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<p class="C1">&#65279SIRS&#256, pronounced Sars&#257 (29º-33'N, 75º-04'E), in Hary&#257&#7751&#257, once famous as a seat of Muslim S&#363f&#299s and anchorites has two historical Sikh shrines :</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 CHILH&#256 S&#256HIB P&#256TSH&#256H&#298 1. Gur&#363 N&#257nak once visited Sirs&#257 and held discourse with the holy men, stressing the futility of withdrawal from the world and of undergoing austerities. A small shrine commemorating the visit of the Gur&#363 stands near the Kh&#257naq&#257h of Pañj P&#299rs in the north western corner of the town. Two engraved stones in the shrine carry the inscription Chilh&#257 B&#257v&#257 S&#257hib N&#257nak Dervish. The shrine used to be looked after by Muslim priests of the Kh&#257naq&#257h. When they left after Partition in 1947, the premises were taken over by the Waqf Board. The place has since been acquired by the Sikhs, and a new complex known as Gurdw&#257r&#257 Chilha S&#257hib P&#257tsh&#257h&#299 1 has been developed, 200 metres west of the bigger Gurdw&#257r&#257 in memory of Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;GURDW&#256R&#256 SR&#298 GUR&#362 GOBIND SI&#7748GH J&#298. Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh stayed at Sirs&#257 on his way from Damdam&#257 S&#257hib (Talva&#7751&#7693&#299 S&#257bo) to the South in 1706. He encamped near a pond known as Lakkh&#299 Tal&#257o. It was here that &#7692all&#257 Si&#7749gh deserted the Gur&#363. From here the Gur&#363 went to Khu&#7693&#257l to rescue one Gul&#257b Si&#7749gh, goldsmith, held in captivity by the local Muslim chief. A <i>gurdw&#257r&#257</i> was later raised on the bank of Lakkh&#299 Tal&#257o by Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 H&#299r&#257 Si&#7749gh of N&#257bh&#257. The possession of the <i>gurdw&#257r&#257</i> passed to the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee in 1928. In 1958 Sant Baghel Si&#7749gh, on a request from some leading Sikhs of the area, took up reclamation of the tank and reconstruction of the Gurdw&#257r&#257. The Gurdw&#257r&#257 now consists of a hall standing on marbled platform, with a ribbed lotus dome on top. The entire exterior as well as the interior including the dome is covered with white marble. In front of the platform there is a large pavilion with vaulted roof for holding larger assemblies. Within the walled compound are the holy tank, a high school, a semi, and a plain flat-roofed room which is B&#257b&#257 Baghel Si&#7749gh's <i>sam&#257dh</i>. Gur&#363 k&#257 La&#7749gar is in a separate old building.</p>
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BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Narotam, T&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh <i>Sr&#299 Gur&#363 T&#299rath Sa&#7749grahi</i>. Kankhal, 1975<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"> Harbans Singh, <i>Guru Nanak and Origins of the Sikh Faith</i>. Bombay, 1969<BR>
<li class="C1"> Kohli, Surindar Singh, <i>Travels of Guru Nanak</i>. Chandigarh, 1969<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">Major Gurmukh Si&#7749gh (Retd.)<br></p><BR>
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