ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>MATHUR&#256 (27º-28'N, 77º-40'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="MATHUR"> <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">&#65279MATHUR&#256 (27º-28'N, 77º-40'E), an ancient city on the right bank of the River Yamun&#257, 150 km south-southeast of Delhi, possesses three Sikh shrines commemorating the visits of Gur&#363 N&#257nak and Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 GA&#362 GH&#256&#7788 is a small shrine on the river-bank controlled by the Ud&#257s&#299s. The Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib is seated in a small room. It is believed that at the time of their visits Gur&#363 N&#257nak and Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur, while here, used this spot for their daily ablutions.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 GUR&#362 N&#256NAK BAG&#298CH&#298, dedicated to Gur&#363 N&#257nak, is situated on the right bank of the Yamun&#257, outside the old town. It is said that when Gur&#363 N&#257nak visited the spot, he was told that the place was unsuitable for a halt, for the river water at that time of year was muddy and the well water in the area brackish. But, as water was drawn from the nearest well it was found to be sweet. Gur&#363 N&#257nak established a <i>pi&#257&#363</i> (drinking water stand) there and himself served fresh water to the pilgrims to the town. He is believed to have stayed here for three months. A childless couple, Mohan and his wife S&#299t&#257 B&#257&#299, served him, and were blessed with a son. There is a belief still prevalent in the locality that if a person observed a <i>ch&#257l&#299s&#257</i> here, i.e. prayed at the shrine regularly for forty days, his heart's desire would be fulfilled.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The shrine was established and preserved by Ud&#257s&#299 s&#257dh&#363s but in the 1950's, the managing committee of Gurdw&#257r&#257 Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur took charge of it. In 1975, it was handed over for further development to Sant S&#257dh&#363 Si&#7749gh Maun&#299 of Gur&#363 k&#257 T&#257l, Sikandr&#257 (&#256gr&#257).</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 GUR&#362 TE<u>GH</u> BAH&#256DUR SR&#298 GUR&#362 SI&#7748GH SABH&#256 is the main <i>gurdw&#257r&#257</i> of Mathur&#257. The site is referred to in older accounts as Ka&#7749s &#7788ill&#257, i.e., Mound of K&#257&#7749s. Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur, on his way from Delhi to the eastern provinces in 1665, stayed here for three days. A small platform in a modest but existed here as a memorial to the Gur&#363's visit. It was maintained by Ud&#257s&#299 s&#257dh&#363s until the early nineteen forties when Sikh residents in Mathur&#257 acquired the site. A new double-storeyed building was constructed, with the Sikh troops of Mathur&#257 garrison contributing liberally in money and labour. More buildings have been added since, and at present the Gurdw&#257r&#257 is a compact block of numerous double-storeyed rooms around a paved courtyard. The rectangular <i>d&#299v&#257n</i> hall, with verandahs in front and rear, is on the first floor approached by a wide staircase covered with white marble slabs. Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur &#256darsh Vidy&#257laya, with classes from Montessori to the eighth standard is also housed on the premises. A museum containing pictures depicting scenes from Sikh history was set up in one of the rooms during August 1977: The Gurdw&#257r&#257, registered as Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Si&#7749gh Sabh&#257, is managed by a local committee.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><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"> Narotam, T&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh, <i>Sr&#299 Guru T&#299rath Sa&#7749grahi</i>. Kankhal, 1975<BR> <li class="C1"> Sahi, Joginder Singh, <i>Sikh Shrines in India and Abroad</i>. Faridabad, 1978<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>