Friday, May 6, 2011

TOURISM in PUNJAB RELIGIOUS PLACES




Gurudwaras in Punjab

Har Mandir Sahib or Golden Temple
Amritsar City. With a part of the land granted by Emperor Akbar, the foundation stone laid by a Muslim Sufi Saint, Mian Mir, the construction was completed in 1601. Free kitchen and recitation of the divine word never cease here. Its four gates invite everyone from all directions, the scripture is unique, it contain the divine message as received by saints, bhagats and pirs of all the faiths of India.
The Baisakhi and Diwali fairs in April and October every year are celebrated with great fervor and gusto.
On the fair of Baisakhi all the jewelry in the toshakhana (treasury) of the temple, which consist of indescribable ornaments, is displayed around Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Diwali of Amritsar is out-of-the-world. The entire Golden Temple is illuminated with traditional lamps of different colours. The reflection of the temple in the shimmering water of the holy pool binds the eye, to the many-a-splendoured pageant. Fire works display by the traditional professionals recreates the glory of the times gone past.
Goindwal Sahib
Within easy reach of Tarn Taran was the centre of Sikh religion during the time of the third Prophet, Guru Amar Das ji. The deep well (bauli) in the Gurudwara has 84 steps. Whoever takes a bath here and recites Japji Sahib (divine composition of the first Prophet of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji ) at each step, and repeats the recitation followed by bath in the Holy Well 84 times, attains moksh, because he lives out 84,000 cycles of birth representing each specie created by God.
Khadur Sahib
52 Kms from Amritsar. Commemorates the seat of Sikh religion during the time of the second Prophet, Guru Angad Dev Ji.
Baba Bakala
45 Kms from Amritsar. The 9th Prophet Guru Teg Bahadur had revealed himself to Makhan Shah Lubana, a Sikh devotee here. A fair is held here on the occasion of Rakhsha Bandhan.
Dera Baba Nanak
(35 Kms west of Gurdaspur) Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent last 12 years of his life here. Clothes he wore at Mecca are preserved here. A fair called the Maghi fair is held here every January.
Gurudwara Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodi
This is the Gurudwara built at the place where the first prophet Guru Nanak got enlightenment and created Sukhmani Sahib while taking bath in the river Kali Bein.From Sultanpur lodi only the Guru Nanak started his famous journeys. Sultanpur Lodi in Kapurthala district is easily accessible from Jalandhar and Amritsar via Taran Taran and Goindwal Sahib. One can plan his visit from both Amritsar( around 60 km away) and Jalandhar(36 km away).
Gurudwaras at Kiratpur Sahib (90 Kms from Chandigarh)
Kiratpur was established in 1627 by the 6th Prophet, Sri Guru Hargobind Ji. The place is associated with the memory of a Muslim Saint, Pir Buddan Shah who was gifted with a very long life.
Gurudwara Charan Kamal
commemorates the spot where the Pir had met the Ist Prophet of Sikhism, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. His mausoleum is located on a hill nereby. He died after the 6thProphet had established Kiratpur.
Gurudwara Shish Mahal Sahib
The 6th Prophet had established his residence here. The 7th Prophet Sri Guru Har Rai Ji and the 8th Prophet Sri Guru Harkrishan Ji were born here.
Gurudwara Damadama Sahib
The 6th Prophet used to deliver divine sermons here.
Gurudwara Sri Takhat Sahib
The 6th and the 7th Prophets were proclaimed Gurus at this spot according to the Sikh tradition and rites.
Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib
The 6th Prophet had laid a herbal and flower garden here. Mohsin Fani, the famous scholar of Religions of his times and the Mughal Prince, Dara Shikoh had met Sri Guru Hargobind Ji here.
Gurudwara Manji Sahib
Marks the site where the 6th Prophet's daughter, Bibi Veero had got her house constructed. A sacramental book containing divine hymns (Pothi), a cot, a hand-fan and a scarf gifted to her by her father and the holy of cap of Guru Nanak Dev Ji can be seen here.
Gurudwara Babaan Garh
Bhai Jaita (Jiwan Singh after baptism), in defiance of the Mughal authority had managed to escape with the martyred head of the 9th Prophet,Sri Guru Teg Bahadur from Delhi after his martyrdom in 1675. It was first rested here. From Gurudwara TEER SAHIB the 6th Prophet had revealed Gurudwara Patal Puri by shooting an arrow. The 7th Prophet was created at Patal Puri and ashes of the 8th Prophet were immersed in river Satluj nearby. Gurudwara Baba GURDITTA is located on a close by hill. In 1665 the 9th Prophet Sri Guru Teg Bahadur had bought the site of Anandpur Sahib from the Rani of Bilaspur.
Gurudwaras at Anandpur Sahib
GURU-KA-MAHAL It was built as the residence of Guru Teg Bahadur ji. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji also stayed here and his four Sahibjadas (baby sons) were also born here.
Gurudwara Thara Sahib
It was at this spot in 1675 that a delegation of 15 Kashmiri Brahamans led by Pandit Kirpa Ram had come to beseech the 9th Prophet to save them from the tyranny of the Mughals who were forcibly converting them to Islam. It was here that the Prophet had decided to embrace martyrdom to awaken the dead soul of India that of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib
The martyred head of Guru Teg Bahadur who embraced martyrdom in Delhi in 1675 to save Hindu dharm was brought from Kiratpur Sahib and cremated here.
Gurudwara Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib
The Panj Piaras five beloved ones) were baptised here ; Sikhs were consummated as the Khalsa -saint soldiers, at this spot. 12 weapons of the 10thProphet are preserved here. One among them is Hazrat Ali's sword. The Hola Mohalla fair of Anandpur Sahib is famous.
Gurudwara Damadama Sahib
Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Bhatinda, is the fifth seat of the authority of Sikhs. This place owes its importance to the literary work of Guru Gobind Singh Ji done here during his stay in 1706. It was at Damdama Sahib that Guru Gobind Singh Ji prepared the revised & authentic version of the Adi Granth, which is now being honored by the Sikhs as Guru Granth Sahib ji. He added to the original version prepared by Guru Arjan Dev Ji the verses of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. A large number of new converts joined the fold of the Khalsa here. Guru Gobind Singh Ji stayed at Damdama Sahib for nearly a year.
After leaving the fort of Sri Anandpur Sahib & passing through Chamkur Sahib, Maachiwara, Deena Kangar followed by historic war of battle in Mukatsar. Guruji arrived in Talwandi Sabo in the Year 1705 on a high-elevated small piece land. On that place Guruji took a break & relaxed. Due to this reason this pious piece of land is famous as Damdama Sahib. From Damdama sahib Guruji released orders (Hukamnama) for Sikh Desciples & announced or rather declared this sacred place as a Takhat. According to Dr. Trump's writings in 1706 Guruji Baptised around 1.2 lac devotees on the occasion of Baisakhi's Get together (Jor Mela). Maintaining the same custom, every year Baisakhi's festival is celebrated in same way here & lacs of devotees come here to get Guruji's blessings even today.
Gurudwara Guru-ka-Lahore
(11 Kms from Anandpur Sahib) On 25th January,1686 the 10th Prophet was married to Mata Jito Ji here. Three springs of water which the 10th Prophet had lanced open from huge rocks are still flowing. Sandwiched between Sri Anandpur Sahib and Sri Kiratpur Sahib is CHAMKAUR SAHIB. It was in this area where , having sworn safe passage to the 10th Prophet's family and forces the Mughal and the hill Chiefs had treacherously attacked them. Gurudrawa Katal Garh Sahib commemorates the martyrdom of the two elder Sahibzadas and 37 Singhs who had died fighting here,Gurudrawa Pariwar Vichhora Sahib marks the site where the 10th Prophet's family got scattered. Gurudwaras GARHI SAHIB, TARRI SAHIB, RANJIT GARH SAHIB are connected with the dharm yudh that the 10th Prophet had waged against the tyrants.

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