Paonta Sahib & Guru Gobind Singh Singh

By Sarbjit Singh

THIS is the story of a silent prayer and an anonymous offering, worth half a crore of rupees, made by a devout Sikh. Preferring not to disclose his identity, he went to the historic Gurdwara Sri Paonta Sahib, located on the bank of the Yamuna in Himachal Pradesh, and quietly made the offering.

After his prayers, he presented a gold palanquin, weighing about 10 kg to the gurdwara. He parried all questions about his background or the spirit behind such an offering. Saying it was gupt dan to a place sanctified by great saint-soldier Guru Gobind Singh, the donor left the holy place.

Perhaps the history associated with the gurdwara, situated in serene surroundings with a beautiful sub-mountainous backdrop, motivated the donor to make the offer. Every morning, when Sangat gathers in the gurdwara, Sikh preachers narrate the history of the gurdwara and other nearby shrines, including the one at Nahan.

It is said that Rishi Kalpi, contemporary of Guru Gobind Singh, used to live in dense forests at a short distance from Nahan. He was immensely attached to Guru Gobind Singh. He had a desire to meet the Guru before he died.

When Guru Gobind Singh came to Nahan state at a invitation of its ruler Medni Parkash, a message was sent to Rishi Kalpi about the arrival of the Guru, Rishi Kalpi was, however, unable to move due to his old age. Guru Gobind Singh asked his men to get a gold palanquin prepared to fetch the Rishi. Thus, the Rishi was brought to meet the guru in a gold palanquin. The place where Rishi Kalpi breathed his last has been secured in his memory as the Gurdwara Sri Paonta Sahib.

The manager of the gurdwara, Kulwant Singh Chowdhary, says it appears that the story of Rishi Kalpi must have inspired the donor.

The gurdwara has been built at a place where Guru Gobind Singh had established his first camp after meeting the ruler of Nahan. According to historians, the ruler of Nahan had asked Guru Gobind Singh to select any place in his kingdom for settling permanently. After touring the entire state, Guru Gobind Singh picked up the place adjacent to the Yamuna. The captivating scenic beauty of the place must have made the Guru select the spot.

Guru Gobind Singh established his fort at the selected place. He also set up a cantonment where his "fauj" stayed. With the support of Guru Gobind Singh, the ruler of Nahan was able to save his territory from being wrested by Raja Fateh Shah of Gharwal.

Guru Gobind Singh, launched his armed crusade from Paonta Sahib where he stayed more than four years from 1685 to 1689. He fought the first war against hill chiefs in the battlefield of Bhangani, at a short distance from Paonta Sahib. When he emerged victorious in the war word spread around that he was the most skilled warrior who could win battles with a small number of soldiers.

In the war of Bhangani, Guru Gobind Singh finished some of the hill chiefs. Pir Budhu Shah, a resident of Sadhoura village in Ambala district who was a sepoy in the Guru’s fauj, was honoured by Guru Gobind Singh after the war was won. Some of the close relations of Guru Gobind Singh, including his cousin Sango Shah, achieved martyrdom in the war of Bhangani. The Guru has made a detailed mention of this war in Bachittar Natak.

The foundation stone of Paonta Sahib is believed to have been laid by Guru Gobind Singh in 1685. A huge gurdwara has come up on the bank of the Yamuna where Guru Gobind Singh stayed.

Situated at about 125 km from Chandigarh via Nahan, 105 km from Ambala via Jagadhri, 80 km from Mussoorie via Dehra Dun, 178 km from Shimla and 65 km from Saharanpur, Paonta Sahib has now emerged as a big tourist centre of Himachal Pradesh. Sikhs from all over the country and even abroad visit this place.

Guru Gobind Singh produced his best literature during his stay at Paonta Sahib. He wrote Bachittar Natak, Jap Sahib, Sawayyas and Chandi-di-war. He sent his five disciples to Kashi to learn Sanskrit. He held a Kavi Sammelan every purnima in which poets of different languages participated. Even now on every full moon night Kavi sammelanis organised by the management of the gurdwara.

Without fail every morning before starting holy proceedings, obeisance is paid to Rishi Kalpi, Medni Parkash, Pir Budhu Shah and others associated with the place. Hola Mohalla, Baisakhi, birth anniversary of Sahibzada Ajit Singh, the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh, who was born here and birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev are some of the major events that are marked by functions organised by the gurdwara management.

Gurdwara Harmandir Sahib has been built at the place where Guru Gobind Singh held his first camp. Another gurdwara, called Dastar Asthan, has been raised at a place where Guru Gobind Singh used to hold turban tying competitions. A Kavi Darbar Asthan has been also built in the gurdwara complex.

Vidya Sar, built in the complex, can be used by any writer, poet or scholar for carrying out research with regard to Sikhism. Free boarding and lodging is provided to scholars by the management of the gurdwara. A library and a museum has also been set up adjacent to Vidya Sar. There are a number of other shrines like gurdwara Tir Garhi Sahib, Gurdwara Bhangani Sahib and Gurdwara Shergarh Sahib ( a man-eating tiger was killed by the Guru at this place) near Paonta Sahib.