ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>KHEM KARAN (31º-8'N, 74º-3'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="KHEM,KARAN"> <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">&#65279KHEM KARAN (31º-8'N, 74º-3'E), a small border town in Amritsar district of the Punjab, has two historical shrines dedicated one each to Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s and Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 THAMM S&#256HIB, near the Kas&#363r Gate, marks the site of a <i>mañj&#299</i> or preaching centre established by Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s (1479-1574) through Bh&#257&#299 Khe&#7693&#257, a Br&#257hma&#7751 worshipper of goddess Durg&#257 converted to Sikhism. The Gur&#363 had given to Bh&#257&#299 Khe&#7693&#257 a log pillar (<i>thamm</i> in Punjabi) which, preserved as a sacred relic, gave the shrine its name. The old shrine and the holy <i>thamm</i> were destroyed during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1965. The present building, a small flat-roofed hall, including the sanctum, was raised by the local <i>sa&#7749gat</i> in 1966. A new log brought from Goindv&#257l, once the seat of Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s, has replaced the old relic. An old well on the premises is believed to date from Bh&#257&#299 Khe&#7693&#257's days. The Gurdw&#257r&#257 is maintained by the local <i>sa&#7749gat</i>. The death anniversary of Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s falling in August-September is marked by special <i>d&#299v&#257ns</i>.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 GUR&#362SAR S&#256HIB marks the spot, 400 metres south of Khem Karan town, where Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur (1621-75) once stayed during his visit to the town. The old shrine was reconstructed in 1903 by L&#257l&#257 K&#257&#7749sh&#299 R&#257m, a rich philanthropist of F&#299rozpur. This building was destroyed during the 1965 war with Pakistan. The present structure raised during 1966-67 comprises a small hall, adjoining a domed sanctum. The Gurdw&#257r&#257 is maintained by the local <i>sa&#7749gat</i>. Special gatherings take place on every full-moon day and on all major anniversaries on the Sikh calendar.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1">Fauj&#257 Si&#7749gh, <i>Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur, Y&#257tr&#257 Asth&#257n, Prampr&#257v&#257&#7749 te Y&#257d Chinn</i>. Patiala, 1976<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Gurnek Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>