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Travels of Guru Nanak: A Brief
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<blockquote data-quote="dalvinder45" data-source="post: 225127" data-attributes="member: 26009"><p><strong>ALLAHABAD</strong></p><p></p><p>Allahabad is situated near the confluence (sangam) of rivers Ganga and Yamuna.Gurdwara Tap Asthan (Pakki Sangat) - Allahabad is situated near the confluence of the River Ganga and Yamuna, which is sacred to the Hindus as Triveni Sangam (lit. confluence of three rivers) in the belief that a third invisible river Sarasvati also meets the Ganges here. Guru Nanak Dev visited Allahabad, then called Prayag. Later Guru Tegh Bahadur stayed here for some time. Gurudwara Tap Asthan (Pakki Sangat) Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in Mohalla Ahiyapur marks the site where the Guru stayed in the house of a devotee.</p><p></p><p><strong>GURDWARA PAKKI SANGAT ALLAHABAD</strong></p><p> [ATTACH=full]22393[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong> 14.15. Gurdwara Pakki Sangat Allahabad Entry Gate</strong></p><p>[ATTACH=full]22392[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>14.16. Gurdwara Pakki Sangat Allahabad</strong></p><p></p><p>The building was reconstructed by Mahant Pritam Singh in 1965 and stands about four feet above the street level. The sanctum is a flat-roofed rectangular congregation hall at the far end of a spacious square compound entered through a double-storey gateway. Guru Granth Sahib is seated on a canopied throne of white marble. One of the side rooms adjacent to the congregation hall represents the Guru's bedroom during his stay here. Two double-storey blocks of rooms, one on either side of the courtyard, provide residential accommodation to staff and visitors.[14.21]</p><p></p><p><strong>MIRZAPUR</strong></p><p>[ATTACH=full]22391[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>14.17. Gurdwara Mirzapur </strong></p><p></p><p>Mirzapur is district town along the Grand Trunk Road on the right bank of the Ganga. It is also a railway station on the Delhi-Kanpur- Mughal Serai section of Northern railway. Mirzapur was visited by Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Tegh Bahddur. A Sikh Sangat existed here when the latter passed through the town during 1666. Now it is called Shri Nirmal Sangat, in association of Nirmala Sikhs. It is located at Narayan Ghat near the river bank also called Pakka Ghat. Guru Granth Sahib is also seated in a room adjacent to the mahant's house. Its present building was inaugurated on Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary in 1935. [14.22]</p><p></p><p><strong>BANARAS (VARANASI)</strong></p><p></p><p>Banaras is famous as a Hindu pilgrimage Centre; place of saints and as a Centre of classical learning. Also called Shivpuri, Kashi, and Varanasi, it is the one of the holiest and one of major centre of Hinduism. Kabir was dweller of this place and he had discussion on Gurmat with various religious scholars. The local scholars were self centered and corrupt. For the sake of worldly attaintments they misguided the people from divine path. These scholars were idol worshippers, donation seekers, casteist, worshipper of human gods and propagated many other irreligious thoughts.They preached costly rituals to squeeze the public of their money. They had become famous as Benaras ke Thugg and Benaras as Fort of irreligion. Bhagats Kabir and Ravidas and other saints raised voice against these scholars and their rituals. Bhagats Kabir and Revidas, whose bani (compositions) forms part of the Sikh Scripture, lived here.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22389[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong> 14.18. The Ganges In Varnasi</strong></p><p>[ATTACH=full]22390[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong> 14.19. Gurdwara Guru ka Baag Benaras</strong></p><p></p><p>Guru Nanak reached Benaras from Allahabad and sat on the bank of Ganges. Gurudwara Guru ka Bag is situated in District City Benaras in Uttar pradesh, on Guru Nanak Dev road in old city of Benaras. Guru Nanak Dev also preached Divine Name and One God when he went there on the occasion of Shivratri fair (February-March) in 1503 AD and held religious discourses with Brahaman scholars and sadhus of different denominations. Guru Nanak Dev came here on the eve of Shivratari and stopped in a Garden. Bhai Mardana asked Guru ji about the ownership of the garden. Guruji answered: This garden belongs to God assigned temporarilyto His being,who will soon appear. He asked Mardana to play rebec. Bhai Mardana started playing rebec while Guru not recited a hymn. The whole atmosphere was under the influence of Bani. A Religious Scholar, Pundit Gopal Das who was an idol worshipper, worshipped Shivalingam and worebeads of tulsi and observed many ritualistic practices, listened to sacred hymn of Guruji and came to him and heldreligious discourse with him. He questioned on his way of religious life which was logically disapproved by Guru ji, as he was attached to temporal aspect rather then to the spiritual one. Guruji advised him to understand various aspects of soul and to control five evils which have overpowered his soul. He asked him to purify heart and soul and understand the Divine in him.God could be attained from inside rather then getting into temporal rituals of worshipping Saligram, bathing, wearing beads etc. Gopal Das realised his self and became a Sikh of Guru Nanakleaving all ritualistic practices. He invited Guruji to his house. Guruji stayed in his house for some months holding discussions with scholars of various faiths on various aspects of spirituality and propagated Divine Name.</p><p></p><p>Chaturdas was the Pandit of Benaras then. Discussions with Pandit Chaturdas have been very well explained in Puratan Janamsakhi [14.23] Pandit Chatur Das came for having the ritual bath in Ganges and wished saying Ram Ram to Guru Nanak. Seeing Guruji’s wear, he said: “O worshipper! You do not have idol, rosary of tulsi beads, or vermillion mark on your forehead and call yourself a worshipper! What type of worship have you done?”</p><p><strong> [ATTACH=full]22388[/ATTACH]</strong></p><p><strong> 14.20. Gurdwara Guru ka Bagh Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Banaras</strong></p><p>[ATTACH=full]22387[/ATTACH]</p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>14.21. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev Ji </strong><p style="text-align: left"><strong>Benares</strong></p> </p><p></p><p>Guru Nanak said: “O Brahmin, you worship and believe in your stone-god, and wear your ceremonial rosary beads. Chant the Name of the Lord. Build your boat, and pray, “O Merciful Lord, please be merciful to me.” Why do you irrigate the barren, alkaline soil? You are wasting your life away! This wall of mud is crumbling. Why bother to patch it with plaster? [14.24]</p><p></p><p>Pandit questioned: “O worshipper! If the earth is dug but not watered, how can it grow plants? How can the gardener accept it as his own creation?”</p><p></p><p>Guru Nanak replied, “Let your hands be the buckets, strung on the chain, and yoke the mind as the ox to pull it; draw the water up from the well. Irrigate your fields with the Ambrosial Nectar, and you shall be owned by God the Gardener.</p><p></p><p>Pandit questioned again: “O worshipper! This is the produce from watering an alkaline land. What is that with which we water the earth and we reach God?</p><p></p><p>GuruNanak replied: “Let lust and anger be your two shovels, to dig up the dirt of your farm, O Siblings of Destiny. The more you dig, the more peace yoshall find. Your past actions cannot be erased.”</p><p></p><p>“Use your lust and anger as tools to dig the earth. The more you dig better you get the results. Hard labour can never be obliterated.”</p><p></p><p>Pandit was highly impressed by Guru Nanak’s reply. He bowed and said: “Sire you are swan among the cranes. Our intellect is controlled by our senses, like crane.</p><p></p><p>Guru Nanak replied: “The crane is again transformed into a swan, if God is Merciful and Wills so. I, Nanak, the slave of God’s slaves, bow and pray to the Merciful Lord to have mercy on me”.</p><p></p><p>Pandit said further: “Sire! You are the true worshipper of God. Please purify this town as well and have benefit of the quality of this town.” Guru Nanak enquired: “What is the special quality of this place?” The Pandit replied: “The quality of this town is education. By getting education here one get special qualities of wordly attainments (ridhi) here. If you are here the world will reognise you. You guide the people to your path and be a head priest.</p><p></p><p>Guru Nanak sang: “The king is just a boy, and his city is vulnerable. He is in love with his wicked enemies. He reads of his two mothers and his two fathers; O Pandit, reflect on this. Master Pandit, teach me about this. How can I obtain the Lord of life? There is fire within the plants which bloom; the ocean is tied into a bundle. The sun and the moon dwell in the same home in the sky. You have not obtained this knowledge. One who knows the All-pervading Lord, eats up the one mother — Maya. Know that the sign of such a person is that he gathers the wealth of compassion. The mind lives with those who do not listen, and do not admit what they eat. Prays Nanak, the slave of the Lord’s slave: one instant the mind is huge, and the next instant, it is tiny”. [14.24]</p><p></p><p>Pandit Chatur Das requested again: “Whatever we learn and teach does it help attain God’s Name?” Guru Nanak asked, “What do you learn and what do you teach your students?” Pandit said: “We teach mantras and their rituals from Vedas, Shashtras and Smritis.” Guru Nanak sang:</p><p></p><p>From Ongkaar, the One Universal Creator God, Brahma was created. He kept Ongkaar in his consciousness. From Ongkaar, the mountains and the ages were created. Ongkaar created the Vedas. Ongkaar saves the world through the Shabad. Ongkaar saves the Gurmukhs. Listen to the Message of the Universal, Imperishable Creator Lord. The Universal, Imperishable Creator Lord is the essence of the three worlds. Listen, O Pandit, O religious scholar, why are you writing about worldly debates? As Gurmukh, write only the Name of the Lord, the Lord of the World. [14.25]</p><p></p><p>O Brahmin, you worship and believe in your stone-god, and wear your ceremonial rosary beads.Chant the Name of the Lord. Build your boat, and pray, “O Merciful Lord, please be merciful to me.” Why do you irrigate the barren, alkaline soil? You are wasting your life away! This wall of mud is crumbling. Why bother to patch it with plaster? Let your hands be the buckets, strung on the chain, and yoke the mind as the ox to pull it; draw the water up from the well. Irrigate your fields with the Ambrosial Nectar, and you shall be owned by God the Gardener. Let sexual desire and anger be your two shovels, to dig up the dirt of your farm, O Siblings of Destiny. The more you dig, the more peace you shall find. Your past actions cannot be erased. The crane is again transformed into a swan, if You will, O Merciful Lord. Prays Nanak, the slave of Your slaves: O Merciful Lord, have mercy on me.</p><p></p><p>He then recited 54 paudis (steps) of Bani Ongkar. Pandit fell at Guru Nanak’s feet and dedicated himself to meditation on God’s Name and recited ‘Guru, Guru’.</p><p>Having heard about Guru Nanak’s arrival Bhagat Namdev, Ravidas, Trilochan, Parsa, the two followers of Kabir Haso Rai and Dharma Das Rama Nand’s follower Nityanand and many other saints came to meet him and were pleased to hold discussions. Guru Nanak sang the hymn in Sri Rag: ‘<em>aape rasia aap ras’</em></p><p></p><p>Sri Raag, First Mehl, Second House: He Himself is the Enjoyer, and He Himself is the Enjoyment. He Himself is the Ravisher of all. He Himself is the Bride in her dress; He Himself is the Bridegroom on the bed. My Lord and Master is imbued with love; He is totally permeating and pervading all.He Himself is the fisherman and the fish; He Himself is the water and the net. He Himself is the sinker, and He Himself is the bait. He Himself loves in so many ways. O sister soul-brides, He is my Beloved. He continually ravishes and enjoys the happy soul-brides; just look at the plight I am in without Him! Prays Nanak, please hear my prayer: You are the pool, and You are the soul-swan. You are the lotus flower of the day You are the water-lily of the night. You Yourself behold them, and blossom forth in bliss. (p.23)</p><p></p><p>The lively discussions with the representatives of various sects got quite a number of people around who too relished Guru’s hymns. Guru stayed in Benaras for fifteen days.[14.26]</p><p></p><p>After Guru Nanak Dev had visited it, a sangat was established here, which was already flourishing when Guru Tegh Bahadur arrived in 1666 and Guru Gobind Singh passed through the city on his way from Patna Sahib to Punjab in 1670. The Tenth Guru sent five Sikhs here to learn Sanskrit. These learned men, who came to be known as Nirmalas (lit. pure) Sikhs went back to Punjab to propagate learning among the Sikhs there, but more came to study ancient classics in their place. Contact thus established with Benaras continued uninterrupted, and in 1823, according to a census taken by James Princep, there were 1000 Sikhs in Benaras. They were divided into seven sects and were listed under Hindu Fakirs. The seven sects were Udasis, Nirmalas, Govind Singhis, Suthrashahis and three (not numerous though) sects of Gang Bakhshis, Ram Raias and Nagas. Collectively they were known as the Sikhs or the Nanak Shahis. The present building of the Gurdwara located along Shri Guru Nanak Marg (or street) was constructed during early 1970s. The sanctum is at one end of a rectangular hall with a wide gallery at mid-height on three sides on the interior, and a porch in front of the doors on the opposite side of the sanctum. A few rooms near the entrance to the one-acre compound of the Gurdwara are available for pilgrims' staying overnight. [14.27]</p><p></p><p>Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh and many prominent Sikhs also visited the place. Recently water was taken out from below the bed of Ganges River under Gurdwara at Banaras and it was found that it had the cleanest water despite Ganges having been declared the most polluted river.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22386[/ATTACH]</p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>14.22. Footwear of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji</strong></p><p></p><p>Other historical Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions at Benaras in their memory include:</p><p></p><p><strong>GURDWARA BARI SANGAT SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR –</strong></p><p><strong> [ATTACH=full]22385[/ATTACH]</strong></p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>14.23. Gurdwara Bari Sangat Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur</strong></p><p></p><p>The Gurdwara in Nichi Bagh area is the oldest and most important sangat at Benaras judging from old hukamnamas and other relics possessed by it. At the time of Guru Tegh Bahdur's visit, the Sangat was headed by Bhai Jawehri Lal, the masand. The Guru stayed in a house belonging to Bhai Kalyan Mal. It is the site of this house which is occupied by the Gurdwara Bari Sangat now. Its present three-storey building, which replaced the one constructed by Maharaja Narinder Singh of Patiala in 1854, was constructed during the 1950s. The sanctum is at one end of a spacious high-ceilinged, rectangular hall on the ground floor. All around the interior of the hall is a wide gallery and a number of cupboards for use by pilgrims. Within the congregation hall there are two more shrines - a small room called Tap Asthan represents the closet where Guru Tegh Bahadur sat in solitary meditation, and a narrow well called Baoli Ganga Pargat (lit. well making the Ganges manifest). There is a popular legend related to the latter. It is said that one morning as Guru Tegh Bahadur was meditating in the Tap Asthan, Bhai Kalyan Mal invited him to a dip in the holy Ganges. The Guru remarked, "God's Name is the holiest of all. Rather than a worshipper of God, go seeking holiness in the waters of Ganges, the Ganges would come to be blessed by the touch of the worshipper." Seeing Kalyan Mal puzzled by his utterance, the Guru asked him to lift a nearby stone. As soon as Kalyan Mal did so, a spring of river-water appeared. This spring is the present Baoli Ganga Pargat. Two very old pairs of shoes, one once worn by Guru Tegh bahadur and the other by the young Sahibzada Gobind Das, and a chola (long, loose gown) once used by Guru Tegh Bahadur are displayed in glass cupboards. The hukamnamas, seventeen in number are kept separately in the office of the committee that manages this Gurdwara.</p><p><strong>GURDWARA CHHOTI SANGAT</strong></p><p>[ATTACH=full]22384[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>14.23. Gurdwara Chhoti Sangat </strong></p><p>Gurdwara Chhoti Sangat is located in a privately owned house in a narrow lane named Bhuteshwar Gali branching off Dashashvamedh Road. It is said to be the congregation spot of a smaller Sikh community (chhoti sangat) which too was visited by Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh. It is a serial like building with two floors of rooms around a square compound. The rooms are rented out. The Gurdwara is in a room on the first floor maintained by a Nirmala sadhu. There is also a hand-written copy of Guru Granth Sahib here which is dated Phagun 1833 (Feb-March 1777).</p><p></p><p><strong>NIRMAL MIR GHAT</strong></p><p>[ATTACH=full]22383[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong> <strong>14.24. Gurdwara Nirmal Mir Ghat Sahib</strong></strong></p><p>Nirmal Mir Ghat is near Vishalakshi Temple on the Ganges bank .It was also once a Sikh Sangat, but is now a study centre of Udasi students of Udasin Sanskrit Vidyalaya. Guru Granth Sahib is still seated here but alongwith Bhagvad Gita on adjacently placed palanquins in rectangular hall.</p><p></p><p>There is an Udasin mutt stated to have been visited by Baba Sri Chand son of Guru Nanak. The proceedings of discourses and Shabad at the place as recorded by a Bengali visitor [14.28] are given oug here.</p><p></p><p><strong>HYMN </strong></p><p></p><p>You are the Lord—to You be praise.</p><p>All life is with You.</p><p>You are my parents, I am Your child -</p><p>All happiness is derived from Your clemency.</p><p>No one knows Your end.</p><p>Highest Lord amongst the highest—</p><p>Of all that exists You are the regulator.</p><p>And all that is from You obeys Your will.</p><p>Your movements—Your pleasure—You only know.</p><p>Nanak, Your slave, is free-will offering unto You.</p><p>The Priest said—</p><p>Meditate on the Saheb of the Book</p><p>[Sri Guru Granth Sahib], and exclaim Wah Guru.</p><p>The People accordingly repeat—</p><p>Wah Guru — Wah Guru Ki Fateh.</p><p>The Priest -</p><p>Meditating on Sri Chandra, exclaim Wah Guru.</p><p>The People— Wah Guru — Wah Guru Ki Fateh.</p><p></p><p><strong>HYMN </strong></p><p>Love, and fix Your whole heart upon Him—</p><p>The world is bound to You by Prosperity—</p><p>No one is another’s.</p><p>Whilst prosperity endures many will come;</p><p>And sit with you and surround you;</p><p>But in adversity they will fly,</p><p>And not one will be near thee.</p><p>The woman of the house who loves you,</p><p>And is ever in your bosom,</p><p>When the spirit quits the body,</p><p>Will fly with alarm from the dead.</p><p>Such is the way of the world.</p><p>With all on which we place affection;</p><p>Do Your, Nanak, at your last hour,</p><p>Rely alone upon Hari.</p><p>Priest as before—</p><p>Meditating on the Saheb of the Book</p><p>[Sri Guru Granth Sahib], &c.</p><p>People as before — Wah Guru &c.</p><p></p><p><strong>HYMN </strong></p><p></p><p>My holy teacher is he who teaches clemency —</p><p>The heart is awake within; who seeks may find.</p><p>Wonderful is that rosary, every bead of which is the breath.</p><p>Lying apart in its ardour, “It knows what cometh to pass.</p><p>The Sage is he who is merciful; the merciless is a butcher.</p><p>You wieldest the knife and regardlessly exclaims :</p><p>What is a goat, what is cow, what are animals?</p><p>But the Saheb declared that the blood of all is the same.</p><p>Saints, Prophets, and Seers have all passed in death.</p><p>Nanak, destroy not life for the preservation of the body.</p><p>That desire of life which is in the heart do you, brother, repress.</p><p>Nanak, calling aloud, says: take refuge with Hari. Priest as before —</p><p>Meditating on the [Guru Granth] Saheb, &c.</p><p>People as before — Wah Guru — Wah Guru ki fateh. 5</p><p></p><p>1. The Guru Granth Sahib is not worshipped as an image, but in view of its size, it is placed on a small cot, called Manji, for convenience of reading. The offerings are for the general fund of the temples and are not unoften put in locked boxes or pots kept there for the purpose.]</p><p></p><p>2. [The teachings of Guru Nanak are not founded on any particular school of Hindu philosophy. They are of his independent thinking.]</p><p></p><p>3. [The Udasi order was established by Sri Chand son of Guru Nanak and not by his grandson.]</p><p></p><p>4. Lit. Congregation; also a Sikh Gurdawra or temple.</p><p></p><p>5. For further specimens see Journal of the As. Soc. of Bengal</p><p></p><p>Bhagat Kabir belonged to Banaras. However no accounts are available of Guru Nanak meeting Kabir at Banaras.</p><p></p><p><strong>SHRI CHETAN MATH</strong></p><p>[ATTACH=full]22382[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>14.25. Gurdwara Chetan Math is in Bishwesharganj locality</strong></p><p></p><p>Shri Chetan Math is in Bishwesharganj locality near the Punjabi Market. It is where the first batch of five Sikhs sent to Benaras by Guru Gobind Singh to study Sanskrit had stayed. It is now called Sri Guru Nanak Nirmal Sanskrit Vidalaya, which is a residential college affiliated to the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University Varanasi. Guru Granth Sahib is seated in one of the rooms, but its study is not a part of the curriculum.</p><p></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>NIZAMABAD</strong></p><p>[ATTACH=full]22381[/ATTACH]</p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>14.26. Gurdwara Charan Paduka, Nizamabad</strong></p><p></p><p>Nizamabad is a small town in the interior of Azamgarh district. An eight-kilometre link road connects it to Serai Rani on the Jaunpur-Azamgarh road. Another six-kilometres road links it to Phariha. Both Serai Rani and Phariha are railway stations on the Ballia-Shahganj metre gauge section of North-Eastern Railway.Gurdwara Charan Paduka Patshahi Pehli te Nauvinexists to commemorate the visits of the two gurus to the place. Nizamabad was visited by Guru Nanak Dev during his eastern udasi in the early sixteenth century, and by Guru Tegh Bahadur during his journey back towards Punjab in 1670. A shrine called Charan Paduka (lit. wooden sandals) common to both Gurus existed here of old under Udasi priests until Bawa Kripa Dayal Singh of Goindwal established a proper Gurdwara and himself settled here to preach Sikhism. It became a well known Sikh missionary centre during the time of his son Sadho Singh and grandson, the well-known scholar, author and poet Bawa Sumer Singh. The shrine is named Gurdwara Charan Paduka Patshahi 1 te 9. Its buildings have been renovated by Sant Sadhu Singh Mauni, whose successors continue to administer it. Besides a pair of wooden sandals kept here as a sacred relic one used by Guru Tegh Bahadur, there are fourteen old hand-written copies of Guru Granth Sahib.[14.29]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22380[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>14.27. Charan Paduka Patshahi Pehli te Nauvin inside Gurdwara Nizambad</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>CHANDERAULI</strong></p><p><strong> [ATTACH=full]22379[/ATTACH]</strong></p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>14.28. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev ji Maharaj Chanderauli</strong></p><p></p><p>From Benares two routes lead to Patna; a kutcha passage parallel to the Ganges and another via Gaya. The road that led to Patna via Sasaram and Gaya was later on named Sher Shah Suri Road because Emperor Sher Shah Suri also got constructed inns alongside this road. Walking down this route, there lies an ancient town Chandrauli, 29 miles (46.40 km.) off Benares. Within a radius of five miles (8 km.) of this town there are several habitations well as ancient ruins. It seems Hari Nāth was a chief of one of these places where Guru Nanak went there. Setting out from Benares and on his way to Gaya, Guru Nanak halted near Chandrauli. He took up his residence outside the town. The Guru remained absorbed in his self and did not talk to anybody. He remained silent for some time. This had a salutary effect on the people. The news spread throughout the town that a fakir had come who neither spoke nor made any gestures. The very sight of his handsome and impressive face was blissful. Listening this, the Chief of the town, Hari Nāth, came to have a glimpse of the Guru. He came and sat beside the Guru.At this time, the Guru recited the following hymn:</p><p></p><p>My soul burns, over and over again.</p><p>Burning and burning, it is ruined, and it falls into evil.</p><p>That body, which forgets the Word of the Guru,</p><p>cries out in pain, like a chronic patient. || 1 ||</p><p>To speak too much and babble is useless.</p><p>Even without our speaking, He knows everything. || 1 || Pause ||</p><p>He created our ears, eyes and nose.</p><p>He gave us our tongue to speak so fluently.</p><p>He preserved the mind in the fire of the womb;</p><p>at His Command, the wind blows everywhere. || 2 ||</p><p>These worldly attachments, loves and pleasurable tastes,</p><p>all are just black stains.</p><p>One who departs, with these black stains of sin on his face</p><p>shall find no place to sit in the Court of the Lord. || 3 ||</p><p>By Your Grace, we chant Your Name.</p><p>Becoming attached to it, one is saved;</p><p>there is no other way.</p><p>Even if one is drowning, still, he may be saved.</p><p>O Nanak, the True Lord is the Giver of all. || 4 || (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, p. 662)</p><p></p><p>This hymn acted as a balm on the aching psyche of Hari Nāth. It seemed to him as if the Guru had spelt out the condition of his (Hari Nāth’s) mind when he said:“My soul burns over and over again.”</p><p></p><p>As for the question oflove, attachment and enjoyment, it seemed to him as if God Himself took the form of this fakir to eradicate his suffering.So he fell at the Guru’s feet and prayed that the Guru make him his disciple and let him be his companion. He even promised to renounce the throne.The Guru advised him that there was yoga even in reigning. He further told him to serve the people and remember the Name Divine. Thus he gave Hari Nāth the message of nām (Divine Name), dān (charity) andgaribi (humility).Thereafter, Guru Nanak resumed his journey.</p><p></p><p><strong>References Chapter 14</strong></p><p></p><p>14.1 Surinder Singh Kohli, Janamsakhi Bhai Bala, 1990, p.164-165, SGGS, s. 470.</p><p>14.2. Surinder Singh Kohli, Janamsakhi Bhai Bala, 1990, p.164-165</p><p>14.3. Op cit p.165</p><p>14.4 Gyani Gian Singh, Twareekh Khalsa, Guru 1, Part 1, p.133 4 Bhadron Samvat 1566 Bikrami nu Agre a thahire. Uthon ik Mai Jassi nam jano dooji Meeran bai si, satsang us nun Bairagi faqiran da si.</p><p>14.5. <a href="https://www.discoversikhism.com/sikh_gurdwaras/gurdwara_sri_guru_nanak_sahib_bagichi.html" target="_blank">Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Bagichi | Discover Sikhism</a></p><p>14.6. Tarlochan Singh Dr. Biography Guru Nanak</p><p>14.7. Dhanna Singh Chehal, p.101</p><p>14.5 Surinder Singh Kohli, Travels of Guru Nanak</p><p>14.8. Tara Singh, Sri Guru Tirath Sangrahi. Amritsar, n.d.</p><p>14.9.Thakar Singh, Giani, Sri Gurduare Darshan. Amritsar, 1923.</p><p>14.10. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, March 2005, Gurdham Didar based on Mahan Kosh of Kahn Singh Nabha, p.248</p><p>14.11. Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.315)</p><p>14.12.http://www.historicalgurudwaras.com/India/UttarPradesh/Agra/GurudwaraShriMaiThaanSahibAgra/ gallery.php</p><p>14.13. <a href="https://www.historicalgurudwaras.com/GurudwaraDetail.aspx?gid=2948" target="_blank">HistoricalGurudwaras.com, a Journey to Historical Gurudwara Sahibs</a></p><p>14.14. <a href="https://www.historicalgurudwaras.com/GurudwaraDetail.aspx?gid=2906" target="_blank">HistoricalGurudwaras.com, a Journey to Historical Gurudwara Sahibs</a></p><p>14.15.Randhir Singh, Udasi Sikhan dii Vithia. Chandigarh, 1972</p><p>14.16. <a href="http://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/other-historical-places/india/etawah" target="_blank">ETAWAH - The Sikh Encyclopedia</a></p><p>14. 17 Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.315</p><p>14.18. Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Travels of Guru Nanak, Punjab University, Chandigarh, p.27</p><p>14.19. Dhanna Singh Chehal p. 141</p><p>14.20. Dhanna Songh Chehal, p. 142, Gupta, Pratul Chandra (1963). Nana Sahib and the Rising at Cawnpore. Clarendon Press. Retrieved 16 June 2012.</p><p>14.21. Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.316</p><p>14.22. Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.317</p><p>14.23. Puratan Janamsakhi edited by Bhai Vir Singh pp. 60-63</p><p>14.24. Sri Guru Granth Sahib. pp. 1170-1171</p><p>14.25. Op cit, p.1171</p><p>14.26. Gyani Gian Singh Twareekh Khalsa ,p. 104-105SGGS. Pp..929-930</p><p>14.27. Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.319</p><p>14.28. Religious Sects of the Hindus, Sushil Gupta, Calcutta, 1958 [first published in the Asiatic Researches, XVI, 1828, XVII 1882; Bishop’s College Press, 1846; reprinted 1862].</p><p>14.29. Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.322</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="dalvinder45, post: 225127, member: 26009"] [B]ALLAHABAD[/B] Allahabad is situated near the confluence (sangam) of rivers Ganga and Yamuna.Gurdwara Tap Asthan (Pakki Sangat) - Allahabad is situated near the confluence of the River Ganga and Yamuna, which is sacred to the Hindus as Triveni Sangam (lit. confluence of three rivers) in the belief that a third invisible river Sarasvati also meets the Ganges here. Guru Nanak Dev visited Allahabad, then called Prayag. Later Guru Tegh Bahadur stayed here for some time. Gurudwara Tap Asthan (Pakki Sangat) Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in Mohalla Ahiyapur marks the site where the Guru stayed in the house of a devotee. [B]GURDWARA PAKKI SANGAT ALLAHABAD[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]22393[/ATTACH] [B] 14.15. Gurdwara Pakki Sangat Allahabad Entry Gate[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]22392[/ATTACH] [B]14.16. Gurdwara Pakki Sangat Allahabad[/B] The building was reconstructed by Mahant Pritam Singh in 1965 and stands about four feet above the street level. The sanctum is a flat-roofed rectangular congregation hall at the far end of a spacious square compound entered through a double-storey gateway. Guru Granth Sahib is seated on a canopied throne of white marble. One of the side rooms adjacent to the congregation hall represents the Guru's bedroom during his stay here. Two double-storey blocks of rooms, one on either side of the courtyard, provide residential accommodation to staff and visitors.[14.21] [B]MIRZAPUR[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]22391[/ATTACH] [B]14.17. Gurdwara Mirzapur [/B] Mirzapur is district town along the Grand Trunk Road on the right bank of the Ganga. It is also a railway station on the Delhi-Kanpur- Mughal Serai section of Northern railway. Mirzapur was visited by Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Tegh Bahddur. A Sikh Sangat existed here when the latter passed through the town during 1666. Now it is called Shri Nirmal Sangat, in association of Nirmala Sikhs. It is located at Narayan Ghat near the river bank also called Pakka Ghat. Guru Granth Sahib is also seated in a room adjacent to the mahant's house. Its present building was inaugurated on Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary in 1935. [14.22] [B]BANARAS (VARANASI)[/B] Banaras is famous as a Hindu pilgrimage Centre; place of saints and as a Centre of classical learning. Also called Shivpuri, Kashi, and Varanasi, it is the one of the holiest and one of major centre of Hinduism. Kabir was dweller of this place and he had discussion on Gurmat with various religious scholars. The local scholars were self centered and corrupt. For the sake of worldly attaintments they misguided the people from divine path. These scholars were idol worshippers, donation seekers, casteist, worshipper of human gods and propagated many other irreligious thoughts.They preached costly rituals to squeeze the public of their money. They had become famous as Benaras ke Thugg and Benaras as Fort of irreligion. Bhagats Kabir and Ravidas and other saints raised voice against these scholars and their rituals. Bhagats Kabir and Revidas, whose bani (compositions) forms part of the Sikh Scripture, lived here. [ATTACH type="full"]22389[/ATTACH] [B] 14.18. The Ganges In Varnasi[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]22390[/ATTACH] [B] 14.19. Gurdwara Guru ka Baag Benaras[/B] Guru Nanak reached Benaras from Allahabad and sat on the bank of Ganges. Gurudwara Guru ka Bag is situated in District City Benaras in Uttar pradesh, on Guru Nanak Dev road in old city of Benaras. Guru Nanak Dev also preached Divine Name and One God when he went there on the occasion of Shivratri fair (February-March) in 1503 AD and held religious discourses with Brahaman scholars and sadhus of different denominations. Guru Nanak Dev came here on the eve of Shivratari and stopped in a Garden. Bhai Mardana asked Guru ji about the ownership of the garden. Guruji answered: This garden belongs to God assigned temporarilyto His being,who will soon appear. He asked Mardana to play rebec. Bhai Mardana started playing rebec while Guru not recited a hymn. The whole atmosphere was under the influence of Bani. A Religious Scholar, Pundit Gopal Das who was an idol worshipper, worshipped Shivalingam and worebeads of tulsi and observed many ritualistic practices, listened to sacred hymn of Guruji and came to him and heldreligious discourse with him. He questioned on his way of religious life which was logically disapproved by Guru ji, as he was attached to temporal aspect rather then to the spiritual one. Guruji advised him to understand various aspects of soul and to control five evils which have overpowered his soul. He asked him to purify heart and soul and understand the Divine in him.God could be attained from inside rather then getting into temporal rituals of worshipping Saligram, bathing, wearing beads etc. Gopal Das realised his self and became a Sikh of Guru Nanakleaving all ritualistic practices. He invited Guruji to his house. Guruji stayed in his house for some months holding discussions with scholars of various faiths on various aspects of spirituality and propagated Divine Name. Chaturdas was the Pandit of Benaras then. Discussions with Pandit Chaturdas have been very well explained in Puratan Janamsakhi [14.23] Pandit Chatur Das came for having the ritual bath in Ganges and wished saying Ram Ram to Guru Nanak. Seeing Guruji’s wear, he said: “O worshipper! You do not have idol, rosary of tulsi beads, or vermillion mark on your forehead and call yourself a worshipper! What type of worship have you done?” [B] [ATTACH type="full"]22388[/ATTACH] 14.20. Gurdwara Guru ka Bagh Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Banaras[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]22387[/ATTACH] [CENTER][B]14.21. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev Ji [/B][LEFT][B]Benares[/B][/LEFT][/CENTER] Guru Nanak said: “O Brahmin, you worship and believe in your stone-god, and wear your ceremonial rosary beads. Chant the Name of the Lord. Build your boat, and pray, “O Merciful Lord, please be merciful to me.” Why do you irrigate the barren, alkaline soil? You are wasting your life away! This wall of mud is crumbling. Why bother to patch it with plaster? [14.24] Pandit questioned: “O worshipper! If the earth is dug but not watered, how can it grow plants? How can the gardener accept it as his own creation?” Guru Nanak replied, “Let your hands be the buckets, strung on the chain, and yoke the mind as the ox to pull it; draw the water up from the well. Irrigate your fields with the Ambrosial Nectar, and you shall be owned by God the Gardener. Pandit questioned again: “O worshipper! This is the produce from watering an alkaline land. What is that with which we water the earth and we reach God? GuruNanak replied: “Let lust and anger be your two shovels, to dig up the dirt of your farm, O Siblings of Destiny. The more you dig, the more peace yoshall find. Your past actions cannot be erased.” “Use your lust and anger as tools to dig the earth. The more you dig better you get the results. Hard labour can never be obliterated.” Pandit was highly impressed by Guru Nanak’s reply. He bowed and said: “Sire you are swan among the cranes. Our intellect is controlled by our senses, like crane. Guru Nanak replied: “The crane is again transformed into a swan, if God is Merciful and Wills so. I, Nanak, the slave of God’s slaves, bow and pray to the Merciful Lord to have mercy on me”. Pandit said further: “Sire! You are the true worshipper of God. Please purify this town as well and have benefit of the quality of this town.” Guru Nanak enquired: “What is the special quality of this place?” The Pandit replied: “The quality of this town is education. By getting education here one get special qualities of wordly attainments (ridhi) here. If you are here the world will reognise you. You guide the people to your path and be a head priest. Guru Nanak sang: “The king is just a boy, and his city is vulnerable. He is in love with his wicked enemies. He reads of his two mothers and his two fathers; O Pandit, reflect on this. Master Pandit, teach me about this. How can I obtain the Lord of life? There is fire within the plants which bloom; the ocean is tied into a bundle. The sun and the moon dwell in the same home in the sky. You have not obtained this knowledge. One who knows the All-pervading Lord, eats up the one mother — Maya. Know that the sign of such a person is that he gathers the wealth of compassion. The mind lives with those who do not listen, and do not admit what they eat. Prays Nanak, the slave of the Lord’s slave: one instant the mind is huge, and the next instant, it is tiny”. [14.24] Pandit Chatur Das requested again: “Whatever we learn and teach does it help attain God’s Name?” Guru Nanak asked, “What do you learn and what do you teach your students?” Pandit said: “We teach mantras and their rituals from Vedas, Shashtras and Smritis.” Guru Nanak sang: From Ongkaar, the One Universal Creator God, Brahma was created. He kept Ongkaar in his consciousness. From Ongkaar, the mountains and the ages were created. Ongkaar created the Vedas. Ongkaar saves the world through the Shabad. Ongkaar saves the Gurmukhs. Listen to the Message of the Universal, Imperishable Creator Lord. The Universal, Imperishable Creator Lord is the essence of the three worlds. Listen, O Pandit, O religious scholar, why are you writing about worldly debates? As Gurmukh, write only the Name of the Lord, the Lord of the World. [14.25] O Brahmin, you worship and believe in your stone-god, and wear your ceremonial rosary beads.Chant the Name of the Lord. Build your boat, and pray, “O Merciful Lord, please be merciful to me.” Why do you irrigate the barren, alkaline soil? You are wasting your life away! This wall of mud is crumbling. Why bother to patch it with plaster? Let your hands be the buckets, strung on the chain, and yoke the mind as the ox to pull it; draw the water up from the well. Irrigate your fields with the Ambrosial Nectar, and you shall be owned by God the Gardener. Let sexual desire and anger be your two shovels, to dig up the dirt of your farm, O Siblings of Destiny. The more you dig, the more peace you shall find. Your past actions cannot be erased. The crane is again transformed into a swan, if You will, O Merciful Lord. Prays Nanak, the slave of Your slaves: O Merciful Lord, have mercy on me. He then recited 54 paudis (steps) of Bani Ongkar. Pandit fell at Guru Nanak’s feet and dedicated himself to meditation on God’s Name and recited ‘Guru, Guru’. Having heard about Guru Nanak’s arrival Bhagat Namdev, Ravidas, Trilochan, Parsa, the two followers of Kabir Haso Rai and Dharma Das Rama Nand’s follower Nityanand and many other saints came to meet him and were pleased to hold discussions. Guru Nanak sang the hymn in Sri Rag: ‘[I]aape rasia aap ras’[/I] Sri Raag, First Mehl, Second House: He Himself is the Enjoyer, and He Himself is the Enjoyment. He Himself is the Ravisher of all. He Himself is the Bride in her dress; He Himself is the Bridegroom on the bed. My Lord and Master is imbued with love; He is totally permeating and pervading all.He Himself is the fisherman and the fish; He Himself is the water and the net. He Himself is the sinker, and He Himself is the bait. He Himself loves in so many ways. O sister soul-brides, He is my Beloved. He continually ravishes and enjoys the happy soul-brides; just look at the plight I am in without Him! Prays Nanak, please hear my prayer: You are the pool, and You are the soul-swan. You are the lotus flower of the day You are the water-lily of the night. You Yourself behold them, and blossom forth in bliss. (p.23) The lively discussions with the representatives of various sects got quite a number of people around who too relished Guru’s hymns. Guru stayed in Benaras for fifteen days.[14.26] After Guru Nanak Dev had visited it, a sangat was established here, which was already flourishing when Guru Tegh Bahadur arrived in 1666 and Guru Gobind Singh passed through the city on his way from Patna Sahib to Punjab in 1670. The Tenth Guru sent five Sikhs here to learn Sanskrit. These learned men, who came to be known as Nirmalas (lit. pure) Sikhs went back to Punjab to propagate learning among the Sikhs there, but more came to study ancient classics in their place. Contact thus established with Benaras continued uninterrupted, and in 1823, according to a census taken by James Princep, there were 1000 Sikhs in Benaras. They were divided into seven sects and were listed under Hindu Fakirs. The seven sects were Udasis, Nirmalas, Govind Singhis, Suthrashahis and three (not numerous though) sects of Gang Bakhshis, Ram Raias and Nagas. Collectively they were known as the Sikhs or the Nanak Shahis. The present building of the Gurdwara located along Shri Guru Nanak Marg (or street) was constructed during early 1970s. The sanctum is at one end of a rectangular hall with a wide gallery at mid-height on three sides on the interior, and a porch in front of the doors on the opposite side of the sanctum. A few rooms near the entrance to the one-acre compound of the Gurdwara are available for pilgrims' staying overnight. [14.27] Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh and many prominent Sikhs also visited the place. Recently water was taken out from below the bed of Ganges River under Gurdwara at Banaras and it was found that it had the cleanest water despite Ganges having been declared the most polluted river. [ATTACH type="full"]22386[/ATTACH] [CENTER][B]14.22. Footwear of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji[/B][/CENTER] Other historical Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions at Benaras in their memory include: [B]GURDWARA BARI SANGAT SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR – [ATTACH type="full"]22385[/ATTACH][/B] [CENTER][B]14.23. Gurdwara Bari Sangat Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur[/B][/CENTER] The Gurdwara in Nichi Bagh area is the oldest and most important sangat at Benaras judging from old hukamnamas and other relics possessed by it. At the time of Guru Tegh Bahdur's visit, the Sangat was headed by Bhai Jawehri Lal, the masand. The Guru stayed in a house belonging to Bhai Kalyan Mal. It is the site of this house which is occupied by the Gurdwara Bari Sangat now. Its present three-storey building, which replaced the one constructed by Maharaja Narinder Singh of Patiala in 1854, was constructed during the 1950s. The sanctum is at one end of a spacious high-ceilinged, rectangular hall on the ground floor. All around the interior of the hall is a wide gallery and a number of cupboards for use by pilgrims. Within the congregation hall there are two more shrines - a small room called Tap Asthan represents the closet where Guru Tegh Bahadur sat in solitary meditation, and a narrow well called Baoli Ganga Pargat (lit. well making the Ganges manifest). There is a popular legend related to the latter. It is said that one morning as Guru Tegh Bahadur was meditating in the Tap Asthan, Bhai Kalyan Mal invited him to a dip in the holy Ganges. The Guru remarked, "God's Name is the holiest of all. Rather than a worshipper of God, go seeking holiness in the waters of Ganges, the Ganges would come to be blessed by the touch of the worshipper." Seeing Kalyan Mal puzzled by his utterance, the Guru asked him to lift a nearby stone. As soon as Kalyan Mal did so, a spring of river-water appeared. This spring is the present Baoli Ganga Pargat. Two very old pairs of shoes, one once worn by Guru Tegh bahadur and the other by the young Sahibzada Gobind Das, and a chola (long, loose gown) once used by Guru Tegh Bahadur are displayed in glass cupboards. The hukamnamas, seventeen in number are kept separately in the office of the committee that manages this Gurdwara. [B]GURDWARA CHHOTI SANGAT[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]22384[/ATTACH] [B]14.23. Gurdwara Chhoti Sangat [/B] Gurdwara Chhoti Sangat is located in a privately owned house in a narrow lane named Bhuteshwar Gali branching off Dashashvamedh Road. It is said to be the congregation spot of a smaller Sikh community (chhoti sangat) which too was visited by Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh. It is a serial like building with two floors of rooms around a square compound. The rooms are rented out. The Gurdwara is in a room on the first floor maintained by a Nirmala sadhu. There is also a hand-written copy of Guru Granth Sahib here which is dated Phagun 1833 (Feb-March 1777). [B]NIRMAL MIR GHAT[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]22383[/ATTACH] [B] [B]14.24. Gurdwara Nirmal Mir Ghat Sahib[/B][/B] Nirmal Mir Ghat is near Vishalakshi Temple on the Ganges bank .It was also once a Sikh Sangat, but is now a study centre of Udasi students of Udasin Sanskrit Vidyalaya. Guru Granth Sahib is still seated here but alongwith Bhagvad Gita on adjacently placed palanquins in rectangular hall. There is an Udasin mutt stated to have been visited by Baba Sri Chand son of Guru Nanak. The proceedings of discourses and Shabad at the place as recorded by a Bengali visitor [14.28] are given oug here. [B]HYMN [/B] You are the Lord—to You be praise. All life is with You. You are my parents, I am Your child - All happiness is derived from Your clemency. No one knows Your end. Highest Lord amongst the highest— Of all that exists You are the regulator. And all that is from You obeys Your will. Your movements—Your pleasure—You only know. Nanak, Your slave, is free-will offering unto You. The Priest said— Meditate on the Saheb of the Book [Sri Guru Granth Sahib], and exclaim Wah Guru. The People accordingly repeat— Wah Guru — Wah Guru Ki Fateh. The Priest - Meditating on Sri Chandra, exclaim Wah Guru. The People— Wah Guru — Wah Guru Ki Fateh. [B]HYMN [/B] Love, and fix Your whole heart upon Him— The world is bound to You by Prosperity— No one is another’s. Whilst prosperity endures many will come; And sit with you and surround you; But in adversity they will fly, And not one will be near thee. The woman of the house who loves you, And is ever in your bosom, When the spirit quits the body, Will fly with alarm from the dead. Such is the way of the world. With all on which we place affection; Do Your, Nanak, at your last hour, Rely alone upon Hari. Priest as before— Meditating on the Saheb of the Book [Sri Guru Granth Sahib], &c. People as before — Wah Guru &c. [B]HYMN [/B] My holy teacher is he who teaches clemency — The heart is awake within; who seeks may find. Wonderful is that rosary, every bead of which is the breath. Lying apart in its ardour, “It knows what cometh to pass. The Sage is he who is merciful; the merciless is a butcher. You wieldest the knife and regardlessly exclaims : What is a goat, what is cow, what are animals? But the Saheb declared that the blood of all is the same. Saints, Prophets, and Seers have all passed in death. Nanak, destroy not life for the preservation of the body. That desire of life which is in the heart do you, brother, repress. Nanak, calling aloud, says: take refuge with Hari. Priest as before — Meditating on the [Guru Granth] Saheb, &c. People as before — Wah Guru — Wah Guru ki fateh. 5 1. The Guru Granth Sahib is not worshipped as an image, but in view of its size, it is placed on a small cot, called Manji, for convenience of reading. The offerings are for the general fund of the temples and are not unoften put in locked boxes or pots kept there for the purpose.] 2. [The teachings of Guru Nanak are not founded on any particular school of Hindu philosophy. They are of his independent thinking.] 3. [The Udasi order was established by Sri Chand son of Guru Nanak and not by his grandson.] 4. Lit. Congregation; also a Sikh Gurdawra or temple. 5. For further specimens see Journal of the As. Soc. of Bengal Bhagat Kabir belonged to Banaras. However no accounts are available of Guru Nanak meeting Kabir at Banaras. [B]SHRI CHETAN MATH[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]22382[/ATTACH] [B]14.25. Gurdwara Chetan Math is in Bishwesharganj locality[/B] Shri Chetan Math is in Bishwesharganj locality near the Punjabi Market. It is where the first batch of five Sikhs sent to Benaras by Guru Gobind Singh to study Sanskrit had stayed. It is now called Sri Guru Nanak Nirmal Sanskrit Vidalaya, which is a residential college affiliated to the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University Varanasi. Guru Granth Sahib is seated in one of the rooms, but its study is not a part of the curriculum. [B] NIZAMABAD[/B] [ATTACH type="full"]22381[/ATTACH] [CENTER][B]14.26. Gurdwara Charan Paduka, Nizamabad[/B][/CENTER] Nizamabad is a small town in the interior of Azamgarh district. An eight-kilometre link road connects it to Serai Rani on the Jaunpur-Azamgarh road. Another six-kilometres road links it to Phariha. Both Serai Rani and Phariha are railway stations on the Ballia-Shahganj metre gauge section of North-Eastern Railway.Gurdwara Charan Paduka Patshahi Pehli te Nauvinexists to commemorate the visits of the two gurus to the place. Nizamabad was visited by Guru Nanak Dev during his eastern udasi in the early sixteenth century, and by Guru Tegh Bahadur during his journey back towards Punjab in 1670. A shrine called Charan Paduka (lit. wooden sandals) common to both Gurus existed here of old under Udasi priests until Bawa Kripa Dayal Singh of Goindwal established a proper Gurdwara and himself settled here to preach Sikhism. It became a well known Sikh missionary centre during the time of his son Sadho Singh and grandson, the well-known scholar, author and poet Bawa Sumer Singh. The shrine is named Gurdwara Charan Paduka Patshahi 1 te 9. Its buildings have been renovated by Sant Sadhu Singh Mauni, whose successors continue to administer it. Besides a pair of wooden sandals kept here as a sacred relic one used by Guru Tegh Bahadur, there are fourteen old hand-written copies of Guru Granth Sahib.[14.29] [ATTACH type="full"]22380[/ATTACH] [B]14.27. Charan Paduka Patshahi Pehli te Nauvin inside Gurdwara Nizambad CHANDERAULI [ATTACH type="full"]22379[/ATTACH][/B] [CENTER][B]14.28. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev ji Maharaj Chanderauli[/B][/CENTER] From Benares two routes lead to Patna; a kutcha passage parallel to the Ganges and another via Gaya. The road that led to Patna via Sasaram and Gaya was later on named Sher Shah Suri Road because Emperor Sher Shah Suri also got constructed inns alongside this road. Walking down this route, there lies an ancient town Chandrauli, 29 miles (46.40 km.) off Benares. Within a radius of five miles (8 km.) of this town there are several habitations well as ancient ruins. It seems Hari Nāth was a chief of one of these places where Guru Nanak went there. Setting out from Benares and on his way to Gaya, Guru Nanak halted near Chandrauli. He took up his residence outside the town. The Guru remained absorbed in his self and did not talk to anybody. He remained silent for some time. This had a salutary effect on the people. The news spread throughout the town that a fakir had come who neither spoke nor made any gestures. The very sight of his handsome and impressive face was blissful. Listening this, the Chief of the town, Hari Nāth, came to have a glimpse of the Guru. He came and sat beside the Guru.At this time, the Guru recited the following hymn: My soul burns, over and over again. Burning and burning, it is ruined, and it falls into evil. That body, which forgets the Word of the Guru, cries out in pain, like a chronic patient. || 1 || To speak too much and babble is useless. Even without our speaking, He knows everything. || 1 || Pause || He created our ears, eyes and nose. He gave us our tongue to speak so fluently. He preserved the mind in the fire of the womb; at His Command, the wind blows everywhere. || 2 || These worldly attachments, loves and pleasurable tastes, all are just black stains. One who departs, with these black stains of sin on his face shall find no place to sit in the Court of the Lord. || 3 || By Your Grace, we chant Your Name. Becoming attached to it, one is saved; there is no other way. Even if one is drowning, still, he may be saved. O Nanak, the True Lord is the Giver of all. || 4 || (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, p. 662) This hymn acted as a balm on the aching psyche of Hari Nāth. It seemed to him as if the Guru had spelt out the condition of his (Hari Nāth’s) mind when he said:“My soul burns over and over again.” As for the question oflove, attachment and enjoyment, it seemed to him as if God Himself took the form of this fakir to eradicate his suffering.So he fell at the Guru’s feet and prayed that the Guru make him his disciple and let him be his companion. He even promised to renounce the throne.The Guru advised him that there was yoga even in reigning. He further told him to serve the people and remember the Name Divine. Thus he gave Hari Nāth the message of nām (Divine Name), dān (charity) andgaribi (humility).Thereafter, Guru Nanak resumed his journey. [B]References Chapter 14[/B] 14.1 Surinder Singh Kohli, Janamsakhi Bhai Bala, 1990, p.164-165, SGGS, s. 470. 14.2. Surinder Singh Kohli, Janamsakhi Bhai Bala, 1990, p.164-165 14.3. Op cit p.165 14.4 Gyani Gian Singh, Twareekh Khalsa, Guru 1, Part 1, p.133 4 Bhadron Samvat 1566 Bikrami nu Agre a thahire. Uthon ik Mai Jassi nam jano dooji Meeran bai si, satsang us nun Bairagi faqiran da si. 14.5. [URL="https://www.discoversikhism.com/sikh_gurdwaras/gurdwara_sri_guru_nanak_sahib_bagichi.html"]Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Bagichi | Discover Sikhism[/URL] 14.6. Tarlochan Singh Dr. Biography Guru Nanak 14.7. Dhanna Singh Chehal, p.101 14.5 Surinder Singh Kohli, Travels of Guru Nanak 14.8. Tara Singh, Sri Guru Tirath Sangrahi. Amritsar, n.d. 14.9.Thakar Singh, Giani, Sri Gurduare Darshan. Amritsar, 1923. 14.10. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, March 2005, Gurdham Didar based on Mahan Kosh of Kahn Singh Nabha, p.248 14.11. Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.315) 14.12.http://www.historicalgurudwaras.com/India/UttarPradesh/Agra/GurudwaraShriMaiThaanSahibAgra/ gallery.php 14.13. [URL="https://www.historicalgurudwaras.com/GurudwaraDetail.aspx?gid=2948"]HistoricalGurudwaras.com, a Journey to Historical Gurudwara Sahibs[/URL] 14.14. [URL="https://www.historicalgurudwaras.com/GurudwaraDetail.aspx?gid=2906"]HistoricalGurudwaras.com, a Journey to Historical Gurudwara Sahibs[/URL] 14.15.Randhir Singh, Udasi Sikhan dii Vithia. Chandigarh, 1972 14.16. [URL="http://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/other-historical-places/india/etawah"]ETAWAH - The Sikh Encyclopedia[/URL] 14. 17 Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.315 14.18. Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Travels of Guru Nanak, Punjab University, Chandigarh, p.27 14.19. Dhanna Singh Chehal p. 141 14.20. Dhanna Songh Chehal, p. 142, Gupta, Pratul Chandra (1963). Nana Sahib and the Rising at Cawnpore. Clarendon Press. Retrieved 16 June 2012. 14.21. Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.316 14.22. Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.317 14.23. Puratan Janamsakhi edited by Bhai Vir Singh pp. 60-63 14.24. Sri Guru Granth Sahib. pp. 1170-1171 14.25. Op cit, p.1171 14.26. Gyani Gian Singh Twareekh Khalsa ,p. 104-105SGGS. Pp..929-930 14.27. Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.319 14.28. Religious Sects of the Hindus, Sushil Gupta, Calcutta, 1958 [first published in the Asiatic Researches, XVI, 1828, XVII 1882; Bishop’s College Press, 1846; reprinted 1862]. 14.29. Gurmukh Singh, September 1995, Sikh Shrines, Amritsar, Singh Bros, p.322 [/QUOTE]
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Travels of Guru Nanak: A Brief
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