GURDWARA KIARA SAHIB

About two kilometres to the east of Gurdwara Bal Lila, commemorates an event connected with the early years of Guru Nanak. While tending his father's herd of cattle, it was common for him to let the animals roam freely while he himself sat engrossed in meditation. Once a peasant complained to Rai Bular that Nanak's cattle had damaged the crop in his field, but when the field was inspected, no damage was discovered. The people considered it a miracle and that particular field came to be reverently called Kiara (lit. field or plot) Sahib. A shrine was raised here which was reconstructed by Sant Gurmukh Singh Sevavale during the decade preceding the partition of 1947. The new building comprises a square, domed sanctum and a circumambulatory verandah built on a raised plinth.


GURDWARA MALJI SAHIB
This Gurdwara stands about one and a half kilometres east of Gurdwara Janam Asthan. The Janam Sdkhis record an anecdote stating how Guru Nanak was one day sleeping on the ground under a mdl tree, also called van (Quercus incana) and how in the afternoon as Rai Bular and his men were passing by they noticed that while all shadows had lengthened and shifted eastward, the shade of that particular tree stood still over the sleeping Nanak. The Bald Janam Sdkhi has a slightly different version saying that as the shadow of the tree shifted, a cobra was seen spreading its hood over Guru Nanak's face protecting it from the sun. Rai Bular, impressed by the miracle bacame a devotee. The Gurdwara on this site was first built by Diwan Kaura Mall and renovated during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

GURDWARA TAMBU SAHIB
About 300 metres east of Gurdwara Janam Asthan, was raised by a Nihang Sikh about the middle of the nineteenth century. It stands near a huge van tree spreading its branches like a tent (tambu, in Punjabi). Tradition recounts how Mahita Kalu once gave his son, Guru Nanak, some money for buying merchandise from Chuharkana, a nearby market town. Guru Nanak, however, spent the money feeding a group of hungry sadhus. Coming back emptyhanded and apprehensive of his father's wrath, he is said to have hid himself under the tentlike tree by the side of which now stands Gurdwara Tambu Sahib.

Sultanpur Lodhi

Sultanpur Lodhi  is an old town in Kapurthala district of the Punjab. It is located about 35 kms south-east of Amritsar and covers an area of about 10 square km. It is situated on the south bank of a rivulet, called Kali Bein about 10 kms above the confluence of Beas and Sutlej.
Guru Nanak lived in Sultanpur Lodhi for several years before setting out on his famous travels (Udasis) to deliver his message around the world. In this town lived his sister, Bibi Nanaki, and her husband, Bhai Jai Ram, an official in the service of Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi, a feudatory chief, who became governor of the Province of Lahore during the first quarter of the sixteenth century.
At the insistance of Jai Ram, Guru Nanak took the job of Modi (manager) of the Nawab's provision stores. During that time there grew up a sangat, holy fellowship of disciples, which so prospered that Bhai Gurdas in his Varan(XI.21), called Sultanpur the "treasure of God's adoration." Today Sultanpur Lodhi has several gurdwarascommemorating events connected with the life of Guru Nanak.

Mata Sulakhni

Mata Sulakhni (1473-1545) was the wife of Guru Nanak the founder of Sikhism. She was the daughter of Mool Chand (sometimes referred as Mul Chand Chauna), a Chona Khatri of Batala, who held a minor revenue office at the village of Pakkhoke Randhave in Gurdaspur district of the Punjab. Her mother's name was Chando Rani.
Sulakhani was married to Guru Nanak at Batala on 8 July 1487 (Harh 24, 1544) but this auspicious day is traditionally celebrated in Batala during late August each year. Two sons were born to her - Sri Chand in 1494 and Lakhmi Das in 1497. She survived Guru Nanak and expired at Kartarpur, an habitation the Guru had founded on the right bank of the river Ravi and where she had spent the last years of her life

Baba Sri Chand



Sri Chand (1494 to 1643), also called Baba Sri Chand is the elder son of Guru Nanak and the founder of the ascetic sect of Udasis. He was born to Mata Sulakhani on Bhadon sudi 9, 1551 Bk / 9 September 1494 at Sultanpur Lodhi, now in Kapurthala district of the Punjab. This type of arrangement where the child is born at the mother's parental  home was a quite common and accepted custom at that time.
Sri Chand mastered the techniques of yoga at a very young age. He remained devoted to his father, Baba Nanak and established the Udasi order. He travelled far and wide and spread awareness of Guru Nanak.
Baba Sri Chand was held in great esteem by the ensuing Sikh Gurus. Baba Mohan, the eldest son of Guru Amar Das and the person who is best known as the custodian of Guru Sahib's Pothis (hand written verses) from which Guru Arjun Dev compiled the Guru Granth Sahib also became a renunciate, possibly influenced by Sri Chand.

Baba Lakhmi Chand

Baba Lakhmi Chand also called Lakhmi Chand, the younger son of Guru Nanak, was born to Mata Sulakhni at Sultanpur Lodhi, in presentday Kapurthala district of the Punjab, on 19 Phagun 1553 Bk/12 February 1497. Unlike his elder brother, Sri Chand, Lakhmi Das got married and led a householder's life. The Bedi families of the Punjab claim their descent from him. He died at Kartarpur (on Ravi) on 13 Baisakh 1612 Bk/9 April 1555.
The ‘Bedis’ within Sikh historical accounts represent the descendants of Akali Guru Nanak’s second son, Baba Lakhmi Chand Maharaj. Sikh tradition holds that the second son of Akali Guru Nanak was very fond of hunting. Baba Lakhmi Chand then went and hunted down the dangerous animals hidden within the jungle. However, Lakhmi Chand inadvertently ended up killing some animal young.
Baba Siri Chand Maharaj, being the elder son of the Guru, reprimanded Baba Lakhmi Chand for this act and stated that one day he would have to answer for their deaths in the eternal court. The angry Baba Lakhmi Chand came home to his wife, Mata Dhanvanti and baby son, Baba Dharm Chand. Then, mounting a horse he rode out to his holy brother with his family. He told his brother that he was now going to ‘Sach Khand’ (the eternal abode of truth), to give account of his killing of innocent animal young.
According to Sikh Udasi/Bedi legend, Baba Lakhmi Chand’s horse flew into the skies with him and his family. Being a celibate himself, Baba Siri Chand watched his brother rise into the skies and realized that there would be no one left to continue the Guru’s lineage once his brother and his family had left this world. He then miraculously extended his left arm high into the skies, and plucked his baby nephew from the arms of Mata Dhanvanti.
This child’s name was Baba Dharm Chand, and according the legend, Baba Siri Chand suckled his nephew on milk from his big toe. Baba Dharm Chand eventually married the daughter of Diwan Utam Chand and Bibi Lajwanti. This union blessed by Baba Sri Chand Maharaj, was celebrated in tremendous fashion and many prominent Sikhs of the time attended this joyous occasion. In time, Baba Dharm Chand’s wife gave birth to Baba Manak Chand and Baba Mehr Chand. It is from them that all the ‘Bedis’ of today are descended.

Bibi Nanaki

Bibi Nanaki ji (1464-1518) was the elder sister of Guru Nanak and the daughter of Kalyan Chand Mehta (Mehta Kalu) and Mata Tripta. She was born in 1464 in her mother's home at the village of Chahal, now in Lahore district of Pakistan Punjab. The Guru's love for his sister is referred to in most touching terms in some of the Sakhis. A sister's love for her brother is a perennial theme of Punjabi folklore. There are many stories of Nanaki's deep and devoted affection for her brother, Nanak.
Bibi Nanaki was five years older then Guru Nanak, she was the first to recognize his spiritual eminence and to become his devotee. She is often credited as becoming the first Sikh. She protected Nanak from their father's wrath, when repeatedly he disappointed and angered him. She was with him throughout the early years of his childhood. When Guru Nanak Dev was only six years old in 1475, Nanaki was married to Bhai Jai Ram, a revenue official of very good reputation, at Sultanpur, which is in the present-day native state of Kapurthala, and was then the capital of the Jalandhar Doab. Nanak continued to live at home. He rebelled against Hindu ritual customs and rites that were imposed without reason.
He loved to be in the company of saints, and gave money away to the poor and the hungry. His father despaired of never being able to make him behave and take on a respectable employed position in the village. Rai Bular, who revered young Guru Nanak, got continuous reports of Mehta Kalu's ire directed towards him. One day he invited Bhaiyya Jai Ram to his home, and advised him to take him to Sultanpur with him and get him employment with the Nawab Daulat Khan of Sultanpur. He wrote a letter of recommendation for young Guru Nanak and so, at the age of fifteen, Nanak came to live with his sister, and to work as a mamager of the royal granaries and provision stores of the Nawab of Sultanpur. It was Bhai Jai Ram who arranged the wedding of Nanak to Sulakhani, daughter of Baba Mool Chand Khatri and Mata Chando Rani of the village Pakhoke, District Gurdaspur.
Bibi Nanaki adored her brother, Nanak, and felt herself blessed when he came to join the Nawab's service and stayed with her at Sultanpur. Childless, she loved Guru Nanak's sons, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das, as if they were her own. Guru Nanak reciprocated her affection and after he had quit the Nawab's service to go out to preach his message, he did not fail to visit Sultanpur and meet with his sister between trips.
Once as he visited her in 1518, Bibi Nanaki sensing her end near, detained him a short while. Soon, she departed this life , as she had wished, in the presence of her brother — Guru Nanak Dev ji. Three days later, her husband, Bhai Jai Ram Ji, also passed away. Guru Nanak performed their obsequies. There is no doubt that, perhaps, the first Gur Sikh was none other than Bibi Nanaki and second Gursikh was Rai Bular, the ruler of Talwandi

Bhai Jai Ram

Bhai Jai Ram  was the brother-in-law of Guru Nanak and a trusted official at the court of Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi at Sultanpur, in present-day Kapurthala district of the Punjab. He was married toBibi Nanaki, daughter of Kalian Chand and sister of Guru Nanak, in 1475 at Talvandi Rai Bhoi. Guru Nanak stayed with them for several years at Sultanpur, where Bhai Jai Ram had secured for him appointment as the Nawab's modi or storekeeper. Bhai Jai Ram, though much senior to Guru Nanak in age, respected the latter for his piety and considered himself blessed for being related to him. Guru Nanak was present at Sultanpur Lodhi in 1518 when Bhai Jai Ram died just three days after the death of his wife, Nanaki. The couple had been childless.

The Udasis of Guru Nanak


Guru Nanak was moved by the plight of the people of world and wanted to tell them about the "real message of God". The peoples of the world were confused by the conflicting message given by priests, pundits, qazis, mullahs, etc. He was determined to bring his message to the masses; so in 1499, he decided to set out on his sacred mission to spread the holy message of peace and compassion to all of mankind.
It is believed that Guru Nanak is the the second most travelled person in the world; most of his journeys were made on foot with his companion Bhai Mardana. He travelled in all four directions - North, East, West and South. The founder Sikh Guru is believed to have travelled more than 28,000 Kms in five major tours of the world during the period from 1500 to 1524. The record for the most travelled person is held by Ibn Battutaof Morocco.
Guru Nanak saw the world suffering out of hatred, fanaticism, falsehood and hypocrisy. The world had sunk in wickedness and sin. So he decided that he had to travel and educate and press home the message of Almighty Lord. So he set out in 1499 on his mission for the regeneration of humanity on this earth. He carried the torch of truth, heavenly love, peace and joy for mankind. For 1 year he spread his message of peace, compassion, righteousness and truth to the people in and around his home.

Rai Bhular Bhatti


Rai Bhular or Rai Bhoe (death circa 1515) was a Rajput Muslim noble of the Bhatti clan during the latter half of the fifteenth century. He was the chief of Rai Bhoe di Talvandi (Rai Bhular's Talvandi), the village where Guru Nanak was born in 1469. Later in life, Rai Bular was granted a feudal estate by his son-in-law, Daulat Khan Lodhi, the Governor of the Punjab. Rai Bhoe selected and rebuilt Talwandi, earlier known as Raipur. This city, which is situated about fortytwo miles west of Lahore and eighteen miles south of the river Ravi, later became known as Nankana Sahib.
Rai Bular had great affection for young Guru Nanak and held him in high esteem. According to Janam Sakhi accounts, Rai Bular perceived the Divine in Guru Nanak and became his 2nd devotee, the Guru's sister being his first. Once young Nanak was arraigned before him for having allowed the cattle herd he was tending to damage a farmer's crop. The Rai sent for Baba Kalu, the Guru's father, and directed him to compensate the farmer for the damage. But footmen sent to estimate the loss reported that they had seen no damage whatsoever. Rai Bular was as much surprised as the complainant himself, who insisted that he had seen with his own eyes the whole crop ruined and the buffaloes sitting amidst it after they had heartily gorged themselves on it.
On another occasion, Guru Nanak, while out with his herd, lay down to rest under a tree in the summer afternoon and fell asleep. After a while, Rai Bular along with his servants happened to pass by. He was surprised to see a strange phenomenon. The shadows of other trees had traveled round with the sun, but not of the tree under which Nanak slept.
Returning to the town, the Rai called Father Kalu and said to him, "Your son is a great man. He is the honour of my town. Kalu, thou hast become exalted and I too am exalted in whose town such a one has been born." Guru Nanak reciprocated the honour and affection extended to him by Rai Bular and never failed in between his long travels to visit him, who always felt blessed to see him. Even when he lay dying, the Guru was by his bedside.

Langar

The Langar or free kitchen was started by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji in about 1481. It is designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people of the world regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed, age, gender or social status; to eliminate extreme poverty in the world and to bring about the birth of "caring communities". In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of Langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind. "..the Light of God is in all hearts." (sggs 282)
For the first time in history, Guruji designed an institution in which all people would sit on the floor together, as equals, to eat the same simple food. It is here that all people high or low, rich or poor, male or female, all sit in the same pangat (literally "row" or "line") to share and enjoy the food together.
The institution of Guru ka Langar has served the community in many ways. It has ensured the participation of women and children in a task of service for mankind. Women play an important role in the preparation of meals, and the children help in serving food to the pangat. Langar also teaches the etiquette of sitting and eating in a community situation, which has played a great part in upholding the virtue of sameness of all human beings; providing a welcome, secure and protected sanctuary.
Everyone is welcome to share the Langar; no one is turned away. The food is normally served twice a day, every day of the year. Each week a family or several families volunteer to provide and prepare the Langar. This is very generous, as there may be several hundred people to feed, and caterers are not allowed. All the preparation, the cooking and the washing-up is done by volunteers and or by voluntary helpers (Sewadars).

Besides the Langars attached to gurdwaras, there are improvised open-air Langars at the time of festivals and gurpurbs. Specially arranged Langars on such occasions are probably the most largely attended community meals anywhere in the world. There might be a hundred thousand people partaking of food at a single meal in one such langar. Wherever Sikhs are, they have established their Langars. In their prayers, the Sikhs seek from the Almighty the favour:



Saka Nankana Sahib

Saka Nankana Sahib forms a very important part of Sikh history which took place in February 1921. In political significance, it comes next only to Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919. The saka constitutes the core of the Gurdwara Reform Movement started by the Sikhs in early twentieth century.
The interesting part of this saka (demonstration or agitation) is the unprecedented discipline, self-control and exemplary patience displayed by the peaceful Sikh protesters even in the face of extreme barbarism. Even the national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi had to acknowledge in no ambiguous terms the glory and the prestige which the peaceful and passive resistance of the Sikhs had brought to the India's Struggle for freedom

Narain Das Asked to Mend His Ways

In October 1920 A.D., a large meeting was held at Dharowal, District Sheikhupura for the reform of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. At this meeting, the leaders of the event revealed to the large gathering of Sangat, that great misdeeds were being committed inside the Gurdwara by the Mahant who was managing the holy shrine. Gurdwara Nankana Sahib was highly revered as it was the birth place of Guru Nanak; a city named Nankana Sahib grew up around the Gurdwara which is now in Pakistan. At the meeting, it was unanimously resolved that the Mahant be asked to mend his ways.
When Mahant Narian Dass was asked to reform himself, he started making preparations to oppose the Panth (Sikh community) instead. He did not feel it necessary to pay heed to the suggestions of the Committee. He was the owner of the estate attached to the Gurdwara with an income of one hundred thousand rupees besides the offerings of the Gurdwara. As the Mahant had a large amount of cash, he recruited hooligans and rogues as paid employees to oppose the Sikhs.
With the help of the government, he collected from Lahore, guns, pistols and other arms and ammunition. He brought and stored fourteen tins of highly flammable paraffin. He had the Gurdwara's gate strengthened having holes made in it to be used as gunports to rain fire on any protesters. The Government was using every available weapon to insure that the Akali reform movement failed. Mahant Narain Dass was one of the weapons in the hands of the Government which planned to make full use of him. As such, Mr. King, the Commissioner of Lahore, extended every kind of help to the Mahant with promises to him of more in the future as well. The Mahant was dancing like a puppet whose strings were being skilfully pulled in the hands of the Government. Details of the action are given below:

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