SRI GUR TIRATH SANGRAHI

SRI GUR TIRATH SANGRAHI (Sri = honoured; gur= Gurus of the Sikh faith ; tirath = places of pilgrimage ; sangrahi = collection) by Pandit Tara Singh Narotam, lists places across the country hallowed by the visits of the Gurus and their families. The work, written in Gurmukhi script was completed in 1940 Bk/AD 1883 and published by Bhai Buta Singh Pratap Singh, Amritsar. It is a pioneer work in this genre and gives the geographical location of each shrine, its religious and historical importance and the name of the sect to which its principal priest or custodian at that time belonged.

In his Introduction to the book, the author stresses how important for a Sikh it was to visit these places of pilgrimage and what moral and spiritual benefits accrued from such visits. The first part of the book covers a total of 501 shrines, all in memory of the Gurus64 commemorating Guru Nanak, 7 Guru Angad, 11 Guru Amar Das, 9 Guru Ram Das, 33 Guru Arjan, 79 Guru Hargobind, 26 Guru Har Rai, 5 Guru Harkrishan, 100 Guru Tegh Bahadur and 167 Guru Gobind Singh. This is followed by shrines in honour of the sons of the Gurus (pp. 167190), the Gurus` wives (pp. 191218) and important Sikhs connected with the Gurus (pp. 219231).

Then there are small sections one each on Sikh relics and their location (pp. 23235); the explanation of a verse by Guru Nanak (avan athatarai jani stanvai) (CG, 723) analysing it in the historical context (pp. 23643); the Jathedars or leaders of the Sikh misis or chief ship (pp. 24349); and on how to proceed on a pilgrimage (pp. 24972). To locate these places of Sikh sanctity, Tara Singh Narotam travelled extensively. The book carries the imprint of Tara Singh`s Nirmala orientation and countenances at placess ideas and practice contrary to the Sikh tenets. One of the examples is his advocacy of the wearing of the Jan en, sacred thread of the upper caste Hindus, rejected by the Gurus.

References :

1. Shergill, Surindar Singh, Pandat Tara Singh Narotam :Jivan te Rachna. Patiala, 1985
2. Narotam, Tara Singh, Sn Guru Tirafh Sarigrahi. Kankhal, 1975