- Jun 18, 2010
- 4
- 3
Re: Nanaksar Gurdwara Sahib in Fresno California
I am sure there is another Nanaksar Gurdwara run by Baba Gurdev Singh in Chandigarh sector 28. He was ordered by Sant Baba Isher Singh to go to Samadh Bhai Asthan and perform service for Nanaksar Samprada.
War of succession in Gurdwara Nanaksar
JAGRAON (Ludhiana), Oct 11 — A deceptive calm prevails in Gurdwara Nanaksar, one of the oldest shrines in the area, as rival factions continue to be engaged in a war of succession and supremacy. The two factions are led by two ageing leaders — Baba Kundan Singh and Baba Sadhu Singh — both of whom want to instal their respective favourites as the main successor and caretaker of the shrine, whose assets run into crores of rupees.
Gurdwara Nanaksar was founded by Baba Nand Singh decades ago. After he passed away in 1943, the control of the shrine passed into the hands of Baba Isher Singh. Everything passed smoothly till 1963, when Isher Singh died. A-10-member committee was founded for managing the affairs of the gurdwara. They included three disciples of the Sant, Sant Naraian Singh, Sant Sadhu Singh and Sant Kundan Singh. It was at this time that the war of succession started among the three.
Meanwhile, Sant Naraian Singh filed a suit in the court. However, the suit was withdrawn after a compromise was arrived. But after Sant Naraian Singh’s death, the war of supremacy became direct between Sant Sadhu Singh and Sant Kundan Singh. Both of them claim to be the mukhya follower of Baba Isher Singh. The two had reportedly arrived at an agreement to manage the affairs of the gurdwara.
Both the Sants are in an advanced age and are mostly unable to perform the seva and ardas at the shrine. Both of them depute their respective mukhyas (followers) to perform the duty. While Bhai Lakha Singh has been performing ardas and seva on behalf of Sant Sadhu Singh, Sant Kundan Singh had assigned the job to Bhai Harbhajan Singh.
Sant Sadhu Singh’s followers claim that Bhai Lakha Singh has the approval of the court to perform the seva. Supporters of Sant Kundan Singh are putting forth their case with the same arguments. They maintain that when Sant Sadhu Singh can nominate his mukhya for the seva, why cannot Sant Kundan Singh do the same.
It was on the same issue on October 6 last that the supporters of the rival groups clashed with each other. Bhai Harbhajan Singh had come to perform seva on behalf of Sant Kundan Singh, which was objected to by Bhai Lakha Singh and his supporters. This led to an arms scuffle between the two groups which resulted in injury to several of them.
Gurdwara Nanaksar has flourished into a popular shrine with a worldwide following which extends to the countries like USA, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany. Non-resident Indian followers have donated huge money leading to the assets of the shrine running into crores of rupees. The shrine also runs a 40-bed hospital. Besides there are palatial buildings housing the sants and sevadars within the 30 acre shrine complex. There is a picturesque pond within the shrine which attracts pilgrims from far and wide.
I am sure there is another Nanaksar Gurdwara run by Baba Gurdev Singh in Chandigarh sector 28. He was ordered by Sant Baba Isher Singh to go to Samadh Bhai Asthan and perform service for Nanaksar Samprada.
War of succession in Gurdwara Nanaksar
JAGRAON (Ludhiana), Oct 11 — A deceptive calm prevails in Gurdwara Nanaksar, one of the oldest shrines in the area, as rival factions continue to be engaged in a war of succession and supremacy. The two factions are led by two ageing leaders — Baba Kundan Singh and Baba Sadhu Singh — both of whom want to instal their respective favourites as the main successor and caretaker of the shrine, whose assets run into crores of rupees.
Gurdwara Nanaksar was founded by Baba Nand Singh decades ago. After he passed away in 1943, the control of the shrine passed into the hands of Baba Isher Singh. Everything passed smoothly till 1963, when Isher Singh died. A-10-member committee was founded for managing the affairs of the gurdwara. They included three disciples of the Sant, Sant Naraian Singh, Sant Sadhu Singh and Sant Kundan Singh. It was at this time that the war of succession started among the three.
Meanwhile, Sant Naraian Singh filed a suit in the court. However, the suit was withdrawn after a compromise was arrived. But after Sant Naraian Singh’s death, the war of supremacy became direct between Sant Sadhu Singh and Sant Kundan Singh. Both of them claim to be the mukhya follower of Baba Isher Singh. The two had reportedly arrived at an agreement to manage the affairs of the gurdwara.
Both the Sants are in an advanced age and are mostly unable to perform the seva and ardas at the shrine. Both of them depute their respective mukhyas (followers) to perform the duty. While Bhai Lakha Singh has been performing ardas and seva on behalf of Sant Sadhu Singh, Sant Kundan Singh had assigned the job to Bhai Harbhajan Singh.
Sant Sadhu Singh’s followers claim that Bhai Lakha Singh has the approval of the court to perform the seva. Supporters of Sant Kundan Singh are putting forth their case with the same arguments. They maintain that when Sant Sadhu Singh can nominate his mukhya for the seva, why cannot Sant Kundan Singh do the same.
It was on the same issue on October 6 last that the supporters of the rival groups clashed with each other. Bhai Harbhajan Singh had come to perform seva on behalf of Sant Kundan Singh, which was objected to by Bhai Lakha Singh and his supporters. This led to an arms scuffle between the two groups which resulted in injury to several of them.
Gurdwara Nanaksar has flourished into a popular shrine with a worldwide following which extends to the countries like USA, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany. Non-resident Indian followers have donated huge money leading to the assets of the shrine running into crores of rupees. The shrine also runs a 40-bed hospital. Besides there are palatial buildings housing the sants and sevadars within the 30 acre shrine complex. There is a picturesque pond within the shrine which attracts pilgrims from far and wide.
