ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>N&#256NAKI&#256&#7750&#256 S&#256HIB GURDW&#256R&#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="NNAKIF,SHIB,GURDWR"> <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">&#65279N&#256NAKI&#256&#7750&#256 S&#256HIB, GURDW&#256R&#256, near the village of M&#257&#7749gv&#257l, 4 km east of Sa&#7749gr&#363r (30º -14'N, 75º -50'E) in the Punjab, is sacred to Gur&#363 N&#257nak and Gur&#363 Hargobind. When Gur&#363 N&#257nak came here in the early sixteenth century, the village of Ma&#7749gv&#257l was, according to local tradition, closer to the site of the present Gurdw&#257r&#257 which stands near a deep pond. It was on the bank of this pond that the Gur&#363 had preached to the villagers. A century later, as Gur&#363 Hargobind visited the village in 1616, he reminded the inhabitants to maintain the sanctity of the pool consecrated by Gur&#363 N&#257nak and not to pollute its water with village waste. He also had a platform constructed in honour of Gur&#363 N&#257nak. The villagers obeyed him and removed. to the present site from where they would come to make obeisance at Tha&#7771&#257 S&#257hib, or the sacred platform, and to have a dip in the holy pool.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The present building, a fortress like <i>havel&#299</i>, was, according to a copper plate preserved in the Gurdw&#257r&#257, constructed in 1886 by R&#257j&#257 Raghb&#299r Si&#7749gh (1833-87) of J&#299nd. Entered through a massive wooden gate, it consists of several courtyards. In the central courtyard is a marble-floored domed structure called Mañji S&#257hib P&#257tsh&#257h&#299 Pahil&#299. It has a platform, reverently covered with a piece of cloth, representing the Tha&#7771&#257 S&#257hib established by Gur&#363 Hargobind. Behind the Mañj&#299 S&#257hib, in a separate compound, is the assembly hall where the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib is seated in the middle. Preserved as a sacred relic, is a peculiar weapon here called <i>gurz-i-tabar</i> with 1724 inscribed on it in Persian numerals. It is a steel rod with a hilt like that of a sword but the point having five tongue-like blunt blades projecting sideways. A Persian couplet inscribed on it means: <i>"Gurz -i-tabar</i> in the hands of Gobind Si&#7749gh strikes the enemy's head." An' engraved figure shows Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh on horseback.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In another compound behind the <i>d&#299v&#257n</i> hall, there is an old <i>kar&#299r</i> tree which has grown through the roof of the building. It is believed that it dates back to the time of the Gur&#363. Yet another compound houses the Gur&#363 k&#257 La&#7749gar. The old pond has been lined and converted into a <i>sarovar</i>. Though outside the Gurdw&#257r&#257 wall, access to it is from inside the premises through two separate doors for men and women.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gurdw&#257r&#257 N&#257nak&#299&#257&#7751a S&#257hib owns 140 acres of land and is administered directly by the Shiroman&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee. Besides daily prayers and <i>d&#299v&#257ns</i>, important days on the Sikh calendar are observed with special religious programmes, Bais&#257kh&#299 taking precedence among them.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> T&#257r&#772&#257 Si&#7749gh, <i>Sr&#299 Gur T&#299rath Sa&#7749grahi</i>. Amritsar, n.d.<BR> <li class="C1"> &#7788h&#257kar Si&#7749gh, Giani, <i>Sr&#299 Gurd&#363&#257re Darshan</i>, Amritsar, 1923<BR> <li class="C1"> Gi&#257n Si&#7749gh Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Tw&#257r&#299<u>kh</u> Gur&#363 <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257</i> [Reprint] Patiala, 1970<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>