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hese past few days, I embarked on a research project. I traveled over 30 hours to the land where the 10th Guru left his physical body—Takhat Hazur Sahib located in the city of Nanded, Maharashtra, India. What I found left me deeply fulfilled.
I had no expectations before arriving. In fact,I was ignorant of much about Takhat Sahib, knowing only a few minor details. As I walked through the doors of Hazur Sahib, I was immediately struck by the architecture, and questions began forming in my mind. When I entered one of the doors of Takhat Sahib, I felt overwhelmed. There was so much to take in, so I sat down and began examining every corner that I could see. I never thought I would enter such a majestic institution and not close my eyes. Rather, keeping them open felt like an act of devotion.
As I observed, I came across inscriptions that adorned almost every wall. The next few days were spent in this endeavor, sitting in every available space, examining the walls and floors.
The following information is based on my personal observations and conversations with individuals whose families have dedicated their lives to preserving the traditions of Takhat Sahib. Please note that photos and videos are prohibited within Takhat Sahib. However, I was granted permission to take photos and videos through the generosity of the Gursikhs who serve there. My heart and prayers go out to them for allowing me this opportunity. To the best of my knowledge and based on my searching online, this information has not been shared before.
All information provided here is for educational purposes only. You are welcome to share this article, but please do not share the images without permission. Also, when referring to the inner complex, I will use the term ‘Takhat Sahib.’ The structure of Takhat Sahib is aligned with the cardinal directions, and I will reference these directions when discussing the locations of the individual inscriptions. This article is not intended to be a comprehensive report but rather the beginning of such research. I hope this work reaches the eyes of scholars and touches the hearts of Gurmukhs, inspiring a deeper understanding of who we are as a community.
Let me begin by discussing the institution itself.
Takhat Hazur Sahib is one of the five major political and religious bodies of authority for the Sikh nation. It is one of only two Takhats located outside the Punjab region.
What do these inscriptions tell us?
The inscriptions provide us not only with a rare glimpse into history but also with a way to connect with and learn about our ancestors.
Most of these inscriptions are records of donations, usually combined with a prayer, and contain the following details:
1. Date– Most inscriptions include a month and a year. Themajority use a format of four digits (XXXX), while some use two digits (XX).Most dates are written according to the Gregorian calendar, with a few in theDesi/Indic Solar Calendar.
2. Place – The location where theindividual(s) are from.
3. Donation Amount – Observed amountsranging from double to quadruple digits.
4. Names – Names of the individual(s) orgroups who are donating, or on whose behalf the donation/prayer is being made.
Beyond these details, which are basic facts, theinscriptions offer insights into Sikh culture, identity, and tradition.
The inscription reads: 101 rupees seva given by Major Sardar Naunihal Singh Chandhok (ਚੰਡਹੋਕ), husband of Bibi Harbans Kaur, in memory of their father and mother, Sardar Gurbax Singh and Mata Sri Mati Kasti ji, from Rawalpindi. Dated: 1947.
Note: Rawalpindi is part of the Punjab region, located in modern-day Pakistan. During August 1947, the Partition created a border dividing Punjab. It’s possible that Sardar Gurbax Singh and Mata Sri Mati Kasti ji were killed during the Partition.
The inscription reads:
ਏ ਟੇਲ ਕਰਵਾਈ, ਰਾਮਾ ਮਲ ਮੋਭੀ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਂ ਭੌਰਹਕਾਰੋ ਵਾਲੇ ਨੇ ਸਃ ੧੮੬੫ ਸਾਵਨ ੧
Which translates to: This construction was completed by Rama Mal... Dated: 1865, Savan 1.
Note: The calendar system used for dating is the Indic/Desi Solar Calendar. In this system, the Savan month spans from mid July to mid August.
This inscription is most likely written in the Farsi script. Almost all the inscriptions on the floor are in this script, which I am not proficient in reading. After speaking with some individuals working within Takhat Sahib, I learned that 90% of all records before the late19th century were written in Farsi. This might have been due to Farsi being the regional political language at the time. Thus, I suspect that the inscriptions on the floor were written earlier, in relationship to the wall inscriptions.
The left corner reads: 2000 rupees donated by Sardar … [name no longer legible] … Sardar Amar Singh Mardwal (ਮੜਦਵਾਲ), District Sahupur, currently residing in Jahidan, Iran. Dated:1944 ਈ.
Note: The abbreviation ਈ refers to the Gregorian calendar (ਈਸਵੀ). This donor, from Iran, contributed a large sum compared to other inscriptions. Unfortunately, the beginning portion of the name is no longer legible, but it might be decipherable through tactile examination which I was unable to perform. This inscription is particularly interesting due to the donor being from Iran.
This inscription records a donation from the 47th Sikh Platoon.
The inscription reads: 47th Duke of Connaught’s Own Sikhs – Seva done by the 47th Platoon. Dated: December 1937.
Note: The insignia depicts a crown with crosses inside. The words underneath the insignia are in English, while the rest of the inscription is in Gurmukhi script but contains some English words. For example, the word ਪਲਟਨ (Paltan) comes from the English word platoon and has been modified linguistically to be incorporated into the Punjabi language. Furthermore, Bhai Kahn Singh* also references the incorporation of English and French words into Punjabi in the early 1800s in his Mahan Kosh.
*Bhai Kahn Singh from the Nabha Region is a 20th century Sikh scholar who is best known for his lifetime work of the Mahan Kosh.
Source: According to Wikipedia, “The 47th Sikhs were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They trace their origins to 1901, when they were raised as the 47th (Sikh) Bengal Infantry.”
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/47th_Duke_of_Connaught%27s_Own_Sikhs
Note: The same platoon donated again the following year. Inscriptions can be found to the right of this wall (image unavailable).
The inscription reads: 1000 rupees seva done bythe First Battalion (ਬਟਾਲੀਅਨ) of the Sikh Light Infantry.
Dated: Vaisakh (ਵਸੈਖ) 13 April 1969.
Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_Light_Infantry
Source: According to Wikipedia, “The Sikh Light Infantry is a ligh tinfantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its lineage to the 23rd, 32nd, and 34th Royal Sikh Pioneers of the British Indian Army. It recruits from the Sikh communities of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana.”
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_Light_Infantry
The inscription reads: 1000 rupees Seva done by the 19th Sikh Regiment.
Dated: September 1997.
The top portion above the insignia reads: Nischai Kar Apni Jeet Karo from the writings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, which translates to: May I receive victory without a doubt.
Source: According to Wikipedia, “The Sikh Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It is the most highly decorated regiment of the Indian Army…”
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_Regiment
Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_Regiment
Closing Remarks:
The goal of presenting this information is to foster collaboration in researching this field. I hope this data can be utilized by others to further our understanding of our past and guide us towards our future.
