ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>K&#256R-SEV&#256</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="KR,SEV"> <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">&#65279K&#256R-SEV&#256, voluntary contribution of physical labour towards cleaning and construction operations at sacred tanks and temples, holds a special significance in the Sikh tradition. <i>Sev&#257</i>, altruistic service, was preached by the Gur&#363s as a means to God-realization . "One who renders selfless service attains to the Lord's presence," says the Scripture (GG, 286-87). <i>K&#257r</i> may be interpreted in two ways. In Sanskrit as well as in Persian the word means simply act, action, work, operation, labour, service, etc., so that <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i> may mean any physical act, labour or service altruistically performed. However, in Sikh usage the term is applied to free voluntary labour contributed to building, repairing or renovating projects, undertaken by the community. In another and more popular sense till recently, the word <i>k&#257r</i> was taken as derived from the Arabic <i>q'ar</i> meaning "to go to the bottom, to make deep, bottom, depth (of well, etc.)." <i>K&#257r-sev&#257</i> is thus applied specifically to the work of dredging or removing by manual labour sedimentary mud and garbage, collected at the bottom of a <i>sarovar</i>, sacred pool or tank, over the years. Sikhs, male and female, old and young, high and low, consider it a privilege to participate in <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i>. Therefore, in order to give a chance to the maximum number, it a customary not to use mechanical contrivances but use simple digging implements and baskets during the operation. The inauguration of the work is marked by a solemn ceremony. Pañj Pi&#257re or the Five Elect are chosen for their eminence in piety. They, after <i>ard&#257s</i>, supplicatory prayer to God for assistance in successful completion of the task, offered in the presence of gathered volunteers, dig the first clods and carry them in baskets on their heads up to the banks of the <i>sarovar</i> amidst singing of the sacred hymns. The volunteers then take over and the whole tank hums with activity combined with hymn-singing or simple, sonorous repetition of "Sati N&#257m V&#257higur&#363" --- "God whose very name is the Truth." As the operations conclude, the <i>sarovar</i> is refilled with fresh water and a thanksgiving <i>ard&#257s</i> is offered.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sikh chronicles describe the <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i> operations at the Pool of Nectar, the sacred tank, Amritsar, which lent its name to the city, on several occasions. This <i>sarovar</i> was dug initially by Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s (1534-81). Being unlined and rain-fed, it soon started getting shallow. Gur&#363 Arjan (1563-1606) took up the first <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i> which involved not only deepening but also brick lining of its banks with steps leading down. He had the Harimandar constructed in the middle of it as also the causeway connecting the shrine to the bank. The project extending over several years was executed primarily with voluntary, free labour. With the shifting of the Gur&#363's seat to K&#299ratpur and Chakk N&#257nak&#299 in the &#346iv&#257lik foothills, no <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i> at Amritsar is recorded to have taken place for a century and more. In 1746, Lakhpat R&#257i, <i>d&#299w&#257n</i>, revenue minister to Y&#257hiy&#257 <u>Kh</u>&#257n, governor of Lahore, started a severe campaign of persecution against the Sikhs in retaliation of the death of his brother, Jaspat R&#257i, at their hands in an encounter. Besides inflicting heavy casualties upon the Sikhs in what is known as Chho&#7789&#257 Ghall&#363gh&#257r&#257, the minor holocaust, he destroyed their shrines and had the Pool of Nectar partly filled up. But the following year, Sikhs regained control of Amritsar and had the <i>sarovar</i> cleaned through <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i>. The <i>sarovar</i> was got filled up again in May 1757 by Jah&#257n <u>Kh</u>&#257n, an army commander and deputy viceroy of the Punjab under Taim&#363r Sh&#257h, the son of Ahmad Sh&#257h Durr&#257n&#299. Taim&#363r and Jah&#257n <u>Kh</u>&#257n were, however, driven out of the Punjab in April 1758 by a combined force of Sikhs and Mar&#257&#7789h&#257s, and the Sikhs got the <i>sarovar</i> cleaned by two hundred odd Af<u>gh</u>&#257n prisoners of war. Sikh volunteers also assisted in the <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i>. Five years later, on the eve of Bais&#257kh&#299 of 1762, Ahmad Sh&#257h Durr&#257n&#299, not content with the crushing blow he had inflicted upon the Sikhs two months earlier during what is known in Sikh history as Va&#7693&#7693&#257 Ghall&#363ghar&#257, the greater holocaust, suddenly fell upon Amritsar, where he blew up the Harimandar with gun powder and filled up the Pool of Nectar with debris and rubbish. Dal <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257, the fighting force of the Sikhs, under Jass&#257 Si&#7749gh &#256hl&#363v&#257l&#299&#257 retaliated with an attack on Sirhind in May 1762. Zain <u>Kh</u>&#257n, the <i>faujd&#257r</i>, was defeated and purchased peace with Rs 50,000 as indemnity to the Sikhs. Following their advantage the Sikhs reoccupied Amritsar in October 1762. Durr&#257n&#299's one attempt to eject them on D&#299v&#257l&#299 day, 17 October, was frustrated and the Sikhs were left free to perform the <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i> at the sacred tank in peace. In January 1764, the Sikhs conquered Sirhind. The accursed town was put to systematic destruction and pillage, and it was decided to set apart a major part of the plunder for the reconstruction of the Harimandar and the embankment and circumambulatory terrace around the <i>sarovar</i>. The execution of the project was entrusted to Bh&#257&#299 Des R&#257j and was completed in 1776.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The next <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i> was carried out in 1842 under the supervision of Bh&#257&#299 Gurmukh Si&#7749gh Gi&#257n&#299. Eighty-one years later, in 1923, the newly established Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee planned a <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i>. As a preparatory measure, an earthen embankment temporarily divided the <i>sarovar</i> into two parts. Water of one was transferred into the other so that the emptied half could be ready for digging and deepening. The actual operations were inaugurated with great fanfare on 17 June 1923.Pañj Pi&#257re --- Sant Sh&#257m Si&#7749gh of Amritsar, Sant Gul&#257b Si&#7749gh of Ghol&#299&#257, Jathed&#257r Tej&#257 Si&#7749gh of Chuha&#7771k&#257&#7751&#257, Sodh&#299 Pr&#299tam Si&#7749gh of Anandpur S&#257hib and Sard&#257r Mahit&#257b Si&#7749gh --- came to the Harimandar at the head of a large procession. Five gold shovels and five large silver bowls were placed at Har k&#299 Pau&#7771&#299. After offering <i>ard&#257s</i>, the Pañj Pi&#257re each lifted a shovel and bowl, and digging some sedimentary clods from the emptied half of the <i>sarovar</i> carried them in the bowls up the embankment stairs to throw it beyond the terrace. Volunteers, assembled district-wise, took turns at <i>sev&#257</i>. Even Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Bh&#363pinder Si&#7749gh, ruler of Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 (1891-1938), and other Sikh chiefs participated in the sacred labour. The latest <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i> at Amritsar was in 1973. This time the Pañj Pi&#257re included five eminent saints known for their dedication especially to the renovation of the holy Sikh shrines at different places. They were Sant Gurmukh Si&#7749gh, Sant Kha&#7771ak Si&#7749gh, Sant J&#299van Si&#7749gh, Sant Sev&#257 Si&#7749gh and Sant Mohindar Si&#7749gh. Dredging through <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i> of the sacred tank at Tarn T&#257ran, the largest of the Sikh <i>sarovars</i>, was carried out from 10 January 1931 to 31 May 1932. Building activities through <i>k&#257r-sev&#257</i> go on continuously at different places throughout the country keeping the Sikh tradition of <i>sev&#257</i> alive and inculcating among the followers of the faith values such as equality, humility and dignity of manual labour.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Prat&#257p Si&#7749gh Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Gurdw&#257r&#257 Sudh&#257r arth&#257t Ak&#257l&#299 Lahir</i>. Amritsar, 1975<BR> <li class="C1"> Gi&#257n Singh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Tw&#257r&#299<u>kh</u> Sr&#299 Amritsar</i>. Amritsar, 1977<BR> <li class="C1"> Madanjit Kaur, <i>The Golden Temple: Past and Present</i>. Amritsar, 1983<BR> <li class="C1"> Fauja Singh, <i>The City of Amritsar</i>. Delhi, 1978<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Bh&#257&#299 Kirp&#257l Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>