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<p class="C1">&#65279B&#256RA&#7788H, a village 8 km southwest of P&#257th&#257nkot (32º-15'N, 75º-32'E) in Gurd&#257spur district of the Punjab, has a historical shrine, Gurdw&#257r&#257 Tap Asth&#257n B&#257b&#257 Sr&#299 Chand J&#299, popularly called Gurdw&#257r&#257 B&#257ra&#7789h S&#257hib. B&#257b&#257 Sr&#299 Chand, the elder son of Gur&#363 N&#257nak, chose for himself the life of a recluse. After Gur&#363 N&#257nak's passing away, he left Kart&#257rpur and spending sometime at the village of Pakkhoke, established a hermitage at B&#257ra&#7789h which became the centre of the Ud&#257s&#299 sect he had founded. Gur&#363s held him in high esteem for his spiritual eminence. Gur&#363 Arjan and, after him, Gur&#363 Hargobind travelled to B&#257ra&#7789h especially to meet him. According to local tradition, Gur&#363 Arjan sought B&#257b&#257 Sr&#299 Chand's blessing for the completion of the tank at Tarn T&#257ran. During Gur&#363 Hargobind's visit, B&#257b&#257 Sr&#299 Chand nominated B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257, the Gur&#363's eldest son, his successor as head of the Ud&#257s&#299 sect.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	The shrine at B&#257ra&#7789h was maintained by Udas&#299 priests until the Gurdw&#257r&#257 reform movement of 1920's when it passed into the control of the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee. Construction of the present complex commenced in 1968. It comprises the old domed room, with a tall brass pinnacle, on top of a mound, since renovated and extended by a circumambulatory verandah, a vast fenced compound on an elevated surface, and a row of rooms for pilgrims and the Gur&#363 k&#257 La&#7749gar. An octagonal pillar of mosaic concrete, in front of a square flat roofed room, is dedicated to the Fifth Gur&#363. It is known as Thamm S&#257hib Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Arjan Dev J&#299. The old B&#257ol&#299 S&#257hib, since converted into a small circular tank, is in a separate compound about 50 metres away from the main shrine. A small pond and a few trees, to the southeast of the Gurdw&#257r&#257, represent the old garden where Gur&#363 Hargobind is believed to have encamped at the time of his visit to B&#257ra&#7789h.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	The Gurdw&#257r&#257 owns 60 acres of arable land and is administered by a manager appointed by the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee and assisted by a local committee. The Tap Asth&#257n, where the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib is now seated, is visited by a large number of devotees, especially on <i>am&#257vasy&#257</i>, the last day of the dark half of the lunar month, when religious <i>d&#299v&#257ns</i> and community meals take place. The most important function of the year is a two-day fair held in mid-April to celebrate Bais&#257kh&#299.</p>
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BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> T&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh, <i>Sr&#299 Gur T&#299rath Sa&#7749grahi</i>. Amritsar, n. d.<BR>
<li class="C1"> &#7788h&#257kar Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Sr&#299 Gurdu&#257re Darshan</i>. Amritsar, 1923<BR>
<li class="C1"> Ra&#7751dh&#299r Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Ud&#257s&#299 Sikkkh&#257&#7749 d&#299 Vithi&#257</i>. Amritsar, 1959<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">Major Gurmukh Si&#7749gh (Retd.)<br></p><BR>
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