guru

TAHLA SAHIB, GURDWARA, sacred to both Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh, is in the revenue limits of Rajgarh Kubbe, a village 5 km southeast of Maur Kalan (30"4 N, 75"14E), in Bathinda district of the Punjab. Lying 2.5 km to the west of the village, there used to be, in the time of the Gurus, only a copse of tahll trees (Albergia sissoo) and a pool of water where Guru Tegh Bahadur often came from Maur Kalan while out for his afternoon ride.Guru Gobind Singh visited the place once from Talvandi Sabo during chase.

TARAPUR, a village 5 km east of Anandpur (310 14N, 760 31`E) in Ropar district of the Punjab, is sacred to Guru Gobind Singh, who constructed a fortress here after his return from Paonta in 1688. He also had a baoli (open well with steps leading down to water level) dug to ensure supply of water for the garrison. The Taragarh Fort, one of a chain of defensive fortifications of Anandpur, is no longer in existence.

TIKA, derived from the root tik, a loan word from the aboriginal languages, meaning `to mark` or `to explain`, signifies commentary, exegesis or explanation, especially of a scriptural text. Originally meant to provide a simple paraphrase of the spiritual and mystical revelations, a tika may now embrace an exhaustive analysis and interpretation of the text. Such tikas and commentaries have been part of the Indian religious tradition since ancient times.In tracing the history, reference is made to Yaska Muni (circa 700 BC) who mentions in his Nirukta numerous preceding commentators of the sacred scriptures.

TULAMBA, commonly pronounced Talumbha, an ancient site now also known as Makhdumpur, a rail/road station along the LahoreMultan highway in Multan district of Pakistan, was where Guru Nanak met Shaikh Sajjan, who, according to the Janam Sakhi tradition, was a thug living in apparent piety. Sayan maintained a mosque as well as a temple for use by Muslim and Hindu travellers and seemed to welcome anyone for a night`s lodging and meal.

UGRASAIN, BHAI, a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. He lived at the village of Dalla in present day Kapurthala district of the Punjab, and received instruction at the hands of Guru Amar Das himself.

VAR BHERE Kl PATSHAHl 10 is an anonymous poem in Punjabi describing the battle of Anandpur, Guru Gobind Singh`s engagement with the pursuing host after he had evacuated Anandpur, and finally die battle of Chamkaur. The view has been expressed that dlis Varis the original version of another poem entitled Bhera Guru Gobind Singh Ka or Bhera Patshahl Dasviri Da. Both these vars deal with the same events, have a similarity of style and have lines, even stanzas, which are common to both. Yet a closer examination reveals that these are two different compositions and one of the poets has evidently borrowed extensively from the work of the other.

VISHNU Remember Vishnu again and again; By remembering Vishnu you will never suffer defeat.(Gauri Bawan Akhri Kabir, p. 342) At whose door should I take refuge, Vishnu, Shiva, an adept, a Muni or Indra. One may give you kingdom, the other may take you to heaven, rare one among a million may ask for salvation.(Kalyan M. 5, p. 1322) O Lord! Vishnu and Lakshmi could not know you besides four Vedas, Smritis and Puranas.(Dhanasari Kabir, p. 691) Kishan (connoting Vishnu) is always busy in incarnating himself, then with whose help one may ferry across the world-ocean ?(Wadhans M. 3, p. 559) Vishnu is the second god of the Hindu Triad.

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. 

AJITTA, BHAI, a Randhava Jatt, whose name occurs in Bhai Gurdas`s roster of prominent Sikhs of Guru Nanak, Varan, XI. 14, was a resident of the village of Pakkhoke Randhave, close to the present town of Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district of the Punjab. It was at Pakkhoke Randhave that Guru Nanak`s wife and children stayed with his parents-in-law after he had left home to go out to preach his word. Ajitta first met Guru Nanak as he arrived in his village at the conclusion of his long travels and sat near the well owned by him. Ajitta was instantly converted and sought instruction from the Guru. Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, records the discourse that took place between them.

AKHAND PATH (akhand = uninterrupted, without break; path = reading) is nonstop, continuous recital of the Guru Granth Sahib from beginning to end. Such a recital must be completed within 48 hours. The entire Holy Volume, 1430 large pages, is read through in a continuous ceremony. This reading must go on day and night, without a moment\'s intermission.