Explore the lotus's rich symbolism in Indian lore, symbolizing purity amid impurity, as seen in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions.
Visit Panjokhara, near Ambala, where Guru Har Krishan stayed in 1664. Explore the historical Gurdwara and experience the spiritual legacy.
TALVARA, locally known as RampurTalvara because of its close proximity to a village called Rampur, lies near Sri Hargobindpur (31041`N, 75029`E) in Gurdaspur district of the Punjab. It claims a historical shrine, Gurdwara Damdama Sahib, dedicated to Guru Hargobind, who is said to have preached here after the batttle of Ruhela, as Sri Hargobindpur was then called. The Gurdwara has a domed sanctum, octagonal in shape, in the middle of a walled compound entered through a two storeyed gateway, with residential suites on either side.
BIR, a term used for a recension or copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, is derived from Skt. verb vid meaning "to make strong or firm, strengthen, fasten, or to be strong, firm or hard." The Punjabi verb birana which means "to fix, bind or fasten (something) firmly, or to lay (a gun)" is from the same root. Guru Arjan having compiled the Holy Book deputed one of his leading disciples, Bhai Banno, to go and get the volume bound in Lahore, perhaps because facilities for proper binding did not then exist at Amritsar.
Aris Daya Singh (1894 - 1946) was popular writer of devotional and didactic verses. He belonged to a backard rural family of farm labourers called Mazhabi Sikhs. Having been thrased by his poor father, Santa Singh, because of his pursuit of learning, left home and started living as a recluse; learnt Punjabi, Hindi, anskrit, Urdu, Persian and Arabic: and studied scriptures of the Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims from their traditional teachers at their respective places of worship and instruction. He began writing poetry while in teens and published his maiden book, Fanah da Makan (Abode of Mortality), in 1914: followed by his most popular work, Zindagi Bilas (Discourse on Life), in 1915.
Explore the origins and evolution of Khalsa Diwan Amritsar, established in 1883 to guide Sikh reform efforts. Learn about its key players and pivotal events.
Explore the eerie world of Pishachas—mischievous spirits in Vedic lore, created by Brahma. Discover their haunting tales and mythological significance.
Explore Thara Sahib, the historic site where Guru Tegh Bahadur met with Kashmiri Pandits in 1675. Visit this marble-paved platform steeped in history.
AGAUL, village 10 km from Nabha (30°22\'N, 76°9\'E) in Patiala district, has a historical shrine called Gurudwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. In the course of a journey through this area, Guru Tegh Bahadur came and sat here under a pipal tree on the bank of a pond. The old pipal tree is not there now, but the pond, called Ram Talai and believed to possess medicinal properties for curing skin diseases, has since been lined and converted into a small sarovar, holy tank.
BIR MRIGESH, full title SRI BIR MRIGESH GURBILAS DEV TARU, is a voluminous nineteenth century work by Bhai Sher Singh, a disciple of Baba Khuda Singh (1786-1861), who completed it in 1911. In bold Gurmukhi typography, the book runs to 1912 pages, divided into two parts comprising 847 and 1065 pages, respectively. It contains accounts, in ample detail, of the lives of Baba Sahib Singh Bedi, Baba Bhag Singh of Kuri, Baba Bir Singh of Naurangabad and Baba Khuda Singh. The author refers to these luminaries as guru and calls his book gurbilas (biography of the Gurus).
