Hinduism, focusing on god Krishna. The tradition emerged in the 17th century in Western India, based on the teachings of Bhakti saints, Sri Devchandra Maharaj and his foremost disciple Sri Mehraj Thakur (also known as Mahamati Prannath or Prananath, which gives this tradition the name.

The traditions grew after Mughal Empire declined, in the wake of Aurangzeb's religious persecution of non-Muslims, when Hindu rebellion led to new kingdoms. King Chhatrasal of one such kingdom of Bundelkhand patronized Prannath. The Pranami tradition welcomed Hindus and Muslims to join the Supreme Truth Akshrateet Shri Krishna worship tradition. At conversion initiation, Prannath would invite the new members to dine together regardless of whether they came from Hindu or Muslim background. He would also explain the Pranami ideas by citing Hindu and Muslim texts to make his teachings connect with the background of the converts.

The religious center of the Pranami tradition has been in northeast Madhya Pradesh, in the town of Panna. In the contemporary era, other major Pranami religious centers (gaddi) are in Jamnagar (Gujarat) and Phuguwa (south of Kathmandu, Nepal).

The Pranami worship Akshrateet Shri Krishna as the Supreme Truth god and its theology holds nirguna Brahman (panentheistic) view of influenced by the Shuddhadvaita philosophy of Vallabhacharya. Its Hindu temples include idols, or sometimes just the texts. Its theology is contained in 14 religious texts attributed to Prannath, the Bhagavad Gitaand the Bhagavata Purana. While the Hindu scriptures Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavata Purana are in Sanskrit, the 14 Prannath compositions contain 18,768 chaupai (verses), and is called Kuljam Svarup. It is, like in other Bhakti movement saint traditions, an eclectic mix of vernacular languages found in central, west, and north India: Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Arabic, Persian, Sindhi, and Sanskrit. The Pranami devotees believe that Prannath taught with his text, the essence of all major religious texts of the world, including the Vedas, the Bhagawat Geeta, the Quran, and the Bible. The devotees believe in Hindu bhakti, but willingly accept or reject teachings found in other sources and texts.

The tradition is strictly vegetarian (ahimsa, non-violence to animals), a non-caste tradition dedicated to Radha-Krishna. Dedicated Pranami temples exist such as in Kathiawar.

MALKA HANS HISTORY

Punjab is a gold mine for history seekers and curious travelers. You may find much more than what you hear or read. It pays to get out into the countryside and talk to ordinary people. What is more, people of the area are eager to help – at their own expense - when you ask anybody. One finds volunteer 'guides' who were forth coming with a wealth of information.

Given the history and heritage, it is easy to fall in love with ‘out of the way’ town like Malka Hans. Once an abode of Waris Shah, who stayed here and composed universal romance Heer Ranjha, Malka Hans is still serene, tranquil, and pollution-free. Legend has it that Malik Muhammad (Alia Malka) who was a member of the Hans tribe founded the town some 700 years ago. Hans became powerful when Mughal King Alamgir conferred a vast land around Malka Hans on Sheikh Qutab Hans. In 1764, Muhammad Azam who was the descendant of Qutab Hans became head of the clan. Ran Singh Nakka treacherously took Muhammad Azam prisoner where he died in confinement.

Who was Ran Singh Nakka?

By 1748, when the Mughal power in Punjab was declining and the Sikhs were on the ascendance, Sardar Heera Singh Sandhu (1706–1776) took possession of the lands surrounding his native village, Baherwal, and the countryside of Kasur which was located in the Nakka country South of Majha Region, and his misl took the name of the area they ruled. He took Amrit Sanchar (Sikh Baptism) in 1731. Nakkain Punjabi means border or some sort of a gateway and the Nakka country was located between the Ravi and Sutlej south of Lahore. He also took Chunian from the Afghans but died near Pakpattan in a battle against Sujan Chisti - a devotee of the Shrine of Baba Farid. His companions brought his dead body to Baherwal where it was cremated. Hira Singh Sandhu's son, Dal Singh Sandhu was a minor, so his nephew, Nar Singh Sandhu son of Hira Singh Sandhu's brother Natha Singh Sandhu, succeeded him as leader of the misl.

In 1768, Nar Singh was killed in a battle against the Kharals at Kot Kumaliah and was succeeded by his brother, Ran Singh. Ran Singh fought repeatedly against Kamar Singh, the ruler of Syedwala. Sometime before his death in 1781, he defeated him and captured Syedwala. Sardar Ran Singh greatly expanded the misl's strength so it became dominant among its neighbors. At its high point under Ran Singh, it ruled Kasur, Sharaqpur, Gugera Parganas and the Kharal fort of Kot Kumaliah and could field 2,000 horsemen. Sardar ran Singh was killed by one of the kharal tribe men peroka kharal. Zamburaks, and artillery. His son, Bhagwan Singh succeeded him but could not hold his territory against Wazir Singh, the brother of Kamar Singh, who retook Syedwala. Realizing he might lose all of his territories, Bhagwan Singh set up the engagement of his sister, Raj Kour, to Ranjit Singh, who was the son of Maha Singh, the leader of the Sukerchakia Misl, in order to gain a powerful ally. In 1785, Maha Singh was facing attacks from Sardar Jai Singh of the Kanheya Misland called Bhagwan Singh and Wazir Singh to help him, but after they were victorious against Sardar Jai Singh, Maha Singh began to favor Wazir Singh.

Bhagwan Singh and Wazir Singh at war again and Bhagwan Singh was killed in the ensuing battle. Dal Singh, the son of Hira Singh, subsequently killed Wazir Singh in revenge but was himself killed later by a servant of Wazir Singh. In 1789, Gyan Singh, succeeded his brother, Bhagwan Singh (sons of Sardar Ran Singh Nakai). I

n 1798 he married his sister Raj Kaur to Ranjit Singh who becomes his second but most favorite queen. Raj Kaur also being the name of one of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's mothers, took the name of Maharani Datar Kaur. In 1802, she gave birth to Kharak Singh, the heir apparent of the Sikh empire. Maharaja Ranjit Singh always fondly called her Mai Nakain.