SARAI NANGA
SARAI NANGA, village 16 km northeast of Muktsar (30″29`N, 74°31`E) in Faridkot district of the Punjab, enjoys sanctity as the birthplace of Guru Angad, Nanak II. Guru Nanak himself is also believed to have visited it during his travels in these parts. Soon after Guru Angad`s birth in 1504, the village, then known as Matte di Sarai, was plundered and destroyed at the time of one of Babar`s invasions, and his family had to leave it for good. A small shrine was later raised upon the ruins of the old Sarai in honour of Guru Angad.It was probably looked after by nanga sadhus initially for which reason the habitation came to be known as Nange di Sarai or, officially, Sarai Nanga. The village now claims two gurdwaras, both of historical importance. GURDWARA JANAMASTHAN PATSHAHl II on a high ground to the east of the village was reconstructed through karseva or voluntary labour by followers of Sant Gurmukh Singh during the 1950`s. The sanctum, with the Guru Granth Sahib seated on a canopied seat of white marble, marking the old shrine, opens on a 14metre square marblefloored hall.
The terrace around the hall is also marbled, as is the exterior surface of the walls. Above the sanctum is a square pavilion with wide curved coping and topped by a pinnacled dome. The roof corners are decorated with marble kiosks. The hall corners facing the adjacent sarovar have large kiosks on top of semioctagonal pilasters. The Gurdwara is affiliated to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, but is still managed by karseva sants who have now taken up reconstruction of the second historical shrine in the village.
GURUWARA PAHILI PATSHAHl commemorating the visit of Guru Nanak is in a highwalled compound with a domed tower at one corner on a mound within the village. The old shrine is only a small domed structure on a high plinth with an old van tree (Quercus incana) at its back. The Guru Granth Sahib is seated in a rectangular room at the entrance to the compound. The old sarovar is at a much lower level. The new building now planned will be a rectangular hall, 10 xl4metres, with the sanctum in the middle.
References :
1. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Gurduarian. Amritsar, n.d
2. Narotam, Tara Singh, Sri Guru Tirath Sangrahi. Kankhal, 1975
3. Santokh Singh, Bhai, 5ri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35
4. MalvaDesh Ratan di Sakhl Pothi. Amritsar, 1968
5. Gurmukh Singh, Historical Sikh Shrines. Amritsar, 1995