SAROVAR, a tank, pool or lake, especially at a sacred place or by a holy shrine used for sacramental ablutions and other religious ceremonies. Sanskrit synonyms are sar, sarvar, tarag and vapl. Another word is puskar or puskarini which usually means a pond full of lotus

GHURANI KALAN, an old village in Ludhiana district, was visited by Guru Hargobind in whose memory two gurudwaras have since been constructed. GURDWARA CHOLA SAHIB PATSHAI II CHHEVIN is inside the village and marks the residence of Bhai Surtia, the local masand, leader of the local Sikh group, at

GOKHU MAHITA, BHAI, Bhai Toda Mahita. Bhai Tota and Bhat Maddu, all devoted Siklis who performed dedicated service at the time of the excavation of the sacred tank at Amritsar, once came to Guru Arjan and begged to be instructed. The Guru told them to sit in the sangal

HIRA SINGH, SANT (d. 1949). head priest of Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib Abchal Nagar, Nandcd, in Maharashtra, was born the son of Bhai Karam Singh of Schna, in Sarigrur district of the Punjab. He received his early education and religious instruction in his village and this allowed him to

KARSEVA, voluntary contribution of physical labour towards cleaning and construction operations at sacred tanks and temples, holds a special significance in the Sikh tradition. Sevd, altruistic service, was preached by the Gurus as a means to God realization. "One who renders selfless service attains to the Lord`s presence," says

KISANA, BHAI, of Muzarig near Lahore, became a disciple in the time of Guru Arjan, when the Guru appointed Bhai Bhanu to preach among the inhabitants of Muzarig, notorious for their lack of morals. Bhai Kisana and Seth Marigina were the first who, along with their families, accepted the

If you pray fraudulently in your mind, what is the need of going to Ka\'bah .for a Å«^/ ? (Prabhali Kabir, p. 1350) The Sheikh (Muslim divine) without the quality of sabar (patience)—why should he go to Ka\'bab for a hajj, says Kabir ? The one who has no

MAGHI, Makara Sankranti, the first day of the month of Magh when, according to the Zodiac, the sun enters the house of Capricorn. It is observed in India as a winter solstice festival. The eve of Maghi is the common Indian festival of Lohri when bonfires are lit in Hindu

NANAKIANA SAHIB, GURDWARA, near the village of Mangval, 4 km east of Sangrur (30° 14`N, 75° 50`E) in the Punjab, is sacred to Guru Nanak and Guru Hargobind. When Guru Nanak came here in the early sixteenth century, the village of Mangval was, according to local tradition, closer to the

PANJOKHARA,   a village about 10 km from Ambala city (30° 23`N, 76° 47`E), is sacred to Guru Har Krishan. Gurdwara Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji, about 150 metres east of the village and commonly called Gurdwara Parijokhara Sahib, commemorates his stay here in early 1664. Summoned by Emperor Aurarigzib,