ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>K&#298RATPUR S&#256HIB (76º-35'E, 31º-11'N)</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="K*RATPUR,SHIB"> <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&#298RATPUR S&#256HIB (76º-35'E, 31º-11'N), a small town in &#346iv&#257lak foothills in R&#363pnagar (Ropa&#7771) district of the Punjab, was founded by B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257 under instructions from his father, Gur&#363 Hargobind. According to the Bha&#7789&#7789 Vah&#299s, the foundation was laid by B&#257b&#257 Sr&#299 Chand, the aged son of Gur&#363 N&#257nak, on Bais&#257kh P&#363ranm&#257sh&#299 1683 Bk/1 May 1626 by ceremonially planting a twig on a tract of land acquired by the Gur&#363 from R&#257j&#257 T&#257r&#257 Chand of Kahl&#363r, a small hill state. Gur&#363 Hargobind settled in K&#299ratpur after the battles of Kart&#257rpur and Phagw&#257&#7771&#257 in 1635. It remained the seat of the Sikh Gur&#363s until Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur founded in 1665 the new village of Chakk N&#257nak&#299 (present Anandpur S&#257hib), 8 km further north. The town has a number of shrines of historical importance.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 CHARAN KAVAL P&#256TSH&#256H&#298 PAHIL&#298. Gur&#363 N&#257nak stayed on this site when he visited this part of the country during one of his extensive travels. Here he held religious discourse with a Muslim divine, P&#299r Bu&#7693&#7693h&#257&#7751 Sh&#257h. The P&#299r lived on goat's milk which he also offered to the Gur&#363. As the tradition goes, the Gur&#363 drank half of it and returned the other half to Bu&#7693&#7693ha&#7751 Sh&#257h, telling him to keep it till a Sikh of his came to take it. This, it is believed, was an allusion to B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257 until whose arrival over a hundred years later P&#299r Bu&#7693&#7693h&#257&#7751 Sh&#257h was still alive (His <i>maz&#257r</i>, i.e. grave, is located on a hilltop, about 200 metres to the east of Dehr&#257 B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257j&#299 and is also visited by Sikh pilgrims to K&#299ratpur) .</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gurdw&#257r&#257 Charan Kaval stands on a high base. The heavy stone walls riveting the base and the dented parapet at the top give it the appearance of a fortress. The main building was constructed by R&#257j&#257 Bh&#363p Si&#7749gh of Ropa&#7771 during the earlier half of the nineteenth century.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 SH&#298SH MAHAL is one of a complex of six shrines which together mark the site of the buildings used by the Gur&#363s. Sh&#299sh Mahal, standing in the midst of this complex, was the house in which the holy family resided after Gur&#363 Hargobind had shifted to K&#299ratpur. Gur&#363 Har R&#257i and Gur&#363 Har Krishan were born and brought up here. The old building has since been demolished and replaced by a tall and magnificent edifice. To make it a Sh&#299sh Mahal (Glass Palace) in the literal sense, panels of decorative reflecting glass have been fixed along the whole interior, white on the ceiling and gold on the walls.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 TA<u>KH</u>T KO&#7788 S&#256HIB. Like the Ak&#257l Ta<u>kh</u>t at Amritsar, this was the seat at K&#299ratpur where Gur&#363 Hargobind held his court. Important functions such as the anointing ceremony for Gur&#363 Har R&#257i (8 March 1644) and for Gur&#363 Har Krishan (7 October 1661) were performed here. The Ta<u>kh</u>t S&#257hib, a square room where the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib is seated, is on a high plinth at the northern end of a flat-roofed hall. There is a domed pavilion with a gold pinnacle on top of the Ta<u>kh</u>t S&#257hib.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 SR&#298 HARIMANDIR S&#256HIB P&#256TSH&#256H&#298 CHHEV&#298&#7748 marks the site used by Gur&#363 Hargobind for meditation or rest in seclusion. There used to be a garden around the pavilion, called Naulakkh&#257 B&#257<u>gh</u>, with an eight cornered fountain in it. It was perhaps in this Naulakkh&#257 Garden that young Har R&#257i once brushed past a shrub with his long flowing loose gown causing a flower to drop from its stem. He felt very grieved to have thus damaged a beautiful flower. Gur&#363 Hargobind, his grandfather, saw him in tears. He consoled him and said : "You should always take care." The simple words stuck in the impressionable mind and when Gur&#363 Har R&#257i became Gur&#363, he converted this garden into a small zoo in which he left off animals captured during the chase.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The old Gurdw&#257r&#257 building of Sirhind&#299 bricks and lime cast still stands. In the centre is a flat-roofed room in which the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib is seated.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 DAMD&#256M&#256 S&#256HIB is a single room, with a small domed pavilion in the centre of the roof, some 20 metres west of Gurdw&#257r&#257 Sh&#299sh Mahal. This was the site for daily gatherings in the time of Gur&#363 Har R&#257i.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GUR&#362 K&#256 KH&#362H is an old narrow well, about one metre in diameter, close to Gurdw&#257r&#257 Sh&#299sh Mahal. Still narrower steps lead down into the well to what was probably at one time its water level, although the water table is now much lower. This was the main source of water supply for the inmates of Sh&#299sh Mahal during the times of the Gur&#363s and later for the So&#7693h&#299 families residing there.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 CHUBACHCH&#256 S&#256HIB, to the southwest of Damdam&#257 S&#257hib, is a low-domed building inside a small compound. Chubachch&#257, in Punjabi, means a circular trough of masonry work used for watering animals near wells or for feeding them with grain in the stables. Although peace had generally prevailed after Gur&#363 Hargobind had settled in K&#299ratpur, Gur&#363 Har R&#257i, obeying his grandfather's injunction, had retained a contingent of 2,200 mounted soldiers. The bulk of this force was stationed near village Bu&#7749g&#257, about 6 km south of K&#299ratpur, but a few of the animals intended for riding by the Gur&#363 were kept at the place marked by Gurdw&#257r&#257 Chubachch&#257 S&#257hib. Gur&#363 Har R&#257i himself came here at times to feed the horses with his own hands. The Gurdw&#257r&#257, like other shrines at K&#299ratpur, is under the management of the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 MAÑJ&#298 S&#256HIB marks the residence of Gur&#363 Har R&#257i's daughter, B&#299b&#299 R&#363p Kaur, and her descendants, and was taken over by the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee only in 1975. B&#299b&#299 R&#363p Kaur was married on Maghar <i>sud&#299</i> 3, 1719 Bk/3 December 1662 to Bh&#257&#299 Khem Karan, son of Bh&#257&#299 Pe&#7771 Mall, of Pasr&#363r (now in Si&#257lko&#7789 district in Pakistan), but soon after the marriage the couple came back and settled in K&#299ratpur itself. It was here that Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur came from Bak&#257l&#257 on Bh&#257do&#7749 <i>sud&#299</i> 10, 1721 Bk/21 August 1664 to condole with B&#299b&#299 R&#363p Kaur upon the death of her brother, Gur&#363 Har Krishan.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The building is a double-storeyed complex of small rooms. The Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib is placed in one of the rooms on the first floor. The shrine is especially important for its sacred relics. These include a handwritten <i>poth&#299</i>, a hand fan, an embroidered handkerchief, and an anchorite's cap. The cap is said to have been originally given by B&#257b&#257 Sr&#299 Chand to his spiritual successor, B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257, and the <i>poth&#299</i> contains passages from the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib as well as some didactic stories. Both these were presented to B&#299b&#299 R&#363p Kaur, along with her dowry, by her grandmother, M&#257t&#257 Bass&#299. The hand fan and handkerchief belonged to B&#299b&#299 R&#363p Kaur.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 BIB&#256NGA&#7770H S&#256HIB. <i>Bib&#257n</i>, in Punjabi, means a decorated hearse. The severed head of Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur, executed in Delhi on 11 November 1675, was brought to K&#299ratpur by Bh&#257&#299 Jait&#257 (later J&#299van Si&#7749gh) on 16 November 1675. Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh came from Chakk N&#257nak&#299 (Anandpur) to K&#299ratpur to receive it. Gurdw&#257r&#257 Bib&#257nga&#7771h S&#257hib marks the spot where the sacred head was received and placed on a <i>bib&#257n</i> to be carried for cremation to Anandpur in a procession chanting the sacred hymns.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B&#256OL&#298 S&#256HIB or GUR&#362 K&#298 B&#256OL&#298 is a large square-shaped well covered with a domed pavilion, with steep steps descending down to water level. The well was got sunk by B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257 when K&#299ratpur was founded, the digging having been ceremonially begun by B&#257b&#257 Sr&#299 Chand.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 DEHR&#256 B&#256B&#256 GURDITT&#256 J&#298, atop a narrow plateau, marks the spot where B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257, eldest son of Gur&#363 Hargobind, laid down his life. It was B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257 who had established K&#299ratpur in compliance of his father's wish. Sikh tradition credits B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257 with miraculous powers. It is said that once during a chase he accidentally killed a cow and then, out of remorse, revived the animal. When this news reached Gur&#363 Hargobind, he summoned him and admonished him for trying to interfere with the Divine order. B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257, now overtaken by an even deeper remorse for causing annoyance to his father Gur&#363 by working a miracle, quietly left his father's presence, came to this place near the grave of P&#299r Bu&#7693&#7693h&#257&#7751 Sh&#257h and quit his earthly frame. The grief-stricken family and the Sikhs came wailing. Gur&#363 Hargobind advised everyone to be calm and accept God's will. He cremated the body on this spot. The incident took place on Chet <i>sud&#299</i> 10, 1695 Bk/15 March 1638.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The present building of the Gurdw&#257r&#257 and the steps leading to it were constructed by R&#257j&#257 Bh&#363p Si&#7749gh of Ropa&#7771. The outer compound is enclosed by high walls and is entered through a double-storeyed gateway facing north. There are domed turrets at the corners and decorative pavilions with elongated domes at mid-points of the walls. The sanctum, where the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib is seated, stands in the centre on a two metre high pedestal. It has wide arched doors and a low dome under an old <i>nim</i> tree. It is believed that this tree sprouted out of a stick B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257 had stuck into the ground near where he lay down for his eternal rest.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 T&#298R S&#256HIB is sacred to Gur&#363 Hargobind. As one ascends the stairs towards Gurdw&#257r&#257 Dehr&#257 B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257j&#299, there is a hillock on the right at the end of a spur, commanding the panoramic plain stretching towards the River Sutlej. Sitting on the hilltop, Gur&#363 Hargobind used to hold competitions in archery. There is a local tradition that once, towards the end of his days, the Gur&#363 shot an arrow from here which landed near the Sutlej bank. That was the place where he breathed his last. The spot is now marked by Gurdw&#257r&#257 Pat&#257lpur&#299. Gurdw&#257r&#257 T&#299r S&#257hib was until recently only a small Mañj&#299 S&#257hib. But the hills of K&#299ratpur being of soft clay rock are highly susceptible to erosion, and the old building in danger of collapse was demolished. A new structure has since been raised on a stone-riveted base.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 PAT&#256LPUR&#298 S&#256HIB, on the left bank of the River Sutlej, marks the site where Gur&#363 Hargobind passed away. It is recorded that, when Gur&#363 Hargobind saw his end near, he had a hut constructed on this site which was called Pat&#257lpur&#299. Designating Gur&#363 Har R&#257i as his successor, he retired to this hut spending his time in meditation until he breathed his last on 3 March 1644. Here the body was cremated with due honours. Gur&#363 Har R&#257i, who passed away on 6 October 1661, was also cremated here. Although Gur&#363 Har Krishan died in Delhi on 30 March 1664, his ashes were, according to the <i>Bha&#7789&#7789 Vah&#299s</i>, brought to Pat&#257lpur&#299 and immersed in the Sutlej on Bh&#257do&#7749 <i>sud&#299</i> 11, 1721Bk/22 August 1664. (It has now become customary for Sikhs to immerse the ashes of their dead in the River Sutlej at this point.) Separate shrines for the three Gur&#363s were constructed. There were also several monuments in honour of the Gur&#363s' relations and descendants. They have all been demolished and replaced by a new Gurdw&#257r&#257 in a vast hall on a high plinth. Towards the river end of the hall is the <i>prak&#257sh asth&#257n</i> for the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib. Another two storeys rise above the sanctum, with a dome on top.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;SANT NIV&#256S UD&#256S&#298 &#256SHRAM near B&#257ol&#299 S&#257hib commemorates the visit of B&#257b&#257 Sr&#299 Chand, founder of the Ud&#257s&#299 sect. Here he is said to have given a cap and cord, emblems of the headship of the sect, to B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257. According to the notice displayed at the &#256shram, this visit took place on H&#257&#7771 <i>sud&#299</i> P&#363ranm&#257sh&#299, 1685 Bk/7 July 1628, but according to the Bha&#7789&#7789 Vah&#299s he visited K&#299ratpur on Bais&#257kh <i>sud&#299</i> Puranm&#257sh&#299, 1683 Bk/1 May 1626, when he planted a sapling symbolizing the founding of K&#299ratpur and cut the ground for the <i>b&#257ol&#299</i>.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"><i>Gurbil&#257s Chhev&#299&#7749 P&#257tsh&#257h&#299</i>. Patiala, 1970<BR> <li class="C1"> Santokh Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Sr&#299 Gur Prat&#257p S&#363raj Granth</i>. Amritsar, 1927-33<BR> <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"> Gi&#257n Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Tw&#257r&#299<u>kh</u> Gurdu&#257ri&#257&#7749</i>. Amritsar, n.d.,<BR> <li class="C1"> Macauliffe, Max Arthur, <i>The Sikh Religion</i>. Oxford, 1909<BR> <li class="C1"> Harbans Singh, <i>The Heritage of the Sikhs</i>. Delhi, 1994<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>