Another attack to abolish
Sikh culture by ZEE TV....
IS MANIKARAN—A SIKH SHRINE
?
ਜਿਥੇ ਜਾਇ ਬਹੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਸੋ ਥਾਨ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਜੇ !! ਗੁਰਸਿਖੀ ਸੋ
ਥਾਨੁ ਭਾਲਿਆ ਲੈ ਧੂਰਿ ਮੁਖਿ ਲਾਵਾ !!
Gurudwara and complex of
Manikaran
Sa
hib
Introduction and
history;
Manikaran - is situated at the height of 6000 ft
above sea level at the bank of river Parbati which merges at Bhuntar in river
Beas.
Guru Nanak Dev ji was the greatest modern
tourist and pilgrim. For twelve years he traveled 70,000 kms on foot in India,
Bangla desh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal, China, Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi
Arabia, Mecca, Medina and Iraq. While in India, he pilgrimaged to Haridwar and
Varanasi, Bidar in Karnatka and many more places. How could he omit Manikaran ?
The holiest of holies where in his spiritual pilgrimage he first reached
Bhuntar and lived for sometime on the banks of the river Beas. For more
details, please visit; http://NanakLama.blogspot.com/
This event finds mention of page 485 in the
Janam Sakhi (Biography), Bhai Bala ji wali, of Guru Nanak Dev ji under the
caption “ The story of Bhunter.”
Magnetised by his spiritual powers, local
residents flocked around Guru Nanak. When the ruler of this place (Bhunter) was
informed about the unique spiritual personality, he went there and paid homage
to Guru Nanak Dev ji with a large number of gifts. Immediately Guru ji distributed
the valuable gifts among the poor in the name of God.
Then Raja (Ruler) submitted to Guru Nanak that
in the western part of this region nothing grew except rice. Guru Nanak Dev ji
got some wheat from the ruler and scattered it in all directions and said,
“This place will yield corn in abundance. Thus everybody was overjoyed with the
blessings of Guru Nanak Dev ji.”
Concerning the visit of Guru Nanak Dev ji to
Manikaran, Giani Gian Singh ji has written on page 165 of the History of Guru
Khalsa as follows:-
“Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji started touring the
upper region of Himalayas along with his his two companions, Bhai Balal ji and
Bhai Mardana ji on 15th Asooj, 1574 Bikrami. Guru ji went to Kalanaur,
Gurdaspur, Dasooha, Triloki Nath, Palampur, Kareran, Kangra & had a short
stay at the temple of Jwalamukhi. At present there is a Dharamshala at Gorakh
Tibbi. At this place Arjun Nga practiced meditation and Guru Nanak Dev ji
blessed him.
After showing the right path to the Raja of
Mandi, he went to Rawalsar. Here he saw seven large and small stones floating
on water in the tank and praised Akalpurakh (Almighty God) for his supreme
powers.
From here he went to Kullu and blessed the ruler
of that place. He bestowed divine light on hundreds of people settled there and
then though Brahm Kothi came to the place of pilgrimage at ManiKaran.The Janam
Sakhi of Bhai Bala ji has a touching reference on page 516 about the historic
Gurudwara as follows :-
“Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji doing the selfless work
for the upliftment of human beings reached Manikaran. Bhai Mardana ji felt
hungry and requested Guru ji for his permission to bring some food from this
land. Guru ji agreed and granted his permission. Mardana got up and proceeded
to the village where the residents gave him some flour. On his return, he found
that he had no source to cook his meals. It was here that asked Mardana to say
‘Waheguru’ and lift a stone from there. Mardana did accordingly and to his amazement
he discovered a natural hot water spring. Then Guru ji directed him to to put
the rolled chapattis and other grains in the spring. Mardana again followed and
to his dismay he saw the chapattis going down.
Guru ji then directed him to say “O Lord ! In
case my chapattis float, I shall donate one chapatti in your name.” When
Mardana said so, the chapattis started floating duly baked. Then Guru ji said,”
Listen Mardana whoever donates something in the name of God, all of his/ her
drowned articles float.”
The hot water spring thus discovered by Guru
Nanak Dev ji is still flowing fervenity and forcefully as ever and the
Guru—ka—Langar is still being cooked in that hot water spring. The tea is
prepared instantly with the water of the hot spring by mixing milk, sugar and
tea leaves in it. In this spring, potatos, rice, urd, Mothi, Moong whole
(sabut) , Kheer (Rice+ Milk+sugar cooked together) and sweet rice etc. are
cooked in a very short time and served to pilgrims visiting this holy shrine.
By having a glimpse of the surroundings and the
Manikaran Gurudwara, one automatically says,”DHAN GURU NANAK TERI WADDI KAMAAI
!!”( Oh Guru Nanak your super action and spiritual deeds have no parallel in
this world and you are singularly great).”
As per history of Sikh Gurus, Guru Gobind Singh
ji (the 10th Master of Sikh religion), also visited here along with five
beloveds. (See daily diary of Raja of Mandi).
The main story – mythological story is that the
Lord Shiva meditated here continuously for 11,000 years. While playing in the
waters of river, Parvati lost his ear ring—known as chitamani. It was a
precious stone. Lord Shiva sent his GANA to find out the stone but they failed
to trace it.When all efforts proved futile Bhagwan Shiva grew angry and was
about to open his third eye which meant al round distruction of the universe.
It is only Lord Shiva who posses the third eye which would open only on the
dooms day. Growing angrier Lord Shiva produced Goddess Naina Devi from his
eyes. So Manikaran is also called the birth place of Naina Devi.
Lord Shiva got annoyed and considered it stolen
by Sheshnaag. He started the Tandava dance (Dance of destruction). Whole
universe started trembling in fear. Then Naina Devi went to Sheshnaag, (the
serpent God ), she advised him to return the Mani (stone), failing which Lord
Shiva shall be deterimental for the preservation of the whole world. Sheshnaag
then returned the Mani and in order to please Parvati begun sending many more
precious Manis (stones) along with the much needed Mani.
Lord Shankar or Lord Shiva asked Parvati to
select her Mani and cursed other Manis to change form into simple stones. He
also proclaimed that this place ‘Manikaran’ in Satyuga (True golden period)
will shoot into great prominence. Manikaran is thus a religious center full of
spiritual powers. It’s greatness is supreme and limitless.
Starting at a distance of 10 kms down from here
on the banks of river Parbati, there are are numerous hot water springs which
extend upto 25 kms upwards. In and beyond manikaran are found mines of Mica,
Silver and Uranium etc.
According to a German scientist the hot water
spring at Manikaran contains Radium because the water is very hot and almost
boiling. It touches 94.4 degree Celsius. The water is very sweet for drinkin
purposes as it contains valuable salts which act as prophylactic against
several diseases.
For the morning bath hot water is ever ready.
Food and hot tea is served at all times. Food is cooked in the natural and
hygienic way. Though onion and Garlic is not used in preparations f the food
even then it is very tasty and served to nearly 10,000 pilgrims and visitors
daily.
No doubt ! This is a great effort of one man Baba
Narayan Hari ji;
Who went in search of this place and found in 1940. It
appears that God had earmarked some special spiritual assignments for Sant ji
to be undertakenat Hari Har Ghat of Manikaran. Thus with his wife Mata Basant
Kaur ji, he left Guru ka Lahore and after conducting a vero arodous journey
across the high mountains of Himalaya, he reached Mandi (HP) and stayed there
for a short duration. From Mandi both came to Kullu for sometime. Both of them
went through series of 40 days noin-stop meditatition and Naam simran(Rememberance
of God) at Bhunter in the year 1937. Here too they distributed Langar (Free
kitchen) to the locals. The locals realized their gracious greatness they
decided to retire to some secluded place for deep meditation.
To reach their divine destination, the couple started
walking on the banks of the river Parbati. They climbed up to the icy mountains
of Kheer Ganga. It was here that Sant Baba Naraian Hari ji received the divine
light kindled in his heart for the mighty magnificient mission ahead of them.
There, for the benefit of sadh sangat he constructed a Kund around the hot
water spring as also some accommodation for the pilgrims.
With divine endavour and very hard physical manual labour
and firm determination, Sant ji here founded, constructed and established the
ITIHASIK GURUDWARA OF SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI at HARI HAR GHAT, where Guru Nanak
had first produced the hot water spring for Mardana to cook his food. For half
a century this holy historical spot was blessed with the company, hard work of constructing
a palacial building of seven stories, perpetual recitation of the Divine name
and running of Langar( Community kitchen) for an endless stream of pilgrims who
flocked there both by day and night. A Gaoshala was also established at this
place and the milk obtained was / is used in Guru - ka - Langar at the Gurudwra
sahib as also to feed the infants accompaniing their parents on pilgrimages.
Inside view of Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib ji
He constructed a magnificient multi--story building with a
big tank of hot water, a big community kitchen and a magnificient Gurudwara on
the upper floors plus hundreds of (Now 390 rooms) and halls for pilgrimages
flooding in every day.
To connect both ends of river Parbati and to an easy
approach to Gurudwara. Baba ji built a bridge on the river which measures
nearly 125 feet long and 15 feet wide, with heavy gurders.
A five storey parking is under construction, though
presently three floors are in use but as soon as the top floor gets connected
with main road , it will be fully functional.
To cool down the boiling water of the Kund for the bathing
of pilgrims and visitors, Baba ji connected a pipe line 1500 feet away with a
cold water spring. Wow ! Unimaginable effort. The man brought water so that
pilgrims may be able to take a bath in hot water Kund with temperature brought
down by cold water.
It is a historical and well established fact that even the
holiest spiritual people, who have no personal axe to grind, face mighty
meaningless opposition from irreligious and demonic forces who want to feather
their own nests at Saint’s cost for their pelf, power and possessions.
Consequently Sant Baba ji had to struggle for a long time to ease out of the
situations created by those not favorably inclined to his divine doings and
celestial enterprises.
He was confronted with a lot of unnecessary and false
litigations besides other trails, troubles and tribulations. But true to his
conscience and God, Sant ji remained stuck to his guns up to the last to fight
the battles against inimical elements and remained steadfast like a rock in his
mission.
Sant Baba Narain Hari ji took final Jal Samdhi (Final rest
in water) on February 22nd 1989.
His (Baba ji’s) daughter Pujya Mata Deva ji is the trustee
of the Gurudwara and the husband of her younger sister Harbhajan Kaur, Bab Sri
Ram ji is managiging and and taking care of the complex and Gurudwra. He is the
awardeee of Ambedkar award 1994 – the only awardi in Himachal.
Suggestions to the management;
It was the introduction of the place but certain questions
arises if the place where the pictures of Hindu deities, Mecca, Saain Baba,
Christ are decorated on walls of Gurudwara, whether that place could be called
a Gurudwara? Possibly it may not be.Sikhs do not worship the idols and the
worshipping of calendars, pictures or idols are considered the same as idol
worshipping.
Thus in a first glance it can not be called a Gurudawara or
a Sikh shrine.
Let us find out the reasons of decorating the pictures on
the wall inside the Sikh Gurudwara.
Baba Narain Hari ji when visited this Hindu pilgrimage, he
searched the place where Guru Nanak ji had blessed this land with hot water
spring in which Mardana ji cooked food. The Hindu Brahmins opposed the Baba ji
for constructing a Sikh Gurudwara at that Hindu shrine Manikaran. Thus baba ji
introduced himself as the priest of humanity. He constructed a Shiva temple
beside the Gurudwara and invited the people of both faith to this pious place.
He came here along with his wife only and had no other companion to work with
him. He single handedly constructed all the Ghats, temple, Gurudwara building,
complex, Bridge, Ponds, Kunds, brought water from a distance with 1500 feet
long pipe line to mix cold water into hot spring, offered langar to visitors
and pilgrims round the clock, the rice, dal etc, he carried on his back and
brought to Langar for to serve the pilgrims, his wife cooked and served
earlier.
His eldest daughter Deva ji never married and dedicated
herself in the service of Sikh pilgrims. Presently she is the head of this
Gurudwara sahib and known as Baba Deva ji.
He was also involved in fabricated and false Court cases to
break his confidence but he never surrendered and served the people cheerfully.
His children too supported him. His son in law Baba Sri Ram ji is presently
looking after the place and manages it.
These are a few reasons that this place is never objected
for decoring the pictures of other faiths.
Only thing to my amusement is… Why SGPC, which is looking
all the historical Gurudwaras of Himachal and came in existence in 1920, not
brought it under its control ? It is still not occupied being a holy place in
memory of Guru Nanak and Mardana’s visit to this place.
Rest like Kirpan bhent (Offering Kirpan) to Kadah - parshad,
The Sikh war cry BOLE SO NIHAL SAT SRI AKAL, Sikh prayer (ardas) in full form,
reciting of Gurbani only proves it a Sikh shrine.
There may be many reasons and problems to occupy and
construct this place but now it is declared as a Sikh shrine. Thus the
management should remove all these pictures of all faiths including the
pictures of Sikh Gurus from Gurudwara immediately and implement Sikh Rahat
Maryada (The Sikh code of conduct) at this place.
The
family which
already takes care and looks after may carry on but they should follow and
implement Sikh Rahat Maryada there.
The meditation is done by people to please their God at
any isolated, calm and quite place. But very strange to know that Lord Shiva,
who is known as Bhagwan of Hindus meditated here for 11,000 years which is a
prove in itself that Shiv is not Bhagwan as he meditated his God.
Baba Sri Ram Ji;
To prove myself, please read the mythological story once
again. Lord Shiva is shown here by Brahmins as a materialistic person who cries
on loss of the precious stone CHINTAMANI. He gets annoyed and sends his Ganas
(Sewaks) in search of it but when they could not trace it, and all efforts
proved futile. Bhagwan grew angry and was about to open his 3rd eye of
destruction . Lord Shiva produced Goddess Naina Devi from his eyes, who went to
Patal lok to warn Sheshnag to return the precious Mani (As Sheshnag was a
thief). Sheshnag (King of serpents) returnd the Mani and sent many more to please
Parvati (or to get pardoned).
What a controversial story?
I also read on the walls of Ram Mandir in Manikaran that
Sheshnag whisked and then hot water springs started flowing. Again a joke with
nature. The serpentines spit venom only, not water. This is another attempt to
change the history of this place. The Kunds near the said temple is of hot
water only, the cold water is not mixed. Bhagwan Ram never visited this place
but Hindus have constructed a temple in his name which is not historical.
Another ancient temple is there but almost ruined– a very
few devotees to worship there.
The Manikaran is certainly a Sikh shrine.
Sikhs flock there in millions to pay homage to their
Guru—Guru Nanak Dev ji, who visited this place and blessed it with grains and
hot water. You can not cook chapattis anywhere in a hot water spring anywhere
in the world but here you can bake chapattis in the hot water stream and eat
them with good taste.
If Sikh Gurudwara and adjoining complex is removed from
the map of Manikaran, nothing is left there. It will be a ruined place. Thanks
to Baba Nanak ji who visited here.
The locals get good business and are happy with the
visiting pilgrims.
Those who want to visit Manikaran may go to Bhunter, 10
Kms before Kullu on way to Manali. Manikaran is 35 Kms from Bhunter.
Visitors may also contact at...
BABA SHRI RAM JI,
ITIHASIK GURUDWARA SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI,
Hari Har Ghat, Manikaran, Distt. Kullu (HP) 175 105.
Phone no. 01902-273721, 273821.
Written by,
Ajmer Singh Randhawa.
Phone: 0091-9818610698
Please visit;
