Nestled in the West Himalayas at a height of
15,197 feet is Hemkunt Sahib, one of the five famous Gurudwaras. It is the
highest Gurudwara in the world.
Hemkunt Sahib is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), the tenth and the last Sikh Guru.
In Dasam Granth Guru Ji says that in his previous life he did intense meditation at Hemkunt Parbat Sapat Sring, the "lake of ice" and "mountain" adorned with "seven peaks" - the place where King Pandu, the forefather of the five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata, did yoga - until the Guru ji merged with God. But then God sent him to the world to teach the true religion to people and rid them of evil ways. He was thus born to his earthly parents who had served God well.
In late 19th century Sikhs began to search for 'Hemkunt.' In 1934, Sant Sohan Singh, a retired granthi of Indian army, found 'Lokpal,' a lake high in the Uttarakhand Himalayas that matched Guru Ji's description of 'Hemkunt.' He convinced Bhai VirSingh, the eminent Sikh intellectual and scholar, that Lokpal was Hemkunt. Bhai Vir Singh gave 2,100 rupees to build a Gurudwara on the shore of the lake. In 1937, a 10 X10 feet stone hut was built on the lakeshore and Guru granth Sahib was installed.
Building of a new Gurdwara began in 1968 and in 1994 Guru Granth Sahib was installed below a brass canopy in the upper story of the Gurudwara. The Gurudwara is in the shape of an inverted lotus - but many see the shape as that of a star - with openings on five sides to welcome people from all directions and all faiths.
Hemkunt Sahib opens only for four-and-half months, 25 May to 10 October, in a year. But more than 200,000 pilgrims come to it every year.
Hemkunt is the place to be for the devotee.
But "It is impossible to be here when you think there is somewhere else to be" - Guru Gobind Singh
Hemkunt Sahib is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), the tenth and the last Sikh Guru.
In Dasam Granth Guru Ji says that in his previous life he did intense meditation at Hemkunt Parbat Sapat Sring, the "lake of ice" and "mountain" adorned with "seven peaks" - the place where King Pandu, the forefather of the five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata, did yoga - until the Guru ji merged with God. But then God sent him to the world to teach the true religion to people and rid them of evil ways. He was thus born to his earthly parents who had served God well.
In late 19th century Sikhs began to search for 'Hemkunt.' In 1934, Sant Sohan Singh, a retired granthi of Indian army, found 'Lokpal,' a lake high in the Uttarakhand Himalayas that matched Guru Ji's description of 'Hemkunt.' He convinced Bhai VirSingh, the eminent Sikh intellectual and scholar, that Lokpal was Hemkunt. Bhai Vir Singh gave 2,100 rupees to build a Gurudwara on the shore of the lake. In 1937, a 10 X10 feet stone hut was built on the lakeshore and Guru granth Sahib was installed.
Building of a new Gurdwara began in 1968 and in 1994 Guru Granth Sahib was installed below a brass canopy in the upper story of the Gurudwara. The Gurudwara is in the shape of an inverted lotus - but many see the shape as that of a star - with openings on five sides to welcome people from all directions and all faiths.
Hemkunt Sahib opens only for four-and-half months, 25 May to 10 October, in a year. But more than 200,000 pilgrims come to it every year.
Hemkunt is the place to be for the devotee.
But "It is impossible to be here when you think there is somewhere else to be" - Guru Gobind Singh
No comments:
Post a Comment