2008 marked the year of celebration in Nanded, Maharashtra. The Sikh community came together to prepare for the Tercentenary celebrations of the Guruship of Guru Granth Sahib. The Sikhs are blessed with having their Guru – their World Teacher – with them all the time. Sikhs celebrated the unique bestowing of Guruship to the Word of the Gurus by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in 1708 at Nanded’s Hazur Sahib, before he passed away.
The Gurdwara in Nanded
Hazur Sahib, also known as Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, is one of the five holy sites in Sikhism. It was built between 1832 and 1837 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The gurdwara is situated in the city of Nanded, Maharashtra, India, on the banks of the Godavari River. The area around the main gurdwara and the famous Baba Nidhan Singh Langar is well-maintained and clean.
Hazur Sahib is a significant place that commemorates the location where Guru Gobind Singh established his camp in 1708. It was at this site that the Guru conducted his court proceedings and held congregations while recovering from an attack by two individuals intending to assassinate him. One of the attackers managed to stab the Guru, but he swiftly struck back with his talwar (a curved sword) and killed the assailant with a single stroke. The second attacker was apprehended by the Guru's followers and met his demise while trying to escape.
Initially, the Guru's wound was treated by an English surgeon sent by Bahadur Shah I, who served as his physician, along with Dara Shikoh before him. The wound showed signs of healing after being stitched, but unfortunately, it reopened a few days later when the Guru was stringing a bow for one of his Sikh disciples. Eventually, the Guru attained spiritual union with the divine (referred to as Joti Jot) after declaring the Guru Granth Sahib as his successor.
To honour the Guru's presence and teachings, the Sikhs constructed a room above the platform where Guru Gobind Singh Ji used to sit during his court sessions. They placed the Guru Granth Sahib Ji (the holy scripture) on this platform, which came to be known as Takhat Sahib. During the ceremony in which the Guruship was transferred to the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself named Nanded as "Abchalnagar" (meaning "Steadfast City") after randomly selecting the first word of a hymn recited on that occasion.
Abchalnagar is a place that includes land from about forty villages. This land was given as a donation by the Nizam of Hyderabad named Sikhandar Jah to the Sikhs. It was a gesture of gratitude for the support provided by the Sikh armies of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Unfortunately, only a small portion of this land remains today. Most of it has been wasted due to the careless and short-sighted actions of the management committee in charge. These custodians have consistently failed to protect the interests of the Sikhs. They have been tempted by financial gain and influenced by the local government's leadership and political pressure.
Although there is no sarovar (a pool of water) like the one at Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, the recent developments around Hazur Sahib now resemble the architectural style of the housing complexes near the Golden Temple. It is unique among other historical Sikh places of worship since it maintains ancient customs that were practised during the time of the Guru. For instance, priests and local devotees still apply sandalwood tilak on their foreheads.
Historic significance
Guru Gobind Singh's proclamation in 1708 was crystal clear: "Agya Payi Akal Ki, Tabe Chalayo Panth, Sabh Sikhan Ko Hukam Hai, Guru Manyo Granth." This meant that by the order of the Almighty, the Khalsa Panth was established. It instructed all Sikhs that from now on, their Guru would be the Granth (holy scripture). During the final days of Guru Gobind Singh, he resided in Nanded. On the occasion of celebrating the Guruship of Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh community also commemorated the anniversary of the passing of the Tenth Guru.
The big celebrations
In 2008, the Maharashtra government set up tents with basic hygiene and sanitation facilities in twenty villages around Nanded. The Takht Management Committee headed by Retd. Police chief of Mumbai, Parwinder Singh Pasricha also built more inns and rest houses for visitors from India and foreign countries.
The Sikh Sangat carried out activities, as well as, handled tours and travels for the visitors. Kar Sewa Babas made military-style preparations for the Langar to feed lakhs of people during the course of the celebration. Also, the 300-Saal–Guru de Naal T-shirt was prominently displayed in the stalls along the promenade outside the Takht.
Sikh households worldwide buzzed with preparations to observe the 300th anniversary of Gurta Gaddi Diwas at Huzur Sahib. The Sikh people's consciousness to honour the teachings enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib, which include not only the teachings of the Sikh Gurus but also those of other religious leaders from the Bhakti movement and earlier.
A grand celebration took place at Hazoor Sahib, Nanded, to commemorate the 300th Gurudomship ceremony of Guru Granth Sahib and the 300th Joti Jot anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. The event attracted a large gathering, and the then Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, delivered a speech to the Sath-Sangat during the main function. To promote the event, the "Jagriti Yatra" was organized, which travelled to various cities across the country and even visited some places abroad.
Teachings of Guru Granth Sahib
The Sikh community's consciousness revolves around their reverence for the teachings enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib. These teachings are not only attributed to the Sikh Gurus but also to other religious leaders from the Bhakti movement and even earlier times. This has led to confrontations with various pseudo-movements, both within and outside the Sikh community, that do not adhere to these teachings. Despite the existence of forces trying to undermine the distinctiveness of Guru Granth Sahib, a large section of the community continues to have unwavering faith in it as a living embodiment.
After three centuries of following the Guru’s teachings, the Sikh community should no longer feel the need for self-pity. Instead, they should stand proudly, united, and resilient, ready to be recognized as an integral part of the global community. If the Sikh nation can achieve this, then the purpose behind investing millions in Nanded would be fulfilled. It is time for the Sikh community to embrace their strength, skills, and determination to make their mark on the world stage.
*Based on an article by Jagmohan Singh, published in the World Sikh News on 12th September 2008