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Gurudwara Sri Chamkaur Sahib – Disti. Ropar |
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This Gurdwara commemorates the historical battle- fought by Guru Gobind Singh in a small fortress. He faced a mighty Mughal army with just forty Sikhs. On the same spot,the great Guru blessed his two elder sons Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, saw them off to the battle field and exhorted them to attain spiritual perfection by sacrificing their lives. The two Sahibzadas and 37 Sikhs,attained martyrdom in the battle. Here stands a pillar,on which the words breathing the spirit of determination in the battle field are inscribed.
O Lord! Bless me,
That I may never be deterred
from righteous actions,
And fear no adversary in battle,
That victories be mine,
Let conscience be my guide,
I crave that I may sing Thy Praises,
May I draw my last breath in heroic battle
Never before,has any teenager warrior,displayed a cool courage in the face of death. Their heroic deeds aganist tyranny,are remembered every year by grateful devotees. They assemble in thousands at Chamkaur Sahib to attend the Shahidi Jormela in the memory of the two Sahibzadas.
There are five historical Gurdwaras at Chamkaur. Gurdwara Garhi Sahib, stands at a place, where once stood a haveli of one Chaudhri Garibu. This was converted into a fortress by Guruji to face the larger Mughal hostile force.
Another Gurdwara is Tarhi Sahib. Here the Tenth Master left the Garhi along with his three devoted Sikhs at dead of night. The place where they clapped hands to announce the departure of the Guru, a memorial called ‘Tarhi Sahib’, has been raised. Gurdwara ‘Katalgarh Sahib’ commemorates the martyrdom of the Guru’s two elder sons, Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, who displayed supreme valour and heroism and perished while fighting against formidable odds.
Gurudwara Qatalgarh Sahib (Shahid Ganj), west of Garhi Sahib, is the main shrine at Chamkaur Sahib. This marks the site where the thickest hand to hand fight took place on 7 December 1705 between the Mughal army and the Sikhs, including the Sahibzadas, Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, and three of the original five Piare (the Five Beloved). A gurdwara was constructed here by Sardar Hardial Singh of Bela in 1831 but that building was replaced during the 1960’s by a new complex raised under the supervision of Sant Piara Singh of Jhar Sahib and later of Sant Bishan Singh of Amritsar. The main building called Mariji Sahib is an elegant three storeyed domed structure standing upon a high base. The large divan hall contains an eight metre square sanctum. Another vast hall close by is called Akal Buriga. It was used for the daily congregations before Mariji Sahib was constructed. To the west of Akal Buriga is an old Baoli Sahib still in use. The Guru ka Langar, community kitchen, is further north from Baoli Sahib and Akal Buriga. The Gurdwara also houses the offices of the local managing committee which administers all historical shrines at Chamkaur under the overall control of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. In addition to the daily services, largely attended assemblies take place on the first of each Bikrami month and on important anniversaries on Sikh calendar. A three day fair called Shahidi Jor Mela is held on 6,7 and 8 Poh, usually corresponding with 20, 21 and 22 December, commemorating the martyrs of Chamkaur.