Sikh Gurdwaras: A study of the change in the Punjab (1850-1950)

 

Jasvir Singh

Research Scholar, Department of History, Panjab University, Sector-14,

 

ABSTRACT:

The present paper focuses on the Sikh gurdwaras in Punjab from mid 19^th to mid 20^th century. The aim of the present paper is to identify the number and location of Sikh gurdwaras during the mid 19^th to mid 20^th century. The Punjab in the present study includes the areas of ‘east’ Punjab especially modern Punjab including present day Haryana. The whole area includes the eleven districts in the mid 19^th century and sixteen district in the mid 20^th century Punjab The paper is divided into three sections the first section deals with the number and location of gurdwaras in the mid 19^th century Punjab. The second section provides similar information about the mid 20^th century Punjab. The third section focusses on change in these sacred places and attempts to ascribe the factors responsible for this change. In the mid 19^th century eighty five (85) sacred places of the Sikh can be identified in the region. The district Amritsar had the highest number of sacred places sixteen i;e 18%, while Karnal had the least number of two i;e 2% sacred place in the region. The position of sacred places had changed significantly by the mid 20^th century. In the mid 20^th century two hundred twenty eight (228) sacred places of the Sikhs can be identified in the region. The Patiala district had the maximum number of sacred places thirty three i;e 14%, while Mohindergarh had the least number of two i;e 0.8% sacred places in the region. The new feature of change in these sacred places was the total number of sacred places. There were a total of eighty five (85) sacred places in the mid 19^th century but this had increase to two hundred twenty eight (228) by the mid 20^th century. Out of them seventy seven of the earlier sacred places i;e 90% had continued to exist while eight sacred places i;e 9% had disappeared and massive one hundred fifty one (151) i;e 66% were newly emerged sacred spaces in the mid 20^th century. The location and distribution of sacred places had also changed in the region. Political development, partition, mass movement of Hindus and Sikhs to east Punjab and of Muslims to west Punjab left a deep impact on the sacred places as well.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The Sikh sacred places are an integral part of the community life of the people. There is no existence of a Sikh community without their gurdwaras. Earlier, the places of worship of the Sikhs were known by the name of ‘Dharamsal’ which literally meant a religious place or a religious rest house. It generally denoted a building used for devotional

singing and prayers. So to begin with the place where sangat congregated was known as Dharamsal and later on it came to be called as Gurdwara. ¹

From the period of Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Arjan Dev the sangat congregation place was known as Dharamsal. But after the installation of Guru Hargobind Singh as Sixth Guru the Dharamsal was converted into Gurdwaras. The activities of the gurdwara are not merely religious but extended to the social and even political sphere. The present paper focuses on the Sikh gurdwaras in the Punjab from the period of mid 19^th to mid 20^th century. The aim of the present paper is to identify the number, location and distribution of Sikh gurdwaras during the mid 19^th to mid 20^th century and the changes in them. The Punjab in the present study includes the areas of ‘east’ Punjab, or post partition modern Punjab including the present day Haryana. The whole area includes the fourteen districts in the mid 19^th century and sixteen districts in the mid 20^th century Punjab. The paper is divided into three sections, the first section deals with the number and location of gurdwaras in the mid 19^th century Punjab. The second section provides similar information about the early 20^th century Punjab. The third section focuses on the major changes about the number, location distribution in these Sikh gurdwaras.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The primary sources which provide information about these places are the Umdat-ut-Tawarikh vol. II and III, Char Bagh-i-Panjab, and the contemporary accounts of the foreigner travellers and administrators who visited the region at that time. These are namely David Ross, Henry Steinback, William Moorcroft, Victor Jacquement, Von Hugel, G.T. Vigne and H.T. Prinsep. Besides these, another primary source are the Twarikh Gurdwarian, Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1925 and amended Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1959, Gurdwara Gazette since 1925, the Imperial and District Gazetteers of Punjab (1883-84, 1892, 1904, 1914, 1915, 1947 and 1970), the Census Reports of the 20^th Century and the Encyclopedias of Sikhism. The method of this research would be descriptive and comparative. 

 

MAIN CONTENT:

Section-I

Based on the primary and secondary sources there a total three hundred and thirteen (313) sacred places of the Sikhs can be identified in the region. Out of these the total eighty five (i;e 27%) were identified in the mid 19^th century and total two hundred and twenty eight  (i;e 72%) can be identified in the mid 20^th century.  The number of gurdwaras in the mid 19^th century was more than double with comparison of gurdwaras identified in the mid 20^th century. In the mid 19^th century a total eighty five (85) sacred places of the Sikhs can be identified in the region. ² At the district level the number of sacred places ranged from two to sixteen in each district. The Amritsar district had the maximum number of sacred places, sixteen (i;e 18%) followed by Hoshiarpur with twelve (i;e 14%), Patiala ten (i;e 11%), Bhatinda nine (i;e 10%), Ferozepore and Sangrur had eight (i;e 9%) each, Ambala seven (i;e 8%), Jalandhar six (i;e 7%), Ludhiana four (i;e 4%), Gurdasour three (i;e 3%) and Karnal had only two (i;e 2%)  sacred places in the region. There was no Sikh sacred place recorded in Hissar, Rohtak and Gurgaon districts in the mid 19^th century. Some major places in the Amritsar district were the Golden Temple, the Darbar Sahib (Tarn Taran), the Akal Bunga and the Gurdwara Baba Atal Sahib. There are several legends which existed about the Golden Temple, one of the legends goes that Guru Nanak visited the site of the temple in 1532 A.D. Later, Guru Ram Das, the fourth guru acquired the place by a grant from Akbar, the Mughal emperor, and founded a village known as Guru-Ka-Chak. Gradually, the village expanded and came to be known as Guru-ki-nagri (the town of the Guru). The pool from where Guru Nanak used to take water during his stay was converted into a tank by Guru Ram Das from 1581 to 1606. He named the tank Amritsar-the Tank of Nectar from which the city has taken its name. Guru Arjan Dev also built a temple in the centre of the tank. A renowned Muslim divine, Mian Mir, on the 1st Magh, Sambat 1645, (January, 1589) laid its foundation stone. The construction of the temple was completed in 1601 and Granth Sahib was installed therein on 1^st Bhadon, Sambat 1661 (August, 1604). Baba Budha was appointed the first granthi (reader) of the holy scripture.³

 

The Hoshiarpur district had twelve sacred places, some of these were Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Gurdwara Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib and Dera Mata Jito Ji. It is said that Gurdwara Kesgarh Sahib was first built by Durga Singh and Balram Singh, who were sent by the 10^th Guru from “Hazur Sahib” in the Deccan to perform this mission. Gurdwara Teg Bahadur is sacred to the 9^th guru, who was executed at Delhi in 1675 A.D. His head was brought over to Anandpur by a Labana Sikh, and cremated by his son, the 10^th guru, Gobind Singh. It was kept up by the Sodhis of Anandpur with the help of devotees. On the actual site of Teg Bahadur’s cremation is a raised platform called Akalbunga. ⁴ The Patiala district had ten sacred places, some significant places were Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib, Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib. ⁵  The Bhatinda district had nine sacred places, some of them were Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi and Naumi (Talwandi Sabo), ⁶ Gurdwara Damdama Sahib and Gurdwara Jhand Sahib. The Ferozepore district had eight sacred places including the Darbar Sahib (Muktsar), ⁷ Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib, Gurdwara Thambu Sahib and Gurdwara Shahid Ganj all these sacred places were in the Muktsar Tehsil. The legend about the Gurdwara Thambu Sahib is that it representing the places where the Forty Muktas covered the bushes with their wrappings and other spare clothes to give them the semblance of tents (tambu) is situated on the southern corner of the sarovar once that was also called Khidrane di Dhab. ⁸ The Sangrur district had also eight sacred places, some important places were Gurdwara Nanakiana Sahib (Mangwal) and Gurdwara Manji Sahib. The Ambala district had seven sacred places some major places were Gurdwara Toka Sahib and Gurdwara Panjokhra Sahib Patshahi 8. The Jalandhar district had six sacred places like Gurdwara Hat Sahib, Gurwara Kothri Sahib, Gurdawar Ber Sahib. ⁹ The Ludhiana district had four sacred places some places were Gurdwara Tahliana Sahib (Raikot) and Gurdwara Charan Kanwal. The Gurdwara Charan Kanwal of Machhiwara was built by Sodhi Karam Singh to commemorate a sacred visit of Guru Gobind Singh. ¹⁰ The Gurdaspur district had three sacred places some places were Gurdwara Tahli Sahib and Dera Baba Nanak. The Gurdwara Tahli Sahib or Tap Asthan of Baba Sri Chand was erected by Baba Sri Chand, the son of Guru Nanak Sahib. In 1869 the Gurdwara was carried away by the Ravi, and in place of it the people constructed another on the other bank of the river in the village of Mulowali near the Fathegarh road, but it was again moved to the town to the north. The town also contains a precious relic in the shape of a coat, once worn by Nanak. ¹¹  The Karnal district had the least number of two sacred places in the region these were Gurdwara Karha Sahib and Gurdwara Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib. ¹²

 

Many of these sacred places were related to the historical background, with a special event or incident of religious significance like Golden Temple, Anandpur Sahib, Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib, etc. All these are the historical sacred places because they have historical significance like Golden Temple is the most sacred place for Sikhs, Anandpur Sahib is the birth place of Khalsa, Fatehgarh and Chamkaur Sahib are marked for the symbol of martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh four son’s. Some sacred places were related with sacred tree like Dukh Bhanjani Beri, Gurdwara Tahli Sahib, Gurdwara Nim Sahib, etc. These trees became sacred because whenever Guru’s visited at these places they tied his horse with these trees or sometimes they have cleaned his teeth here with a datan (twig) and planted it in the ground. From the twig sprang the Tahli tree after which the Gurdwara is constructed at this place and called as Gurdwara Tahli Sahib. Another sacred places were established on the name of sacred baoli or well, like Gurdwara Baoli Sahib (Goindwal) and Baoli Sahib (Sultanpur), etc. Literally Baoli means a deep well or spring constructed for the use of the public. The legend of Gurdwara Baoli Sahib (Goindwal) is that in order to provide drinking water to the new village of Goindwal, the third Guru decided to construct a well at this place in 1553 and this project was completed in 1559. It is believed that whosoever takes a bath in the baoli and recites the Japji 84 times will obtain release from the cycle of birth and death. A large gurdwara has been built adjoin with this sacred baoli. There were several places which were considered as sacred because the Guru merely visited there and later on, the Gurdwara was constructed there by the local people or the ruler of the those area where the place is existed. For example, the present fortress building of Gurdwara Nanakiana Sahib in Sangrur district was constructed by Raja Raghbir Singh of Jind in 1884. Another instance of Gurdwara Thara Sahib at Jhivar Heri in Ambala, was first a memorial platform Thara Sahib has been built by Lakhi Shah Vanjara. Then Sardar Desu Singh of Dallewali Misl enlarged the Thara Sahib. Afterwards Sardar Ajit Singh of Ladwa, a contemporary of Maharaja Ranjt Singh established a beautiful gurdwara there and donated land for its maintenance.

 

There was no direct correlation between the Sikh population and sacred places. For example the Amritsar district had the maximum number of sixteen sacred places and had also the maximum 24% of the Sikh population while the Hoshiarpur district had the only 8% Sikh population but it had the twelve sacred places and was at the second position of the list. Unlike this, the Ferozepore district had the highest 29% of the Sikh population than all other district but it had contained only eight sacred places of the Sikhs. Some districts had the minimum number of sacred places and had also the least population like in Gurdaspur and Karnal had three and two sacred places and they had 6% and 1.52% of the Sikh population respectively. There was thus, some connection between the level of population of the Sikhs and the establishment of gurdwaras, though some exceptions were there. By a glance at the map it is evident that the sacred places were unevenly distributed in the region. The sacred places in highest number were located in northern part of the region like Amritsar sixteen, Hoshiarpur twelve and Gurdaspur three. The number of sacred places was less than twelve in eastern Punjab like Patiala ten and Ambala seven. In the west and south-west part of the Punjab like Ferozepore eight, the Bhatinda and Sangrur had nine and eight sacred places respectively. The central Punjab had minimum sacred places than average like Jalandahr six and Ludhiana four. The southeast part of the Punjab had the least number of sacred places like Karnal had only two sacred places in the region. This position had changed by the mid 20^th century.  

 

Section-II

In the mid 20^th century two hundred twenty eight (228) sacred places of the Sikhs can be identified in the same area. ¹³ The total number of sacred places had increased from eighty five to two hundred twenty eight i;e 134% increased by the mid 20^th century. There were a total of one hundred and fifty one (i;e 66%) new sacred places which had emerged in the colonial time and only five (i;e 5%) sacred places had disappeared by the mid 20^th century. These disappeared sacred places were Gurdwara Thamb Sahib and dharmsal of Guru Arjan Dev in Jalandahr, Gurdwara Karha Sahib in Karnal and Gurdwara Gurugarh Sahib and Gurdwara Thara Sahib in Ambala district. The overall position of sacred places was thus changed substantially.

 

At the district level too, there was a change in the number and location of sacred places. The sacred places in each district ranged from two to thirty three i;e 0.8% to 14% in the region. The Patiala district had the highest number of sacred places thirty three (i;e 14%), followed by Bhatinda and Sangrur district had thirty (i;e 13%) each, Amritsar had twenty seven (i;e 11%), Ferozepore twenty one (i;e 9%), Hoshiarpur seventeen (i;e 7%), Ambala fifteen (i;e 6%), Ludhiana fourteen (i;e 6%), Kapurthala thirteen (i;e 5%), Gurdaspur and Jalandhar had seven (i;e 3%) each, Karnal six (i;e 2%), the four district Hissar, Rohtak, Jind and Mohindergarh had two i;e (0.8%) each sacred places in the region. There was also a change in the position of sacred places in the mid 20^th century. For example, the Amritsar district had shifted from position number one to four in the list of total numbers of gurdwaras. Unlike this the Patiala district had reached at the top position from number three to one in the mid 20^th century. The Bhatinda district had shifted from four to two in the list. The major change can be seen in the Hoshiarpur district which had shifted from number two to six in the mid 20^th century. There were two districts namely Ferozepore and Ambala which stayed at the same position number five and seven respectively from the mid 19^th to mid 20^th century. Another change was the new emergence sacred places in the region. There were some new sacred places in the Hissar, Rohtak and Mohindergarh districts in the mid 20^th century. However, there was no Sikh sacred place recorded in the Gurgaon district at this time.

 

The Patiala district had the highest number of sacred places, thirty-three. There were new sacred places which had emerged these were Gurdwara Baoli Sahib, Gurdwara Khel Sahib (Lehal). ¹⁴ The Bhatinda district had thirty sacred places some of these places were Gurdwara Gurusar (Kot Shaamir), ¹⁵ Gurdwara Guru Teg Bahadur. The Sangrur district also had thirty sacred places some of the major places were Gurdwara Padshahi Chhevi (Akoi) and Gurdwara Padshahi Naumi (Dirba). ¹⁶ The Amritsar district had twenty seven sacred places some significant places were Gurdwara Thara Sahib, ¹⁷ Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahil. ¹⁸ The Gurdwara Thara Sahib is situated north of Sri Akal Tahkt Sahib where Gurdwara Teg Bahadur sat and prayed a while the priest had barred his entry into the Harmandir Sahib. The Thara means a raised platform of masonry. ¹⁹ The Ferozepore district had twenty one sacred places some of the places were Gurdwara Chhevi Padshahi, Gurdwara Nanaksar and  Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh (Wandar). The Hoshiarpur district had seventeen sacred places some of these places were Gurdwara Damdama Sahib (Anandpur) and Gurdwara Patalpur Sahib. The Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib is the place where Guru Hargobind breathed his last and was cremated. Guru Har Rai was also cremated here. Even the ashes of Guru Har Krishan who died in Delhi were brought here and immersed in the Sutlej. The preset gurdwara which replace the separate samadhs of three Gurus was constructed by Sant Darbara Singh of Lopon through kar seva during the 1970s. ²⁰ In the Ambala district these sacred places were Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Gurdwara Jhand Sahib (Ropar). ²¹ The Ludhiana district had fourteen sacred places some of these places were Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Kanech) and Gurdwara Jhar Sahib (Samrala). ²²

 

The Kapurthala district had thirteen sacred places earlier these sacred places were in Jalandhar district but later on by the creation of the Kapurthala as new district, all these places came under the jurisdiction of Kapurthala district in the mid 20^th century. In Kapurthala some of these sacred places were Gurdwara Sehra Sahib and Gurdwara Tham Sahib (Palahi). ²³ The Gurdaspur district had seven sacred places these were Gurdwara Burj Sahib and Gurdwara Dhariwal. The Jalandhar district had also seven sacred places some of these places were Gurdwara Guru Palah²⁴ and Gurdwara Guru Har Rai Sahib. ²⁵ The Karnal district had six sacred places some major places were Gurdwara Padshahi Chhevin, Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Thanesar). ²⁶ Some sacred places were emerged in Hissar, Rohtak, Jind and Mohindergarh district and all these had contained two sacred places in each district in the mid 20^th century. Some of these places were Gurdwara Dabwali, Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Gohana), Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Singhpura) and Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Narnaul). 

 

It is evident that, there was a major change in the number and location of Sikh sacred places in the region. In the mid 20^th century many new sacred places had emerged while the proportion of earlier sacred places had decreased. The total number had substantially increased. The highest number of sacred places had increased in Patiala district from ten to twenty three, followed by Bhatinda from nine to thirty, in Sangrur from eight to thirty, in Amritsar from sixteen to twenty seven, in Ferozepore from eight to twenty one, in Hoshiarpur from twelve to seventeen, in Ambala from seven to fifteen, in Ludhiana from four to fourteen, in Gurdaspur from three to seven, in Jalandhar from six to seven and in Karnal from two to six sacred places in the region. There was not any major decline in the number of sacred places in any districts, the only five sacred places in the district of Jalandhar and Ambala two each and one in Karnal had disappeared, while many new sacred places were also emerged in these districts. By the mid 20^th century some new district like Kapurthala, Hisar, Rohtak, Jind and Mohindergarh were made with the passage of time and some sacred places of the earlier districts came in jurisdiction of these districts.²⁷

Like the mid 19^th century there was not any correlation between the Sikh population and sacred places in the mid 20^th century. The Amritsar district had the maximum 24% Sikh population and it had twenty-seven sacred places in the region. The two district Hoshiarpur and Ambala had the least Sikh population 6% each but had the average number of sacred place seventeen and fifteen respectively. The Karnal district had the very low 0.3% Sikh population but it had also six sacred places in the region. Like the mid 19^th century there was also a variety of these sacred places related to their origin. In the mid 20^th century many gurdwaras were emerged with the name of Damdama Sahib and Manji Sahib. Literally Damdama means a mound, a monument raised in commemoration of the Sikh Gurus. It also means a breathing place or halfway spot where the Sikh Guru took some rest on their journeys. A number of gurdwaras sanctified by the stay of Gurus are called Damdama Sahib. Some of the significant gurdwaras are Gurdwara Damdama Sahib, Anandpur, it is associated with the memory of Guru Gobind Singh he was formally installed here as the tenth Guru towards the end of the year of 1675. Another major Gurdwara Damadama Sahib is situated between Goindwal and Khadur Sahib where Guru Amar Das used to rest for some times while carrying a pitcher of water for the bath of Guru Angad in the years 1543-1552.  Many other gurdwaras were constructed with the name of Manji Sahib. Manji literally means a seat or string cot used by a leader or chief while addressing an audience. In the Sikh history, at all those places where gurus gave his discourse or rarely stayed for some times during his journeys the beautiful Gurdwara Manji Sahib constructed at there. Some of these are Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Kanech), Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Gohana) and Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Ambala), all these sacred places are associated with the sacred visit of Guru Gobind Singh. In the mid 20^th century many sites were identified where the Guru stayed for short time or they did little activity at there. Later on, many of these types of sites were identified and the local people constructed the major gurdwaras at there in the mid 20^th century.  

 

 

 

Table No. 1: Gurdwaras in the Mid 19^th Century (Total-85)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table No. 2: Gurdwaras in the Mid 20^th Century (Total-228)

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Section-III

It is evident that the number, location and distribution of sacred places had changed by the mid 20^th century. The first feature of this change was the total number of sacred places. There were a total of eighty five (85) sacred places in the mid 19^th century but this had increase to two hundred twenty eight (228) by the mid 20^th century. Out of them eighty of the earlier sacred places i;e 94% had continued to exist while five sacred places i;e 5% had disappeared and massive one hundred fifty one (151) i;e 66% were newly emerged sacred spaces in the mid 20^th century. The second feature is about the location and distribution of sacred places which had also changed by the mid 20^th century. Earlier the Amritsar district had the highest number of sacred places sixteen but in the mid 20^th century the Patiala district had the highest number of sacred places thirty three in the same area. The maximum numbers of sacred places were located in the north Punjab like in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur from mid 19^th to mid 20^th century.  The east Punjab like in Patiala and Ambala had the average number of sacred places during mid 19^th to mid 20^th century. Like this the central Punjab in the district of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bhatinda and Sangrur had also the average number of sacred places. The west and south-west Punjab had the less than average number of sacred places during this whole period. The south Punjab had the least number of sacred places from the mid 19^th to mid 20^th century. The sacred places were clearly fluctuating with the changes in the society. Nowadays, the gurdwaras had increased manifold the responsible factor for their increase can be seen that the many number of gurdwaras were constructed by the local people themselves for the veneration of the Guru Granth Sahib. The tradition has been prevailed that wherever the two or three families of the Sikhs lived, they should construct the gurdwara for their devotion to Guru Granth Sahib or the ten Master of the Sikhs (Gurus). It is evident that the sacred places have been become essential to meet the requirement of the society. Sometimes new situation and belief of people contributed to emergence of new sacred places and to replace the old. The political and social environment thus, brought about a change in the development of the Sikh sacred places.

 

REFERENCE:

1.     Surjit Singh Gandhi, Gurdwaras in the Eighteen Century, The Spokesman Weekly, Guru Nanak Number, 1978,19.

2.     The calculated information is collected from Char Bagh-i-Panjab, Encyclopedias of Sikhism.

3.     Early Nineteenth Century Panjab from Ganesh Das’s Char Bagh-i-Panjab, J.S. Grewal and Indu Banga  (translated and edited), Amritsar, Guru Nanak Dev University, 1975, p. 55.

4.     Gazetteer of Hoshiarpur District 1904, The Government of Punjab, Chandigarh, 1904, p. 52.

5.     Sohan Lal Suri, Umdat-ut-Tawarikh Daftar III, (tr. V.S. Suri), Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 2002, p.40.

6.     Ibid., p. 176.

7.     Ibid., p. 208.

8.     Gurmukh Singh, Historical Sikh Shrines, Amritsar: Singh Brothers, 1995, p. 246.

9.     Surinder Singh Johar, The Sikh Guru and their Shrines, Delhi: Vivek Publishing Company, 1976, pp. 110-14. All these three sacred places are associated with Guru Nanak Dev and situated in Sultanpur Lodhi.

10.  Gazetteer of Ludhiana District 1904, The Government of Punjab, Chandigarh, 1904, p. 70.

11.  Gazetteer of Gurdaspur District 1904, The Government of Punjab, Patiala, 1904, p. p. 29.

12.  Gazetteer of Karnal District 1883-84, The Government of Haryana, Chandigarh, 1884 (reprint 1999), pp. 92-95.

13.  The calculated information is collected from Twarikh Gurdwarian, Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1925, Vol.VII and the Imperial and District Gazetteers of Punjab from 1904 to 1970.

14.  The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, (Punjab Act 8 of 1925), The Government of Punjab, p. 579.

15.  Ibid., p. 585.

16.  Ibid., p. 582.

17.  Gazetteer of Amritsar District 1975, Revenue Department Punjab, Chandigarh,1976, p.604.

18.  The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, p. 573.

19.  Gurmukh Singh, p. 103.

20.  Ibid., p. 156.

21.  The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, p.578.

22.  Gazetteer of Ludhiana District 1970, Revenue Department Punjab, Chandigarh,1970, p.662-63.

23.  Gian Singh Giani, Twarikh Gurdwarian, Amritsar: Buta Singh Partap Singh, n.d, p. 203.

24.  Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series, Punjab 1904, Vol.I, New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, [reprint n.d.], p. 414.

25.  The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, p. 576.

26.  Ibid., p. 578.

27.  It is mentioned here to note that the location of the any sacred place have always remained the same since its origin. Physically, it cannot be changed by anyone. But with the passage of time by creation of new district it is counted in the new district.

 

 

Appendix-I

Sikh Shrines in the mid 19^th century (Total-85)

Sikh Shrines in Amritsar district (16)

1.The Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple (Amritsar city) 2. Akal Takht Sahib (Amritsar city) 3. Gurdwara Dukh Bhanjani Beri 4. Gurdwara Baba Atal 5.Gurdwara Bibeksar (Amritsar city) 6. Gurdwara Manji Sahib 7. Gurdwara Damdama Sahib (Wadali Guru) 8. Gurdwara Kotha Guru ka 9. Gurdwara Chheharta Sahib 10. Sri Darbar Sahib (Tarn Taran) 11. Dera of Guru Angad (Khadur Sahib) 12. Gurdwara Baoli Sahib (Goindwal) 13. Gurdwara Chubara Sahib (Goindwal) 14. Gurdwara Lohgarh Sahib (Tarn Taran) 15 Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib 16. Gurdwara of Guru Nanak (Khalra)

Sikh Shrines in Hoshiarpur district (12)

1.Gurdwara Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur) 2. Gurdwara Bhora Sahib (Anandpur) 3. Gurdwara Qila Anandpur Sahib 4. Dera Mata Jito Ji (Agampur) 5. Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Anandpur) 6. Gurdwara Tambu Sahib (Dasuya) 7. Gurdwara Garna Sahib (Bodal) 8. Gurdwara Tahli Sahib (Garhshankar) 9. Gurdwara Harian Vela 10. Gurdwara Charan Kanwal (Kiratpur) 11. Dharmsal of Gurur Har Rai or Sri Takht Sahib (Kiratpur) 12. Gurdwara Lohgarh Sahib

Sikh Shrines in Patiala district (10)

1.Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib 2. Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib (Sirhind ) 3. Gurdwara Damdama Sahib (Nabha) 4. Gurdwara Dhamtan Sahib (Narwana) 5. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Nabha) 6. Gurdwara Nathana Sahib Padshahi Tesri (Jand Mangoli) 7. Gurdwara Padshahi Naumi (Tasimbli Rajpura) 8. Gurdwara Joti Sarup (Atewal) 9. Gurdwara Nim Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Akar) 10. Gurdwara Padhshahi Chhevi (Mandi Gobindgarh)

Sikh Shrines in Bhatinda district (9)

1.Gurdwara Manji Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Talwandi Sabo) 2. Gurdwara Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo) 3.Gurdwara Jhand Sahib 4. Gurdwara Chabutra Sahib (Malla) 5. Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib (Jaitu) 6. Gurdwara Bhora Sahib (Akbarpur Khudal) 7. Gurdwara Jandsar Sahib (Pakka Kalan) 8. Gurdwara Padshahi Naumi (Maur Kalan) 9. Gurdwara Gurusar Padshahi Chhemi (Gill Kalan)      

Sikh Shrines in Ferozepore district (8)

1.Gurdwara Muktsar Sahib 2. Gurdwara Gurusar Sahib (Salina) 3. Gurdwara Daroli Sahib 4. Gurdwara Padshahi Chhevin (Thatha) 5. Gurdwara Padshahi Dasmi (Rupana) 6. Gurdwara Guptsar (Chhatiana) 7. Gurdwara Gurusar Nathana (Nathuana) 8. Gurdwara Madoke (Madoke)

Sikh Shrines in Sangrur district (8)

1.Gurdwara Nanakiana Sahib (Mangwal) 2. Gurdwara Manji Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Shahpur Kalan) 3. Gurdwara Padshahi Naumi (Kamalpur) 4. Gurdwara Padshahi Chhevi (Khurana) 5. Gurdwara Padshahi Naumi (Phagguwala) 6. Gurdwara Padshahi Naumi (Khatkaran) 7. Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Sekha) 8. Gurdwara Padshahi Naumi (Kattu)

 

 

Sikh Shrines in Ambala district (7)

1.Gurdwara Har Krishan Sahib 2. Gurdwara Toka Sahib 3. Gurdwara Thara Sahib (Jhivar Heri) 4. Gurdwara Chamkaur Sahib 5. Gurdwara Gurugarh Sahib 6. Gurdwara Shahid Ganj Sahib (Morinda) 7. Gurdwara Mardon Sahib (Mardon)

Sikh Shrines in Jalandhar district (6)

1.Gurdwara Thamb Sahib (Kartarpur) 2. Gurdwara Mau Sahib (Phillaur) 3. Gurdwara Hat Sahib 4. Gurdwara Kothri Sahib 5. Gurdwara Ber Sahib 6. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Panjiv (All four places are located in Sultanpur Lodhi)

Sikh Shrines in Ludhiana district (4)

1.Gurdwara Tahliana Sahib (Raikot) 2. Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Alamgir) 3. Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Gujarwal) 4. Gurdwara Charan Kanwal (Machhiwara)

Sikh Shrines in Gurdaspur district (3)

1.Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak 2. Gurdwara Achal Sahib (Batala) 3. Gurdwara Tahli Sahib or Tap Asthan of Baba Sri Chand

Sikh Shrines in Karnal district (2)

1.Gurdwara Karha Sahib 2. Gurdwara Guru Teg Bahdaur (Jind)

 

Appendix-II

Sikh Shrines in the mid 20^th century (Total-228)

Sikh Shrines in Patiala district (33)

1.Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Budhmor) 2. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Bahadurgarh) 3. Gurdwara Moti Bagh 4. Gurdwara Khel Sahib (Lehal) 5. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Karhali) 6. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Pehli (Kandaghat) 7. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Nada) 8. Gurdwara Baoli Sahib (Dhakauli) 9. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Banur) 10. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Ugani) 11. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Bhagrana) 12. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Simbron) 13. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Loh Simbli) 14. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Narru) 14. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Dhamoli) 15. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Chhemi (Rohta) 16. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Bauran Kalan) 17. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Nau Lakha) 18. Gurdwara Shahid Ganj (Sirhind) 19. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Nandpur) 20. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Saunti) 21. Gurdwara Damdama Sahib (Kudani Kalan) 22. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Katana Sahib) 23. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Chhemi (Jandali)

Sikh Shrines in Bhatinda district (30)

1.Gurdwara Talla Sahib (Rajgarh Kubbe) 2. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Bhagu) 3. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Jassi Bagh Wali) 4. Gurdwara Mata Sahib Dewan Ji (Talwandi Sabo) 5. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Malla) 6. Gurdwara Gangsar (Jaitu) 7. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Behbal Kalan) 8. Gurdwara Gurusar (Kot Shamir) 9. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Jeon Singh Wala) 10. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Maisar Khana) 11. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Kotha Gur) 12. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Satmi (Amargarh) 13. Gurdwara Gangsar (Bhatinda) 14. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Bargari) 15. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Ralla) 16. Gurdwara Jhanda Sahib (Jhanda Kalana)  17. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Bhikhi) 18. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Bareh) 19. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Kotkapura) 20. Gurdwara Jand Sahib (Faridkot) 21. Gurdwara Gurusar (Faridkot)

Sikh Shrines in Sangrur district (30)

1. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Molowal) 2. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Ganduan) 3. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Gagga) 4. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Markot) 5. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Moonak) 6. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Jharon) 7. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Anwala) 8. Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Allaurakh) 9. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi Chemmi (Kamal Pur) 10. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Sangrur) 11. Gurdwara Nanaksar (Chima) 12. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Bhawanigarh) 13. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Kamalpur) 14. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Akoi) 15. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Dirbha)  16. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Barnala) 17. Gurdwara Gurusar (Handiaya) 18. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Arisar) 19. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Thikriwala) 20. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Bahadur) 21. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Chemmi (Bahadur) 22. Gurdwara Sahib Dera Patti Sujja (Sanghera) 

Sikh Shrines in Amritsar district (27)

1. Gurdwara Santokh Sar Sahib 2. Gurdwara Churasti Atari 3. Guru ke Maihl 4. Gurdwara Thara Sahib 5. Gurdwara Baba Bakala 6. Gurdwara Chabba Sahib 7. Gurdwara Baba Wir Singh Ji (Naurangabad) 8. Gurdwara Chobocha Sahib (Khan Kalan) 9. Gurdwara Chohla Sahib (Chohla) 10. Gurdwara Basarke (Basarke) 11. Gurdwara Dera Sahib (Lohar) 12. Gurdwara Guru ka Bagh (Ghokewali) 13. Gurdwara Ram Das Sahib (Ram Das)

Sikh Shrines in Ferozepore district (21)

1.Gurdwara Gurusar Bazidpur (Bazidpur) 2. Gurdwara Gurusar Lopon (Lopon) 3. Gurdwara Chhevin Padshahi (Wada Ghar) 4. Gurdwara Nanaksar (Takhtupura) 5. Gurdwara Pakka Sahib (Madya) 6. Gurdwara Lohgarh Sahib (Dina) 7. Gurdwara Nanaksar (Banbiha Bhai) 8. Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh (Wandar) 9. Gurwara Tambu Sahib 10. Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib (Muktar) 11. Gurdwara Padshahi Pehli and Dusri (Sarai Nanga) 12. Gurdwara Gurusar (Muktsar) 13. Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh (Thehari) 14. Gurdwara Guptsar (Chhatiana) 15. Gurdwara Padshahi Chhevin (Zira)

Sikh Shrines in Hoshiarpur district (17)

1.Gurdwara Taragarh (Anandpur) 2. Gurdwara Damdama Sahib (Anandpur) 3. Gurdwara Holgarh Sahib (Anandpur) 4. Gurdwara Shish Mahal 5. Gurdwara Hari Mandir Sahib 6. Gurdwara Patalpur Sahib, All latest three places are located in Kiratpur

Sikh Shrines in Ambala district (15)

1.Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Khurrampur Majri) 2. Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh (Bhanon Kheri) 3. Gurdwara Chhani Sahib (Chhani) 4. Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh (Bilaspur) 5. Gurdwara Jagadhari (Jagadhari) 6. Gurdwara Agampura (Agampura) 7. Gurdwara Bhatta Sahib (Kotla Nihang) 8. Gurdwara Jand Saihib (Ropar)

Sikh Shrines in Ludhiana district (14)

1. Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Kanech) 2. Girdwara Mohi (Mohi) 3. Gurdwara Silowani (Jagraon) 4. Gurdwara Jhar Sahib (Chuharpur) 5. Gurdwara Sri Guru Hargobind (Sidhwan Kalan) 6. Gurdwara Padshahi Chhevin (Sadhar) 7. Gurdwara Gurusar (Lama Jatpura) 8. Gurdwara Gurusar (Chakar) 9. Gurdwara Gurusar (Kanonke Kalan) 10. Gurdwara Hehran (Hehran)

Sikh Shrines in Kapurthala district (13)

1.Gurdwara Sehra Sahib 2. Gudrdwara Guru ka Bagh 3. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Chhemi, all these three places are situated in Sultanpur Lodhi. 4. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Panjmi (Dalla) 5. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Chhemi (Nadala) 6. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Chhemi (Phagwara) 7. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Chhemi (Phagwara East) 8. Gurdwara Chaunta Sahib (Bubeli) 9. Gurdawara Tham Sahib (Dumeli) 10. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Chhemi (Palahi)

Sikh Shrines in Gurdaspur district (7)

1. Gurdwara Damdama Sahib (Talwara) 2. Gurdwara Chola Sahib (Batala) 3. Gurdwara Burj Sahib (Fateh Nangal) 4. Gurdwara Dhariwal (Dhariwal)

Sikh Shrines in Jalandahr district (7)

1. Gurdwara Padshahi Chhevin ( Pharala) 2. Gurdwara Guru Palah (Chak Guru) 3. Gurdwara Nanaksar (Hakimpur) 4. Gurdwara Charan Kanwal (Jindwal) 5. Gurdwara Gurplah (Sotran) 6. Gurdwara Guru Hargobind (Durgapur)

Sikh Shrines in Karnal district (6)

1. Gurdwara Padsahai Chhevin (Thanesar) 2. Gurdwara Padshahi Navin (Bhari) 3. Gurdwara Padshahi Satvin (Thanesar) 4. Gurdwara Padshahi Dasvin (Thanesar)

Sikh Shrines in Hissar district (2)

1. Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh (Sirsa) 2. Gurdwara Dabwali (Dabwali)

Sikh Shrines in Rohtak district (2)

1. Gurdwara Bangla Sahib (Rohtak) 2. Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Gohana)

Sikh Shrines in Jind district (2)

1. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Dasmi (Singhpura) 2. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Jind) 

Sikh Shrines in Mohindergarh district (2)

1. Gurdwara Bhora Sahib (Mohindergarh) 2. Gurdwara Sahib Padshahi Naumi (Narnaul city) 

 

 

 

 

Received on 21.02.2017

Modified on 08.03.2017

Accepted on 28.03.2017

© A&V Publications all right reserved

Research J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 8(1): January - March, 2017, 92-99.