Historical Gurdwaras in India

State of HARYANA

Kurukshetra - Thanesar

Kurukshetra is in fact the name of a region lying between Ghaggar and Saraswati rivers, although a large township of this name has also come up, which includes several temple complexes Kurukshetra University and district headquarters. The name of the adjoining ancient town in Thanesar. The twin towns are now popularly known a Kurukshetra.

It is among the more important sacred places of pilgrimage for the Hindus. Several Sikh Gurus visited Kurukshetra, especially on the occasion of solar eclipses which attract vast crowds of Hindus, holy men, scholars and lay devotees, who throng to have a dip in the sprawling sacred tank. Guru Nanak Dev took advantage of one such occasion during the early yeas of the sixteenth century by preaching against superstitious rites and rituals. Guru Amar Das, who had made several trips to Kurukshetra as a pilgrim before his conversion to Sikhism, visited the place once at least in A.D. 1553 urging his pontificate, Bhai Jetha, later Guru Ram Das, probably accompanied him this time. Guru Hargobind visited Kurukshetra on the occasion of solar eclipse fair in 1638. He possibly passed through it earlier during his travel to Nanak Mata and back in 1632-33. Guru visited the place. Shrines commemorating all these visits were established and later developed into Gurdwaras. They are:

1) Gurdwara Siddh Bati Patshahi Pahili - This stands on the southern bank of the main Kurukshetra tank and marks the spot where Guru Nank Dev, using his peculiar technique of teaching through practical demonstration, attracted an angry crowd of Brahman priests and pilgrims and in answer to their protest against his impertinent breach of religious injunctions, the Guru explained to them that eclipses of sun and moon are natural phenomena having nothing to do with mythical gods and demons, and that controversy regarding vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism is irrational. The two hymns of the topic that appear in Var Malhar Ki in Guru Granth Sahib are believed to have been uttered on this occasion. A proper Gurdwara was first constructed here during the time of Bhai Udai Singh of Kaithal (1830-43).

2) Gurdwara Tisari ate Satvin Patshahi - This Gurdwara, common to the memory of Guru Amar Das and Guru Har Rai, is located near Lal Bahadur Shastri Market on the fringe of Thanesar proper. Guru Amar Das preached about the inefficacy of visiting holy places and bathing in holy water for purification of the soul. The only tirath to have a dip in, he said, was nam (the Holy Word).

3) Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi - This Gurdwara dedicated to Guru Harbobind is situated between the railway line and the Pehowa road, about 2 kilometres from the Kurukshetra bus stand. The Guru's princely appearance and armed retinue attracted many pilgrims who were puzzled to know that this warlord-like person was the spiritual successor of the saintly Baba Nanak. But their doubts were dispelled when they listened to the Guru's discourse on the relation between bhakti and shakti (prayer and power). Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi is the premier Gurdwara of Kurukshetra where offices of the local and regional managing committees are located. This is also the most spacious and most magnificent of the local Gurdawaras. Guru ka Langar, sarovar and availability of accommodation for pilgrims is available only at this place. Originally, the shrine was marked only by a platform. A Gurdwara was raised over it in 1909. After 1947 a large number of Sikhs, uprooted from Pakistan, found temporary refuge here and later settled in villages in this area, then part of Karnal district. Baba Jiwan Singh took up the construction and reconstruction of historical Gurdwaras in the region through kar-seva (collective, free and voluntary service). The main building, a high-ceilinged congregation hall on a 6 feet high plinth, with a fluted lotus dome above the sanctum where Guru Granth Sahib is seated on a canopied marble seat, is lined all around, with white and streaked marble slabs. All major functions of the year - birth anniversaries of the first, sixth and the tenth Gurus - are held in this Gurdwara.

4) Gurdwara Navin Patshahi - Guru Tegh Bahadur visited Kurukshetra during one of his missionary tours of Malva and Bangar. This Gurdwara located along Jhansa road north of Thanesar, marks the place where he is believed to have stayed. Its building, too, has been reconstructed during recent decades.

5) Gurdwara Raj Ghat Patshahi Dasvin - When Guru Gobind Singh came to Kurukshetra on the occasion of the solar eclipse fair in 1702-03, he camped at the place now occupied by this Gurdwara. It was, as it still is, the custom to give rich presents as alms to Brahmans during the eclipse, and receive their benediction in the belief that this would relieve the Sun-god from the clutches of demons eating him away (as the eclipse was traditionally interpreted), and also earn for the donors, riches in the hereafter, Guru Gobind Singh found a novel way of dispelling this misbelieve. He loaded a donkey with costly presents and asked the Brahmans to take it as alms. The Brahmans coveted the presents but hesitated to catch the donkey, lest they are polluted by touching the lowly and unholy animal. The sight amused the onlookers who gathered around the Guru. This was what the Guru had desired. He explained to the people the absurdity of relating the eclipses to mythical gods and demons and the futility of giving alms to greedy priests. The Guru was, however, pleased with Mani Ram, one of the Brahmans, who, undeterred by other priest's threats of excommunication, took hold, the donkey as Guru's grace and asked for his blessings. Guru Gobind Singh gave him a hukamnama and a dagger as relic.

6) Gurdwara Dasvin Patshahi - This is a privately owned shrine in Mohalla Saudagaran in the northwestern part of Thanesar, close to the tomb of the legendary humorist, Shaikh Chilli. It is a small domed Manji Sahib in a house which once belonged to Pandit Moti Ram, who had accepted with humility a donkey as alms from Guru Gobind Singh. It is claimed that the Guru graced Moti Ram's house with his visit at the Pandit's request and gave him the dagger and the hukamnama here.