Sikh Smadhi's and Hindu Temples in Satgarah, Okara (2017)

Tuesday, 2 May 2017

We were traveling from Okara towards Satgarah when we saw this Hindu Temple and Sikh Samadhi standing in fields across the road. 

A Sikh Samadhi on left and Hindu Temple on right 

Probably a Sikh Samadhi 

Smadahi of Behwal Das near Bhumman Shah Depalpur (2017)

 30°35'23.66"N, 73°39'18.10"E

Sunday, 15 January 2017

We were traveling on Depalpur Haveli lakah road, when we saw this samadhi standing in a dilapidated state in fields. Local villagers told this is the samadhi of Behwal Das, who was a famous Sikh chieftain of the area before the 1947 partition of Hindustan. 

An Unknown Sikh Samadhi Near Jalo Lahore (2015)

Thursday, 30 April 2015

My friend and his elders are living near Jalo Mor before the 1947 partition of Hindustan, and they told me that this desolated Sikh Samadhi standing in a dilapidated even before the 1947 partition of Hindustan. 

Now, this edifice comes inside a newly developed housing scheme and is at least considered protected from encroachment. 

Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das Chuna Mandi Bazar, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan (2020)

Date of Visit:-     02ND FEBRUARY 2020 

Location - Chuna Mandi Bazar, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

Associated with - Sri Guru Ram Das Ji

Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das is situated inside Delhi Darwaza, near Purani Kotwali Chowk in Chuni Mandi.

Sri Guru Ram Das Ji was born at Chuna Mandi Bazaar at the site of Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das on 24th Sept 1534 AD and spent the first seven years of his life here.

The ancestral home of Sat Guru was very small so when Kanwar Kharak Singh was born to Maharani Nakain she asked her husband, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, to rebuild the Gurdwara to celebrate the birth of her son.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh purchased the surrounding buildings from the Qazis and had a Gurdwara of dimensions 122'6 x 97'6 built.

This is a modest building, built in the style of Sri Harmandir Sahib. There is a courtyard on the west side. The Nishan Sahib is hoisted in the western corner.

Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das was the place from where 'Singh Sabha Lehar' (Singh Sabha Movement) started. The Gurdwara remained under the control of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee from 1927 to 1947.

The Gurdwara is now under the control of the Pakistan Auqaf Department. There are 8 shops endowed in the name of this Gurdwara. At the time of partition in 1947, 18 Sikhs faced martyrdom and were brutally murdered by Muslims here.

SAMADHI'S OF RAJA RANJIT SINGH, KHARAK SINGH & NAU NIHAL SINGH (2016)

Date of Visit:-     16TH MAY 2016 & 02ND FEBRUARY 2020 

Relevance: Sikh Maharaja Samadhi's

(All pictures are taken by me, and writeup taken from different sources

Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Tomb of King Ranjit Singh), located adjacent to famous Lahore’s landmark Badshahi Mosque, is a mausoleum containing funerary urns of short time Sikh ruler of Punjab. Two small monuments to the west of the main building commemorate Maharaja Ranjit Singh's son Maharaja Kharak Singh and grandson Nau Nihal Singh, along with their wives. The building is located adjacent to Gurdwara Dera Sahib, the place where the martyrdom of Guru Arjun took place.

Construction of the building was started by his son, Kharak Singh on the spot where he was cremated and was completed by his youngest son, Duleep Singh in 1848.

The building combines elements of Sikh, Hindu, and Islamic architecture. Portions of the building are believed to have been plundered from the adjacent Lahore Fort. The building has gilded fluted domes and cupolas, and an ornate balustrade around the upper portion of the building. The front of the doorway has images of Ganesh, Devi, and Brahma that are cut from red sandstone. The dome is decorated with Naga (serpent) hood designs - the product of Hindu craftsmen that worked on the project. The wooden panels on the ceiling are decorated with stained glass work, while the walls are richly decorated with floral designs. The ceilings are decorated with glass mosaic work

In the 1830s, Ranjit Singh suffered from numerous health complications as well as a stroke, which some historical records attribute to alcoholism and a failing liver. He died in his sleep on 27 June 1839. The alliance between British missions and Ranjit Singh provided lasting stability to Punjab. The death of Ranjit Singh heralded a period of intense warfare among the successors and paved the way for the annexation of Punjab by the British.

According to the customs Ranjit Singh's body was placed on a pyre and along with him were burnt alive his 4 wives and 7 concubines who committed Sati were of the Hindu faith and they continued to live their life as Hindus without converting to Sikhism. That is the reason they committed Sati as per their custom to perform such a supreme act.

They were:

• Mehtab Devi, daughter of Raja Sansad Chand of Kangr.

• Rani Har Devi, the daughter of Chaudhri Ram, a Saleria Rajput from Atalgarh.

• Rani Raj Devi, daughter of Padma Rajput.

• Rani Rajno Devi, daughter of Sand Bhari, a Bhari Chib of Deva-Vatala from Jammu Territory.

At Ranjit Singh's funeral, prayers and rituals from Sikh Priests, Muslim Imams, and Brahmins took place. Then four wives of Ranjit Singh took turns to seat themselves on the funeral pyre, around the head of Ranjit Singh while the seven concubines sat around their feet. And then the funeral pyre was set on fire from all four corners.

His other wives were Sikhs and Muslim concubines. They didn't commit Sati due to different religious faith and belief.

Eyewitness account of the funeral by Dr. Martin Honigberger, a Transylvanian physician at the court of Maharajah Ranjit Singh

In the large yard, we observed one of the four Ranees (queens) coming out of the harem on foot and unveiled, for the first time in her life.

It is curious, indeed, that this was the very ranee whom Runjeet Sing married in the first year of my residence in that country, ten years having passed since I witnessed the nuptials at Nadoun. She was, as I mentioned before, a daughter of Sunsarchund, and she had a younger sister, whom the maharajah at the same time took also for a wife, and conveyed them both to Lahore; the latter, I am told, had died of consumption during my absence. As for the former, although I was present at her wedding, I nevertheless had never seen her before, and it was only on her last fatal walk, which she took to her funeral pile, that I could behold her.

The costly ornaments of the richly decorated bier were given to the mob; the Brahmins performed their prayers from the Shaater, a book written in the Indian or Sanscrit language; the Gooroos, or priests of the Sikhs, did the same, from their holy scripture called Grunthsaheb, and the Muslim accompanied them with their “Ya, Allah! Ya, Allah!”

After this, the ranees ascended the fatal ladder, one by one, according to their rank, the slaves followed, and the minister showed himself very officious in affording them assistance. The ranees placed themselves at the head of the royal body, and the slaves close at its feet. There they cowered, remaining in silent expectation for the fatal moment, when a strong thick mat of reeds being brought, with which the whole was covered, oil was then poured over the mat, the minister and sirdars descended, and the pile was lighted at each corner. In a few moments, the deplorable victims of an abominable and fanatic ceremony had ceased to exist.

Also, after the murder of Ranjit Singh's son Kharak Singh, Dogra Dhyan Singh cruelly killed Kharak Singh's wife by forcefully setting her on fire.

Nau Nihal's two Rajput wives committed Sati, Bhadauran, Daughter of Sirdar of Bhadaur, and Katochan, daughter of Rai Singh.

Sham Singh Attariwala's wife Mai Dasi who was a Hindu and used to be the Principal Slave girl of Ranjit Singh's wife Sada Kaur, also committed Sati.

KHARAK SINGH, MAHARAJA (1801-1840), the eldest son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was born on 9 February 1801. He was married to Chand Kaur, daughter of Jaimal Singh Kanhaiya, in 1812. The Maharaja brought him up in his family`s martial tradition and assigned him to a variety of military expeditions. While barely six years old, he was given the nominal command of the Sheikhupura expedition (1807); was placed in charge of the Kanhaiya estates in 1811, and deputed in 1812 to punish the recalcitrant chiefs of Bhimbar and Rajauri. He was invested with the command of the Multan expedition (1818) as well as of Kashmir (1819).

Maharaja took the reins of the government into his own hands, but he was helpless against the machinations of his minister, who continued to keep father and son separated from each other. Dhian Singh subjected Kharak Singh to strict restraint upon the pretext that he might not escape to the British territory. Doses of slow poison were administered to the Maharaja, who was at last delivered by death on 5 November 1840 from a lonely and disgraceful existence.

Kunwar Nau Nihal Singh (9 March 1821 – 5 November 1840) was the third Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. He was the only son of Maharaja Kharak Singh and his consort, Maharani Chand Kaur. He was known as Yuvraj Kunwar Nau Nihal Singh. He was also known as Bhanwar Singh or Bhanwar Sa or Kunwar Sa means Respected Young Prince. Bhawar means Son of Kunwar or Son of Thakur His reign began with the dethronement of his father Maharaja Kharak Singh and ended with his death at the age of 19 on the day of his father's funeral.

Nau Nihal was popular with the royal courtiers and the general public and was seen as a worthy successor to his father during the latter's sickness. After Kharak Singh died on 5 November 1840, Nau Nihal performed his last rites beside the Ravi River in Lahore. After the ceremony, he started returning to the palace via the Hazuri Bagh, where a massive block of stone from a gate fell upon him and two of his companions. One of the companions - Udham Singh (nephew of Dhian Singh)- broke his neck and died on the spot.

According to Alexander Gardner, who just stepped behind Nau Nihal when the incident took place, the prince had sustained only minor injuries during this episode: he was well enough to walk on his own, and agreed to be taken on a stretcher only because of Gardner's insistence. However, when the court physician Johann Martin Honigberger came to attend Nau Nihal in a tent, he observed that the prince's skull had been crushed, and the bedsheet was covered with blood and brain tissue. Dhian Singh insisted that the prince had suffered these injuries during the alleged accident in Hazuri Bagh. Nau Nihal died hours later, although the courtiers did not make this news public until three days later in an attempt to avoid panic. According to Gardner, five artillery men had carried Nau Nihal from Hazuri Bagh to the tent: two of these men died under mysterious circumstances, two went on leave and never re-joined the service, and one disappeared without explanation.1L.H. Griffin in The Punjab Chiefs says,"The only reason for the mystery which shrouded the death-bed of the Prince, was the necessity which Dhyan Singh felt for keeping the fatal news from being generally known until the arrival of Sher Singh. If there had been an organized plot, the Raja would have taken care that Sher Singh should have been present in Lahore at the time of the catastrophe. The absence of Sher Singh proves the innocence of the Raja (Dhian Singh)".

Gateway to three Samadi's

Samadhi of Mahraja Ranjit Singh:-

Samadhi of Kharak Singh:-

Samadhi of Nau Nihal Singh:-

THE THREE HISTORICAL GURDWARAS OF EMINABAD (2020)

Date of Visit:- 23 August 2020

(All pictures are taken by me, writeup taken from the site 'Discover Sikhism)

Eminabad, an ancient town in the Gujranwala district of Pakistan, used to be known as Sayyidpur or Saidpur during the time of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji.

According to the Bhai Bala Janam Sakhi, after leaving Sultanpur and before setting out on his long travels, Guru Nanak, accompanied by Bhai Mardana, first visited Eminabad where Bhai Lalo, a carpenter by profession, became his Sikh.

The Gurbani of Guru Nanak in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji suggests that he was in Eminabad when the town was sacked by Babar in 1521.

Janam Sakhis also mention that during the attack by the Mughal force the Guru was held in prison and given a stone mill to ply.

Eminabad came under Sikh rule when Sardar Charhat Singh Sukkarchakkia occupied it during the 1760s.

Charat Singh was the grandfather of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The town has important historic Gurdwaras which were administered by the Shiromam Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee from 28 February 1922 until 1947.

There are 3 Historic Sikh Gurdwaras at Eminabad.

Gurdwara Khuhi Bhai Lalo

 32° 2'30.10"N 74°15'41.56"E

Gurdwara Khuhi Bhai Lalo marks the house and the well (Khuhi, in Punjabi) belonging to Bhai Lalo where Guru Nanak first met him. Bhai Lalo was born in 1452 in the village of Saidpur, presently known as Eminabad, in Pakistan. Bhai Lalo's father's name was Bhai Jagat Ram of the Ghataura surname belonging to the carpenter clan.

Guru Nanak stayed with Bhai Lalo on several occasions. Bhai Lalo's house became a dharmsala, a meeting place for the local followers of Guru Nanak. Later the house was developed into Gurdwara which was named after the khuhi (narrow well) which existed even when the old house had crumbled.

History

Bhai Lalo is known in Sikh history for a particular story when Guru Nanak was visiting. When Malik Bhago, an important government official of the city, provided food for all religious holy men he invited Guru Nanak Sahib too.

Guru Nanak declined the invitation of Malik Bhago. On being summoned through official command a second time, Guru Nanak Sahib took Bhai Lalo with him and went to Malik Bhago's house. With great anger Malik Bhago said to Guru Nanak, 'You are dishonoring Kshatriyas by eating dry chapatis in the house of a carpenter. My feast offers you delicious food. Why do you refuse to eat it?'

Guru Nanak Sahib took Malik Bhago's buttered bread in his left hand and Bhai Lalo's plain bread in his right hand. When Guru Nanak squeezed his left hand, with the Malik Bhago's buttered bread, everyone saw blood trickling from it. When Guru Nanak squeezed his right hand, the people saw drops of milk dripping from it. Malik Bhago became silent.

Guru Nanak explained that Malik's income was earned by sucking the blood of the poor people whereas the income of this carpenter had the milk earned from his hard labor. "This was the reason behind my rejection of your rich food and that was why I preferred the simple bread earned through hard labor," said the Guru.

Gurdwara Sri Rori Sahib Eminabad

 32° 2'51.57"N 74°14'57.00"E

Gurdwara Sri Rori Sahib Eminabad marks the site where Guru Nanak stayed with Bhai Lalo after the destruction of the Saidpur by Babur. Here Guru Nanak had to sit and lie down on a hard bed of pebbles (small stones) (Rori in Punjabi) as alluded to in Bhai Gurdas Varan 1.

When the armies of Babar entered Punjab in 1521, Guru Nanak was present in Saidpur. At the time of the capture of Saidpur, many locals were arrested, including Guru Nanak. At the time of the arrest, Guru Nanak was sitting here at Gurdwara Sri Rori Sahib Eminabad on the pebbles and was praying to God. The Gurdwara stands at the place of the pebbles.

Gurdwara

An imposing Gurdwara has been built over the place. A large pond and other buildings make it more graceful. A large estate worth Rs.5000 per annum and 9 squares of agricultural land were endowed to the Gurdwara from the era of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Vaisakhi and Kattak Puranmashi festivals used to be held in the past but only the Vaisakhi festival is held now where people from Gujranwala and its adjoining areas participate with fanfare.

This was the premier gurdwara of the town. Its central building is a three-story imposing structure of cut brickwork, which is topped with three chhatri-like structures covered with a large central gumbaz (dome) with smaller chhatris (dome-shaped pavilions) on either side. A rectangular hall adjoins it on the left side of the entry. A large Sarovar, surrounded by low walls on two of its sides is set askew to the right of the central entry tower. At the rear of the complex, there is a room topped with a particularly exquisite ribbed white lotus dome with a circumambulatory verandah. This room covers the pebbled area on which Guru Nanak was arrested.

Before Partition, Eminabad was known for its week-long Vaisakhi fair which included largely attended Sangat gatherings of the Sikhs in Gurdwara Sri Rori Sahib as well as the usual fun and a cattle fair. The multi-story building was set on fire by a mob of Muslim zealots soon after the partition of Punjab on 15th August 1947. The building of the Gurdwara was falling apart but the Government of Pakistan stemmed the rot by making repairs and constructing its boundary wall.

Gurdwara Sri Chakki Sahib Eminabad

 32° 2'32.03"N 74°15'35.99"E

Gurdwara Sri Chakki Sahib, at Eminabad, is located where a large chakki (millstone) was kept. The chakki was used by Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji during his detention. In the Janamsakhis, it is mentioned that Guru Nanak was taken as a prisoner along with thousands of his fellow countrymen by Emperor Babur's men.

Guru Nanak was, along with many of his fellow prisoners, forced to grind corn with hand-driven chakki's (millstones). His captors were surprised to see that the millstone used by Guru Nanak was turning, by itself, while Guru Nanak was simply pouring grist into the opening in the stone as he sang kirtan in remembrance of God.

Guru Nanak's singing to 'One God' (the Mughals as Muslims also believed in One God) and, even more, the stone's turning by itself amazed the Mughal soldiers who brought this to the immediate attention of Babur.

When the miracle was reported to Babur, he himself came to meet Guru Nanak. After talking to Guru Nanak, Babur set Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana free. Babur also freed thousands of other prisoners too, many of whom became the Guru's followers.

The millstone was preserved as an object of veneration and much later, a Gurdwara was established where the millstone was kept, named Gurdwara Sri Chakki Sahib Eminabad. Its present building is a simple flat-roofed room with some ancillaries and a brick-paved compound, inside the town.