Gurdwara Gwari Ghat Saheb: Difference between revisions

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Coordinates: 23°6'12"N 79°55'30"E. Located almost dead center in India the Gurdwara is surrounded with a very picturesque setting.
Coordinates: 23°6'12"N 79°55'30"E. Located almost dead center in India the Gurdwara is surrounded with a very picturesque setting.
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[[Image:Guru Nanak Mardana Bala Woodcut1.jpg|thumb|200px|'''Guru Nanak with Mardana (left) and Bala''' |right]]
[[Image:Guru Nanak Mardana Bala Woodcut1.jpg|thumb|200px|'''Guru Nanak with Mardana (left) and Bala''', a woodcut circa 1875|right]]


=='''The Four Udasis'''==
=='''The Four Udasis'''==
Sri [[Guru Nanak Dev]] Ji, the founder of [[Sikhism]], undertook four journeys, also known as [[Udasis]] (literally a somber state of mind, here - travels), in order to spread his message. He traveled four times in four different directions from his native Punjab. During his first Udasi (started in 1501 when the Guru was 31 years of age) he traveled to the east and south of India. During his return trip Guru Nanak and his companion Mardana walked along the Northeast side of the River Narmada until they reached Gwarighat near present day Jabalpur where they crossed the river.
Sri [[Guru Nanak Dev]] Ji, the founder of [[Sikhism]], undertook four journeys, also known as [[Udasis]] (literally a somber state of mind, here - travels), in order to spread his message. He traveled four times in four different directions from his native Punjab. During his first Udasi (started in 1501 when the Guru was 31 years of age) he traveled to the east and south of India. During his return trip Guru Nanak and his companion Mardana walked along the Northeast side of the River Narmada until they reached Gwarighat near present day Jabalpur where they crossed the river.


Gyan Singh the renowned poet has described the crossing of the Narmada river in his '' 'Panth Parkash' '':
Giani Gyan (also spelled Gian) Singh [http://www.panthic.org/news/130/ARTICLE/3033/2007-01-10.html], the renowned poet has described the crossing of the Narmada river in his '' '[[Panth Parkash]]' '':


:After blessing Vindhyachal, river Narmada was crossed,
:After blessing Vindhyachal, river Narmada was crossed,
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From Jabalpur both highways and a narrow guage railway, which can be crowded at times, lead to Gwari Ghat. The train station is across the river from the Gurdwara. Ferries cross the river and travel as well to the local 'Marble Rocks' area.  
From Jabalpur both highways and a narrow guage railway, which can be crowded at times, lead to Gwari Ghat. The train station is across the river from the Gurdwara. Ferries cross the river and travel as well to the local 'Marble Rocks' area.  


==Guruparabs and Other Events==
==Gurpurbs and Other Events==
Guruparab (religious anniversaries and events):  
Guruparab (religious anniversaries and events):  
*The historic Guruparab of Hola Mahlla (Holi) is celebrated here with great éclat and pomp. Days before the event people start to converge here from far off places with great enthusiasm.  
*The historic Guruparab of Hola Mahlla (Holi) is celebrated here with great éclat and pomp. Days before the event people start to converge here from far off places with great enthusiasm.  
Line 44: Line 44:
*Dhuandhar waterfalls near Jabalpur is a major tourist attraction.  
*Dhuandhar waterfalls near Jabalpur is a major tourist attraction.  
*Jabalpur is also famous for its eroded volcanic rock formations called, The Balancing Rocks of Jabalpur.
*Jabalpur is also famous for its eroded volcanic rock formations called, The Balancing Rocks of Jabalpur.
*'The Marble Rocks' a gorge on the Narmada River where the river narrows to a width of 10 meters carving through a large area of white marble. Their are quarries near here  from which marble is exported to sites all over India.
*'The Marble Rocks' a gorge on the Narmada River where the river narrows to a width of 10 meters carving through a large area of white marble. There are quarries near here  from which marble is exported to sites all over India.


==Reference==
==References==
Bhai Jasbir Singh, Sri Darbar Sahib – Amritsar / English rendition by Kamaljeet Singh / Publisher: Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee / Gwarighat, Jabalpur, MP India
Bhai Jasbir Singh, Sri Darbar Sahib – Amritsar / English rendition by Kamaljeet Singh / Publisher: Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee / Gwarighat, Jabalpur, MP India
'[[Panth Parkash]]', A History of the Sikhs written by Giani Gyan Singh, Publisher:  Bhasha Vibhag, Punjab, 1970
[[Category:Gurudwaras In Madhya Pardesh]]

Latest revision as of 12:35, 23 January 2008

Gurdwara Gwari Ghat Saheb is located at Gwarighat which is a famous stepped embankment (a ghat) alongside the river Narmada in the city of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, India at Coordinates: 23°6'12"N 79°55'30"E. Located almost dead center in India the Gurdwara is surrounded with a very picturesque setting.

Guru Nanak with Mardana (left) and Bala, a woodcut circa 1875

The Four Udasis

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, undertook four journeys, also known as Udasis (literally a somber state of mind, here - travels), in order to spread his message. He traveled four times in four different directions from his native Punjab. During his first Udasi (started in 1501 when the Guru was 31 years of age) he traveled to the east and south of India. During his return trip Guru Nanak and his companion Mardana walked along the Northeast side of the River Narmada until they reached Gwarighat near present day Jabalpur where they crossed the river.

Giani Gyan (also spelled Gian) Singh [1], the renowned poet has described the crossing of the Narmada river in his 'Panth Parkash' :

After blessing Vindhyachal, river Narmada was crossed,
Jabalpur and Chitrakoot and Rikhanpur were blessed.

The 'Panth Parkash' also records that this is where Guru Nanak crossed the Narmada River to give sermons to Sarbang Rishi. From ancient times the old road from Jabalpur to Nagpur passed through Gwarighat. Even now there is no other dock in Jabalpur where the Narmada could be crossed. Satbir Singh and the writers of the old Janam Sakhis (witness accounts of lives of Guru Nanak and other Gurus) have also mentioned the blessing, preaching and reforming of several thugs and criminals operating along the Narmada river by Guru Nanak.

Gurdwara (A Sikh place of worship, lit. the Guru's Door)

Gurdwara Gwarighat is on the picturesque South bank of the river. For a long time Sant Tulsa Singh served (did Seva) at this hallowed site associated with Guru Nanak. After Sant Tulsa Singh passed away the Sikh sangat (congregation) of Jabalpur constituted a committee to look after the site.

The Gurdwara complex includes a Guru ka Langar, a serai with rooms for pilgrims and travelers to stay, a small museum with paintings to explain the history of Sikhi and a Homoeopathic dispensary to provide free medical care for the sick and infirm. Every visitor and traveler is cared for lovingly.

A satellite view of the Gurdwara

Gurdwara Gwari Ghat Saheb with its surrounding grounds and support facilities from wikimapia.org

Click here > [2]

The satellite view is navigable showing the city across the river and the railway. And may even be zoomed out to include all of India where the words Gwari Ghat and Jabalpur dissapear under the word India.

Reaching the Gurdwara

Narrow Guage Rail to Gwari Ghat
Map to Gurdwara Gwari Ghat Saheb

Jabalpur has a modern upto date airport. Regular flight services, as well as chartered flights are available. Air Deccan provides regular service to Delhi-Bhopal-Jabalpur. Kingfisher Airlines runs daily flights from Jabalpur to Indore and Mumbai. Jabalpur is well connected to Nagpur, Bhopal, Allahabad and Jaipur by highway systems making motoring easy as well. Indian Airlines plans a Delhi-Jabalpur route. It is also well connected with fast trains from Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Howrah, Jaipur, Kota, Lucknow, Nagpur and Patna.

From Jabalpur both highways and a narrow guage railway, which can be crowded at times, lead to Gwari Ghat. The train station is across the river from the Gurdwara. Ferries cross the river and travel as well to the local 'Marble Rocks' area.

Gurpurbs and Other Events

Guruparab (religious anniversaries and events):

  • The historic Guruparab of Hola Mahlla (Holi) is celebrated here with great éclat and pomp. Days before the event people start to converge here from far off places with great enthusiasm.
  • The parkash Utsav (Birth anniversary) of Guru Amardas ji is celebrated with great devotion.
  • Every Sunday congregation Divan is organized after Akhand Patth Bhog. Every week numerous devout Sikhs and others come here to listen to the divine enlightening message and wisdom of Guru Granth Sahib.

Local Attractions

  • Dhuandhar waterfalls near Jabalpur is a major tourist attraction.
  • Jabalpur is also famous for its eroded volcanic rock formations called, The Balancing Rocks of Jabalpur.
  • 'The Marble Rocks' a gorge on the Narmada River where the river narrows to a width of 10 meters carving through a large area of white marble. There are quarries near here from which marble is exported to sites all over India.

References

Bhai Jasbir Singh, Sri Darbar Sahib – Amritsar / English rendition by Kamaljeet Singh / Publisher: Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee / Gwarighat, Jabalpur, MP India

'Panth Parkash', A History of the Sikhs written by Giani Gyan Singh, Publisher: Bhasha Vibhag, Punjab, 1970