My Nanaka Family Pic

Discovery of Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara Sahib and Pilgrimage

Hemkund Sahib, 

formally known as Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib Ji, is a Sikh place of worship and pilgrimage site in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India. It is devoted to Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), the tenth Sikh Guru, and finds mention in Dasam Granth. With its setting of a glacial lake surrounded by seven mountain peaks, each adorned by a Nishan Sahib on its cliff, it is according to the Survey of India located in the Himalayas at an elevation of 4,160 meters (13,650 feet).^[1] It is approached from Govindghat on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway. The main town near Gobindghat is Joshimath. The altitude of the lake at Hemkund is approximately 13,650 feet. Waheguru.

Hemkund is a Sanskrit name derived from Hem("Snow") and Kund ("bowl"). Dasam Granth says this is the place where Pandu Raja practiced Yoga. In addition, the Dasam Granth says that in a former life, Guru Gobind Singh meditated intensely at Hemkund on Mahakal Kalika. 

Hemkund is inaccessible from October through April because of snowbound paths and glaciers. Sikh pilgrims arrive in May and set to work to repair the damage to the path over the winter, which tradition is called kar seva ("selfless service"), a concept which forms an important tenet of the Sikh faith.

The take-off point for Hemkund Sahib is the town of Govindghat, about 275 kilometres (171 mi) from Rishikesh. The 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) trek is along a reasonably well-maintained path to the village of Ghangaria (also called Govinddham). This path can be covered either by walk or by pony and a Gurudwara here gives shelter to pilgrims. In addition, there are a few hotels and a campground with tents and mattresses. A 1,100-metre (3,600 ft)climb on a 6-kilometre (3.7 mi) of stone paved path leads to Hemkund. Overnight stay is not allowed at Hemkund Sahib, so it is necessary to leave by 2 PM to make it back to Govindghat by dusk.

From Delhi, tourists take the train to Haridwarand then travel by bus to Govindghat via Rishikesh. It is also possible to drive from Delhi to Govindghat, a distance of about 500 kilometres (310 mi) which takes around 18 hours to cover. Recently, an Indian airline company has started a helicopter service between Govindghat and Ghangria. The flight takes about 5 minutes.  

A recent study examining altitude sickness at Hemkund Sahib found that almost one-third of pilgrims who traveled to Hemkund suffered from Acute Mountain Sickness (a form of altitude sickness). As approximately 150,000 pilgrims are believed to travel to Hemkund Sahib each trekking season, almost 50,000 people are at risk of developing Acute Mountain Sickness each year. The authors stated the difficult nature of the trek, limited water consumption, and lack of awareness regarding altitude sickness as the main contributory factors.

It is understood from oral records that Sant Sohan Singh ji and Madan Singh ji, Two Sikhs who discovered Shri Hemkunt Sahib.

When Sant Sohan Singh read Sri Kalgidhar Chamatkar in 1932, he found the description of Hemkunt so compelling that he resolved to find the place at which the Guru had meditated. Sohan Singh was a retired granthi from the Indian army was working in a gurdwara in Tehri Garhwal - the same region in which Hemkunt is located. He set out in search of the lake in 1933. Like Narotam before him, he worked from clues in Bachitar Natak and the Mahabharata, and perhaps from Narotam's own Sri Gur Tirath Sangrah. Sohan Singh was not successful that year,but he was so inspired by the idea that the tap asthan might exist in reality that he committed himself to carry on the search and thus returned to the area to try again in 1934. That year he went to Joshimath and Pandukeshwar where he made inquiries of the local people about holy places in the vicinity. It was they who said that the lake known as Lokpal, accessible from the valley on the other side of the Alaknanda river, might fit the description of Hemkunt Parbat Sapatsring. He crossed the river with the assistance of the villagers and started towards the sarovar they had spoken of.

Route to Hemkunt Sahib

On the final day of his journey, he climbed the steep slope towards Lokpal alone. When he saw a beautiful lake, he started to count the peaks which surrounded it, wondering if this could be the place described in Bachitar Natak. As he was counting, he heard a voice behind him say, "O Khalsa, kidhar aye ho (from where did you come)? Kya dhundhte ho (for what do you search)?" Sohan Singh turned and saw a tall rishi (hermit) clad all in white. He had a long beard, heavy eyelids, and a face so radiant that Sohan Singh was unable to look at him eye to eye. So he bowed his head before the rishi and said, "Baba Ji, Mai Guru Gobind Singh ka tap asthan dhundhne aya hoon (I came to search for the meditation place of Guru Gobind Singh)". The rishi gestured to a flat stone beside the water and said that this was the place at which the Guru had sat for so long in deep meditation. Sohan Singh ji,with his eyes filled with tears of joy. The ecstasy of fulfillment after a two year search left him somewhat dazed. Nevertheless, when he recovered a bit,resolved to ask the rishi more questions the holy man had disappeared. As per the testimony of a local man later employed by the Sikhs as a guide, guard, contractor, and caretaker in the years that followed the discovery of Hemkunt, Madan Singh, came to the valley in March of 1935 but was forced to turn back because of snow. In July the same year ie 1935, he met Sohan Singh and together they set out for the lake.Perhaps searching singly, in order to survey more area, Madan Singh reached the lake first. When he crested the slope, the weather was very cloudy. Slowly it cleared and he saw before him a clear, blue lake surrounded by a mountain with seven peaks. He wondered if he had at last found the place he had been seeking. As he stood beside the water he had a vision of Guru Gobind Singh addressing him and saying, "This is the place you are looking for. Come tomorrow and you will discover the exact spot on which I meditated." The next day, Madan Singh came to the lake again, accompanied by Sohan Singh, and they found an old manuscript handwritten on birch bark lying on a large flat stone beside the wate. The page, was deciphered by Sohan Singh and it was revealed that the stone slab was the spot where the guru had meditated for 1,200 years in a previous incarnation and thus Madan Singh erected a nishan sahib on that spot. 

In his excitement to spread news that the Guru's tap asthan had been located, Sant Sohan Singh first went to Mussoorie, a hill station in Uttarkhand. He approached the president of the gurdwara there and explained what he had found in the hope that a memorial could be set up beside the lake. The gurdwara president, disbelieved Sohan Singh. Therefore Sohan Singh went to Amritsar and announced his discovery before S.G.P.C. He was disappointed once again since his story was met with skepticism or ambivalence once again. Sant Sohan Singh then approached Bhai Vir Singh in Amritsar. The scholar questioned Sohan Singh thoroughly about the place he had discovered. For two days, Sohan Singh stayed with him in his home while further research was done . When at last Bhai Vir Singh felt satisfied that the place fit Guru Gobind Singh's description in Bachitar Natak, he committed himself to the cause of developing it. He gave Sohan Singh Rs. 2,100 with which to buy supplies to start construction of a small gurdwara on the shore of the lake and went on to publicize the discovery of Hemkunt in order to collect and manage further funds for its development. From 1936 onward, Bhai Vir Singh became instrumental in developing Hemkunt.

   Whene Sikhs first started visiting the Gurudwra Sahib, Sohan Singh ji and Madan Singh ji used to receive them from Joshi math with garlands and welcomed them with Shabad:

😊ਆਇ ਮਿਲੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਆਇ ਮਿਲੁ ਤੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਗੁਣ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਵਦੇ ਸੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇ ਪਾਏ ॥ ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਭਾਣਾ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਘੁਮਿ ਘੁਮਿ ਜਾਏ 

Come, join with me, O Sikh of the Guru, come and join with me. You are my Guru's Beloved. The Glorious Praises of the Lord are pleasing to the Lord; I have obtained them from the Guru.I am a sacrifice, a sacrifice to those who surrender to, and obey the Guru's Will.

Design and Construction

Design and construction of the present gurudwara at Hemkund was started in the mid-1960s, after Major General Harkirat Singh, KCIO, Engineer-in-Chief, Indian Army visited the gurudwara. The engineering brain behind the gurudwara project, Major General Harkirat Singh selected Architect Manmohan Singh Siali of the Military Engineering Services (MES) to head the design and construction effort. Thereafter, Architect Siali made annual trips to Hemkund Sahib and organized and supervised complex construction. M/s Sahib Singh, Harbhajan Singh & Gursharan Singh were the dedicated Gursikh contractors who worked on the construction, overcoming numerous weather, altitude, terrain, and logistic challenges. The unique design and construction are acclaimed as marvels, both of which have borne the test of sustainability over the past many decades. 

Hemkund Gurdwara Sahib

Valley of Flowers National Park

is an Indian national park, located in Chamoli in the state of Uttarakhand and is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear,^[1] snow leopard,^[1] musk deer,^[1] brown bear, red fox^[1] and blue sheep. Birds found in the park include Himalayan monal pheasant and other high altitude birds.

Spectacular pictures of various seasons of Hemkund Sahib, Golden Hemkund lake and flower Valley

The ‘Fifty’ under My Turban

While I find people prior my generation rarely used ‘Fifty’ as is evident that my Dad, my Uncle and other uncles in the family never used the same. You may observe that even famous leaders like S Mohan Singh, S Swaran Singh and Dr Manmohan Singh never ever used it under their turbans. The turban looks enhanced with same color, contrast color or multicolor ‘Fifty’

When I started supporting turban, evidently I did not use any fifty as guided by my Dad. My Mom, being fashion conscious and modern, challenged me to use Fifty.





Now turban without Fifty is unimaginable 

My uncle and Dad when they stated supporting turban followed their other older cousins.

*Origin of the “Fifty”*

The 'fifty' is a band of cloth, visible in the form of a triangle on the forehead of a Sikh wearing a turban, just below the cusp or peak of the turban. It is usually in a colour that contrasts or matches that of the turban itself.

Have seen many tying a patka (under turban) underneath the turban or they are back to tying a small keski before donning the full turban. It helps keep the long and unshorn hair neat and tidy under the turban so that the stragglers(hair strands) are not sticking out and also helps in keeping the turban firm on the head. 

During the time of first world war, the British army had a lot of Sikh troops who were sent out of India for fighting the war. 

Devout Sikhs keep their head covered all the time.

The Sikh soldiers had asked the British to provide them all with a turban cloth (about 5m ) and a cloth for tying beneath the turban(about 2.5m ) . 

The British agreed to provide this to the Sikh troops but since they were unaware of the names of these articles (2.5m half measure of turban) . 

They called the 2.5m cloth as ‘Fifty’ alongside the 5m turban.

Though the size of the Fifty has changed a lot over time, the name comes from British empire days when they issued a turban and a "fifty" to each Sikh soldier.

Hope it helps to unravel the mystery!

Hindustan Times started by Akalis

ARE YOU AWARE THAT "HINDUSTAN TIMES" WAS STARTED BY AKALI DAL ?

It was Started by Sikh Educationist Freedom Fighter AKALI Leader S Sundar Singh Lyallpuri.

👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣

💐🌺🍀🌷🌸🙏🙏🌸🌷🍀🌺💐

Hindustan Times

Sunder Singh Lyallpuri (Punjabi: ਸੁੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਲਾਇਲਪੁਰੀ; 1878 - 3 March 1969) a leading Sikh member of the Indian independence movement, a general of Akali Movement, an educationist, and journalist. Lyallpuri played a key role in the development of the Shiromani Akali Dal, and in the Sikh Reform Movement of the early 1920s.

Pt Madan Mohan Malayia was a very good friend of Master Lyallpuri. He had suggested to Master Lyallpuri that Akali should start one of their own English newspaper so that the Akal agenda and voice could reach every nook and corner of India. Accordingly, the 'Managing Board' of The Akali newspaper held a meeting under chairmanship of Lyallpuri and decided to found an English daily. The Board assigned the task to Master Lyallpuri and S Mangal Singh Gill. However, the move received a setback when Lyallpuri was arrested under section 124 'O' for writing what the English Government thought was objectionable material in The Akali. On release from jail, Lyallpuri resumed the efforts and put an advertisement in The Akali asking for donations for five Lakhs from Sikh Sangat. In response, the Punjabi fans of Master Lyallpuri from Stockton (USA) immediately wired Rs 150,000. Another Rs 70,000 was contributed by local Sikh community with the efforts of Lyallpuri. S Mangal Singh Gill and Chanchal Singh (Jandiala, Jullundur) were made in charge of the newspaper. Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya and Master Tara Singh were members of the Managing Committee. K. S. Panikar was its first Editor. Devdas Gandhi was also on the editor's panel. The Managing chairman and Chief Patron was Master Lyallpuri himself. The opening ceremony was performed by Mahatma Gandhi on 15 September 1924. The first issue was published from Naya Bazar, Delhi (Now: Swami Sharda Nand Marag).[14] It was very unfortunate for the Sikhs that due to lack of experience, and jealousy and betrayal of the fellows like Master Tara Singh and S. Mangal Singh Gill, as well as due to lack of viable financial resources, the Hindustan Times soon came into severe grip of financial crisis so that its ownership had to be sold to Pt Madan Mohan Malayia. Even Pt Malayia could not keep it running for long and he sold it to G. D. Birla.[15] The sale of the ownership of the Hindustan Times had caused a great mental anguish to Lyallpuri. Master Lylallpuri has personally written that: "S. Mangal Singh and Co. torpedoed my aim of nationalism and of Hindu-Sikh-Muslim-Christian unity. They rather gave it a communal twist, so the Akalis had to part company with Hindustan Times; and this also caused winding up of the Sikh Center at Delhi which I had established with so much fondness and hard labour[16]

Hindustan Times which was founded by Master Sunder Singh Lyallpuri and friends and later sold out by Akalis now forms one of the most leading groups of Indian dailies and is published from several places, besides Delhi.

SS Ahluwalia

Guru Nanak in Azerbaijan

This is a picture of the Sikh Mool Mantar written in Gurmukhi carved on a stone plaque at the Ateshgah (fire temple, this is a Zoroastrian or Parsi temple) near Baku which is Azerbaijan's capital city. Azerbaijan was earlier part of the erstwhile Soviet Union but is now an independent country.

It's said that Guru Nanak Dev Ji had gone to this location during his travels to the Middle East, Iran and Turkey in the year 1512. Geographically Azerbaijan shares a southern border with Iran, and is on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. This area was part of the old silk route and was well frequented by travelers.

I did some readers and found interesting details on the basis of research Arjan Muni mentions of Jawala Temple (Atash Kadeh) under heading Asfaran (45) and states: “Coming out of Nersi city, he (Guru Nanak) entered the Russian territory. This country is between Iran and Turkistan. A fire comes out of a hill, called Maha-Jawala. Gulo-lal parbat is four stoppages from there (Maha-Jwala) where a plant with red leaves remaining all the twelve months, making the mountain beautiful. It is after Urganj. 

 :

Ateshgah

The Ateshgah monument, also called the fire worshippers' temple, traces its origins to Zoroastrianism, which took root in ancient Azerbaijan. "It is Azerbaijan which is the mother of Zoroastrianism. This was the base from where this religion spread overseas," an Azeri diplomat said.

The temple complex has evolved over several centuries. Its outer rectangular parameters house a row of rooms, added in several phases. Between the late 17th and mid-19th century, Indian traders funded the establishment of a guest room, stables and prayer rooms.

Apart from Sanskrit, inscriptions in Hindi and Gurmukhi can also be found along the monument's outer periphery. One of them refers to the site as Sri Jwalaji (temple of fire). Another seeks divine blessings from Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith.

Commencing verse Of Ad Granth

Inscription above main entrance

Browsing through the Internet for some information about the travels of Guru Nanak in the Middle East, I came across an article originally written by Ervad Shams-Ul-Ulama Dr Sir Jivanji Jamshedji Modi [5]. While reading through his travel in Azerbaijan I found an inscription in Gurmukhi script. Nothing has been written by Dr Modi about this inscription , he only refers to it as ‘Yet another inscription’. Besides this there is another inscription in Devnagri script that simply refers to as ‘Another inscription’. The locations of both the inscriptions have not been disclosed. However, it is believed that these inscriptions are somewhere in that temple he calls Atash-Kadeh, which is situated in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

History of Atash Kadeh

According to Dr Modi the Atash Kadeh was in a place called Surkhani on the road from Baku about 30 to 45 minutes by car. The origin of this word, Surkhani, may have come from “SHO-E-LE-KHANEH” meaning the house (“KHANEH”) of the fire balls (“SHO-E-LE”). Among the ocean of these petroleum wells is situated this alleged Atash Kadeh. Not just him but any Parsee who is a little familiar with Hindu religion, their temples and their customs, after examining this building with its inscriptions, architecture, etc., would conclude that this is not a Parsee Atash Kadeh but is a Hindu Temple, whose Brahmins (priests) used to worship fire (Sanskrit: Agni). 

According to Dr Modi this temple might have been built by the Hindu traders visiting Baku. But he has also mentioned that he has examined the small living rooms (cells), adjacent to the main square of this building, which resembled the Indian Buddhist monasteries cells for their monks. I think, however, it could also be possible that this building was originally built by Buddhists during the time when Buddhism was all over India, Iran and adjoining areas up to Baku, Azerbaijan. Later this place was taken over by Hindus from India during the fall of Buddhism. It is also possible that Guru Nanak during his long stay of 11 years in Middle East might have stayed at this place also to preach in the Central Asia. 

Links to the Hindu faith

Entrance Fig 3

According to Dr Modi the inscription on the main entrance is in Nagrik (Devnagri) script, which in the beginning invokes the Hindu God, Shree Ganesha. The building is referred to in the inscription as “JWAALAAJEE” (meaning volcanic), that means some burning substance building. And the installation date is mentioned as the Hindu Vikramaajeet calendar year 1866 (equivalent to 1810 CE). This inscription contains nine lines and the figures drawn in this inscription are as follows: the first row has a flower first, then a bell (“GHANT”), then the sun, then a fire ball, and again a fruit. The second row below this has a flower first, then the trident of Lord Shiva (“TRISHOOL”), then the Swastika symbol (Hindu style), then a second trident and then a flower. 

If we compare another picture of the main entrance of Baku Temple, we don’t find the inscription shown. We also do not find two parallel ridges between which this plaque of inscription is fixed. It shows that there are two main entrances. Moreover, the wall of the entrance in Fig. 3 is full of black smudges of weathering agencies and has another storey added at the top at the later date. But the wall of entrance in Fig 2 is less smudged and the plaque is free from any such smudges. 

It looks like that date, 1810 CE, on plaque on the entrance in Fig 2 does not indicate the date of construction of the Temple since the entrance in Fig. 3 looks much older than 810 CE when the inscription in Devnagri was inscribed as shown on the entrance in Fig. 2. Moreover, it appears to be newer than the background wall of the entrance. It also appears that the inscription on the entrance is much newer than that of the Commencing Verse as shown in Fig 1 above

Second inscription from Baku Ateshgah

Transliteration:

1. Om safinama karatapurakha nlrabhaii

2. niravai fra] akalamurati ajuni saibham

3. guraprasadi || japn adi [sa] chu jugadisa—

4. chu hai bhi sachu nanaka hosi bhi sachu || satiguru [pra?]—

5. sadi bava Jadusahs [sukha] jisaka chela

6. bava Kagusa (a) ha ji [sa*] ka chelaba (a) va Bamkesaha jiska chle]—

7. !a „ rasaha dharama ki jagaha bana (a) i

Translation:

1. Om. There is Only One God

2-3. Truth is His Name He is the Creator, Protector, Without Fear, No Enmity, The First Entity, Without Incarnations, Self-perpetuating; With the Guru’s grace:

4. O Nanak! Think about (this) forever infinite reality (which) is true (and) will always be true!

So be merciful Guru is merciful! 

5-6. (A) Bava Jadusaha, whose pupil was bava Bamkesaha, 

7. whose pupil was ... rasaha built this sacred place.

The names of the persons mentioned in the inscriptions do not end with -"Singh", as usual Sikhi names. Probably, these persons were monnas, who adhered to the Sikh religion, but do not comply with external rituals prescribed by Sikhism.

Sikhnet

Moonfall

Enjoyed the Premier Show of movie ‘Moonfall’. It’s an excellent extension of Fiction work:

The world stands on the brink of annihilation when a mysterious force knocks the moon from its orbit and sends it hurtling toward a collision course with Earth. 

It is a conspiracy theorist for an impossible mission into space to save humanity.

Very well filmed!