guru

NAUNIDH, Bhandari Khatri of Agra, waited upon Guru Gobind Singh during his visit to the city in AD 1707. According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratdp Suraj Granth, he enquired about the reason for prescribing unshorn hair for the Sikhs. The Guru explained that keeping long hair was no innovation because this had been an old tradition. "But the times have changed," argued Naunidh. The Guru said,"What times have changed? Aren`t they the same sun, the same moon, the same water, air, fire and earth as have ever been? The fault lies in us. We have become too lazy and readily resort to such excuses." Naunidh went away chastened.

NIRMALA, derived from Sanskrit nirmala meaning spotless, unsullied, pure, bright, etc.. is the name of a sect of Sikhs primarily engaged in religious study and preaching. The members of the sect are called Nirmala Sikhs or simply Nirmalas. The sect arose during the time of Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), though some, on the authority of a line in the first iwof Bhai Gurdas (d. 1636), claim, like the Udasis, Guru Nanak (1469-1539) himself to be the founder. Guru Gobind Singh wanted his followers not only to train in soldierly arts but also to cultivate letters.

OTHIAN, a village 6 km north of Batala (31° 49`N, 75°12`E) in Gurdaspur district of the Punjab, is sacred to Guru Arjan, who halted here during his journey to Barath to see Baba Sri Chand. The Gurdwara commemorating his visit comprises a small domed octagonal Manji Sahib, with averandah in front and several ancillary rooms within a walled compound. The water of an old eightcornered well outside the compound is believed by the devotees to possess medicinal properties for curing certain diseases.

PAMMU, BHAI, a Puri Khatri, was a devoted Sikh contemporary of Guru Hargobind. He won repute as a soldier in battles that took place during the Guru`s time. His name occurs in Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhdn di Bhagat Maid. Also see Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 29.

PARCHIAN SEVA DAS, variously titled as Sdkhidn Sevd Dds Udasi, Mahaldn Dasdn kidn Sdkhidn, Sdkhidn Dasdn Pdtshdhidn Kidn or Parchidn Pdtshdhi 10, is an eighteenth century collection of 50 sdkhis or anecdotes from the lives of the Ten Gurus. Only one sakhl each relates to the first eight Gurus; four are connected with the Ninth, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and the remaining 38 narrate incidents from the life of Guru Gobind Singh. Nothing is known about the author, Seva Das, except that he, according to the colophon, belonged to the Udasi sect, which categorically distinguishes him from Seva Ram, the Sevapanthi writer. Several extant manuscripts of this work attest to its popularity.

PHAGGO, BHAI, affectionately called Chacha (Uncle) Phaggo in his day, was the head of the Sikh sangat at Sasaram in Bihar. He had built a new house but had not occupied it in his simple faith that the Guru would come and bless it before he moves in. He had built a high portico and had wished that the Master should ride into the premises without having to dismount his horse. His wish was fulfilled when Guru Tcgh Bahadur, in 1666, arrived at Sasaram and rode straight into Bhai Phaggo`s new house.

PINJAUR, famous for its historic Mughal gardens, is a small town, IS km northeast of Chandigarh (30"44`N, 76°47`E). Gurdwara Pahili Patshahi Mariji Sahib, close to the ancient remains of Dhara Mandap, about 75 metres from the Yadavindra Gardens, commemorates the visit of Guru Nanak who arrived here from Kalka on 15 Assu 1574 Rk/13 September 1517 in the course of his travels through these parts. Here he discoursed with yogis assembled at Dhara Mandap and impressed upon them the futility of selftorture and renunciation as a means to liberation.

PRITHI CHAND, BABA (1558-1618). the eldest son of Guru Ram Das (1534-81), and Mata Bhani, was born in 1558 at Goindval, in present day Amritsar district of the Punjab. He was by nature ambitious and haughty. Guru Ram Das chose his youngest son Arjan (1563-1606) as his successor to the spiritual seat This excited the jealousy of Prithi Chand who endeavoured to harm Guru Arjan in every possible way.

PISHACHAS There are millions of Jakhyas (Yakshas), Kinnaras and Pisachas (Pishachas). (Gauri Sukhmani M. 5, p. 276) Pishachas are friends and evil spirits. Vedas consider them lower than Rakshasas. They hare ill-natured spiteful and mischievous beings. It is said that they were created by Brahma alongwith other demons. They are said to haunt the earth and inhabit the forests. Sometimes the aborigines and wild tribes are also called Pishachas.

RAIPUR, a village in Patiala district claims a historical shrine called Gurdwara Mariji Sahib Patshahi Naumi. Guru Tegh Bahadur visited Raipur during his stay at Saifabad, now Bahadurgarh, only 3 km away. The Gurdwara is inside the village. Its present building constructed at the beginning of the twentieth century is a small single room with a conical dome above the sanctum. The Gurdwara is managed by a 5member village committee.