Everything about Anandpur Sahib totally explained
Anandpur Sahib is a city and a
municipal council in
Rupnagar district in the state of
Punjab,
India. Known as "the holy City of Bliss," it's a holy city of the
Sikhs and is one of their most important sacred places, closely linked with their religious traditions and history. It is located on the lower spurs of the
Himalayas surrounded by picturesque natural scenery, with the river
Sutlej forming a shimmering and shiny blue border on the south west barely four miles away.
History
Anandpur Sahib was founded in the year
1665 by the ninth
Sikh Guru,
Guru Tegh Bahadur, near the ruins of an ancient place,
Makhowal. On May 13,1665, Guru Tegh Bahadur went to
Bilaspur to attend the mourning for Raja Dip Chand of
Bilaspur State. The Dowager Rani Champa of Bilaspur offered to give the Guru a piece of land in her state. The Guru bought the site on payment of five hundred
rupees. The land consisted of the villages of Lodhipur, Mianpur and Sahota. Here on the mound of Makhowal, Guru Tegh Bahadur raised a new habitation. The ground was broken on
June 19,
1665, by Baba Gurditta Randhawa. The new village was named Chakk Nanaki after the Guru's mother, Nanaki. The place later came to be known as Anandpur Sahib.
Demographics
As of 2001 India
census, Anandpur Sahib had a population of 13,886. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Anandpur Sahib has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 56% of the males and 44% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Festivals
Anandpur Sahib comes to life every year on the occasion of
Hola Mohalla. This tradition dates back to the times of the 10th Guru,
Sri Guru Gobind Singh . The Guru decreed that the occasion of the festival of
Holi be the occasion for the display of the martial spirit of his people and he gave this festival of Holi the Sikh name of 'Hola Mohalla'. Each year Hola Mohalla marks the congregation of up to 100,000 devotees from all over the country for a festival of colour and gaiety.
Baisakhi in 1999, at Anandpur Sahib marked the completion of 300 years of the birth of the
Khalsa. It was on Baisakhi day in 1699 that Sri Guru Gobind Singh baptised the
Panj Pyaras at the place where
Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib stands.
Landmarks
- Gurudwara Guru-Ka-Mahal (Bhora Sahib): Residence of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th guru, which was inherited by Sri Guru Gobind Singh. The sahibzadas - the holy sons of the 10th Guru were born here. There is an underground room cut off from the din of life where the 9th Guru used to meditate.
Gurudwara Thara Sahib: The 9th Guru used to deliver sermons from this Gurudwara. There is a marker to indicate the spot where the Kashmiri Brahmins came to seek protection.
Gurudwara Sheesh-Ganj Sahib: In November of 1675, the head of the martyred 9th Guru which was brought by Bhai Jaita (Rechristened Bhai wan Singh according to Sikh rites) in defiance of the Mughal authorities was cremated here.
Akal Bunga: After cremation of the holy head of his father, followed by a prayer to the Almighty, the 10th Guru had rested here with his relations and followers.
Gurudwara Damdama Sahib: the 10th Guru was given the Guru Gaddi (seat of Sikh religious leadership), here. It was from here that he'd declared the end of the institution of the Masands-the priestly agents of the former Gurus.
Gurudwara Man Sahib: the Sahibzadas received their education and military training at this spot. Military exercises were also rehearsed here.
Gurudwara Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib: In 1699, on the occasion of the festival of Baisakhi, Guru Nanak's mission was fulfilled by the 10th Guru when, through baptism of the double-edged-sword the Sikh was deemed as the Khalsa-Saint Soldier- in direct commune with the Guru and God. Still more astonishing is the fact that the Guru had got himself baptised by the Panj-Pyaras, the five beloved ones, who had offered him their heads to uphold Dharma - the moral duty and religion.
Sacred sites near Anandpur Sahib
Guru-Ka-Lahore: It is situated about 11 km on Sri Anandpur Sahib-Ganguwal route leading to the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. On 25 January, 1686, the 10th Guru's wedding to Mata was celebrated here. Two trickling springs, claimed to be dug out from the stony mountain-side by the 10th Guru, still exist today.
Gurudwara Mata To : not far from Holgarh Fort, this Gurudwara was where Mata To was cremated.
Bhai Ghanaiya : Bhai Ghanaiya offered first aid to friendly and enemy forces alike across the area spanning the now-almost dried up rivulet Charan Ganga and below the Taragarh hill. His unbiased service has been compared to the functions of the Red Cross.
Sri Anandpur Sahib is revered as the bastion from where the stoutest defence was put up to maintain liberty from the slavery of the Mughals and allied leaders from the surrounding hills.Further Information
Get more info on 'Anandpur Sahib'.
|
External Link Exchanges
Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:
<a href="http://anandpur_sahib.totallyexplained.com">Anandpur Sahib Totally Explained</a>
Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned. |
