ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>BA&#7788HI&#7750&#7692&#256 (30º-14'N, 74º-59'E)</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="BAlHIF "> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279BA&#7788HI&#7750&#7692&#256 (30º-14'N, 74º-59'E), an old town in the Punjab, was called Vikramga&#7771h during the pre-Muhammadan period. Tradition ascribes its foundation to Bh&#257&#7789&#299 R&#257o, a R&#257jput chief who also founded Bha&#7789ner, present Han&#363m&#257nga&#7771h, in R&#257j&#257sth&#257n. The two towns together commanding the area between Hiss&#257r and B&#299k&#257ner known as Bha&#7789i&#257&#7751&#257, land of the Bha&#7789&#7789&#299s, also commanded the Delhi-Mult&#257n route used by early Muslim invaders. The early Muslim historians refer to Ba&#7789hi&#7751&#7693&#257 as Tabar-i-Hind (lit. axe of India). Its great Fort with 36 bastions and turrets rising up to 118 feet above the ground level of the surrounding country, is said to have been constructed by R&#257j&#257 Vinay P&#257l. In 1754, the combined forces of Bh&#257&#299 Gurba<u>kh</u>sh Si&#7749gh of the house of Bh&#257&#299 Bhagat&#363 and &#256l&#257 Si&#7749gh, founder of the Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 family, conquered Ba&#7789hi&#7751&#7693&#257 : During the time of R&#257j&#257 Amar Si&#7749gh of Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 (1748-82), who occupied it in 1771, it became part of Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 state. Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Karam Si&#7749gh of Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 (1798-1845) named the town Gobindga&#7771h after Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh, though the old name, Ba&#7789hi&#7751&#7693&#257 remained in common use. According to Bh&#257&#299 Santokh Si&#7749gh, <i>Sr&#299 Gur Prat&#257p S&#363raj Granth</i>, Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh, during his stay at Talva&#7751&#7693&#299 S&#257bo visited Ba&#7789hi&#7751&#7693&#257 in 1706 to survey the strategic importance of the Fort. He was told that the Fort had long been deserted, for a demon resided there. The Gur&#363 entered the Fort with his Sikhs and the legend has since prevailed that he exiled the demon. Two shrines were established later - one inside the Fort where Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh had put up, and the other outside it where the Sikhs were encamped.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 S&#256HIB P&#256TSH&#256H&#298 10, QIL&#256 MUB&#256RAK, inside the Fort, a 5-metre square domed sanctum, was constructed by Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Karam Si&#7749gh of Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257. Its interior is decorated with intricate designs in stucco, paint and inset work.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 GOBIND NAGAR P&#256TSH&#256H&#298 10, in the H&#257j&#299 Ratan locality adjacent to the Muslim shrine of H&#257j&#299 Ratan, was reconstructed during the 1970's. The main building is a mosaic-floored hall, with a square marbled sanctum marked off by arches in <i>p&#299pal-leaf</i> design topped by multi-coloured friezes. Above the sanctum are two storeys of square pavilions with a lotus dome on top. Both these Gurdw&#257r&#257s are managed by the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee through a local committee. Recitation and <i>k&#299rtan</i> of <i>gurb&#257&#7751&#299</i> takes place morning and evening and all major Sikh anniversaries are marked by special <i>d&#299v&#257ns</i>.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> 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"><i>M&#257lv&#257 Desh Ra&#7789an d&#299 S&#257kh&#299 Poth&#299</i>. Amritsar, 1968<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Major Gurmukh Si&#7749gh (Retd.)<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>