Gurdwara Likhansar Sahib: Difference between revisions

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Gurdwara Likhansar Sahib, also known as Guru Ki Kashi, is an historical Sikh shrine situated in Talwandi Sabo in Bhathinda Distt. It is a square hall, including a domed sanctum within it, at the southeastern corner of the sarovar, holy tank. Likhansar derive from two words Likhan i.e writing and Sar i.e sarover or holy pond i.e The Pond Of Writing.

In Talvandī Sabo (Damdama Sahib) under Guru Gobond Singh’s supervision his scholars and calligraphers Bhai Mani Singh and Baba Dip Singh compiled the Dasam Granth, and made four copies of the Guru Granth Sahib.

It was here that Bhai Mani Singh ji who used a kalam/s to pen the Guru Granth Sahib dictated by Guru Gobind Singh. Later the Guru Sahib threw all the ink and kalams (a reed carved into a pen) into the Gurdwara's Sarovar and gave a blessing saying, 'whomsoever shall write the thirty five words of the Gurmukhi here will be blessed with a sharp mind'. According to Bhai Koer Singh, Gurbilas Patshahi 10, there used to be a pool of water here in the days of Gurū Gobind Siṅgh, who sitting here sometimes would have reed-pens for the writers made and then throw them into the pool. Once, Bhai Dalla, the local chief converted a disciple, entreated him to explain why he ordered thousands of pens to be cut and thrown away. To quote the Sĝkhī Pothī the Gurū said : "Thousands of Sikhs will hereafter study the holy texts in this place and then pens will come into use. This is our Kĝshī (seat of learning); those who study here will cast off their ignorance and rise to be authors, poets and commentators. "

Guru ji blessed this place giving it the name Guru Ki Kashi.

Legend has it that the Guru immersed Bhai Mani Singh’s reed-pen and ink in the pond saying that from this place rivers of knowledge will flow and from the school of learning many scholars and poets will emerge. Now there is a Gurdwara named Likhansar (The Pond of Writing) at the spot where pilgrims bow before the Punjabi alphabet (Painti Gurmukhi). There used to be a sand pit in the gurdwara on which mothers made their young children put the first letter of the script a holding their hand. Now there is marble all over.

From Gurbilas Patshahi 10

The Following lines are present in Gurbilas Patshahi 10 related to this place:

This is the Kashi of the Guru, the school of learning.
It always waits on its toes for the wise.

Pilgrims bow their heads to the 35 Gurmukhi alphabet.
The light wells up from each letter with rare meanings.

Miracles happen all the time they are never history.
And the myth is transformed into truth.

In the windstorm of falsehood, it’s darkness at noon.
Out of dust clouds appear the friendly faces.

All happens in the present moment of time.
In a scratch three centuries shrink into a second.

The Kalghidhar(Guru Gobind Singh) sits by the pond of Likhansar.
He dips the reed-pen in the ink divine then puts the first letter.

He sharpens the reeds and throws them in the pond.
They have holy dip praising the Lord.

The satguru answers to congregation’s bewilderment:
The reeds are the seeds of knowledge and contemplation.

For the Sikhs I sharpen the reeds and offer them to the water.
To reach generations of my Sikhs to come.*

Deep Singh and Mani Singh’s calligraphy is like pearls stringed.
How fortunate they are they trace the first word.

This pen is like khandĝ the double edged sword.
It cuts many ways it’s hard to fathom its essence.

Bhai Mani Singh laid down his life mangled bone by bone.
and Deep Singh, they say, died holding his severed head on his left hand and the khandĝ in the right.

In the congregation I stand with folded hands
With apprehension waiting for the gift of the pen.

A fire burns in my heart that I keep my promise.
I seek no deliverance save the love for the word.

With nervous hand I put the first letter on earth-paper.
I’ll need many an incarnation to learn, unlearn and then learn again.

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  History Board Of Gurdwara Sahib

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  Gurmukhi Written by some Believer

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  A View Of Gurdwara Sahib

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  Child Writing writing Gurmukhi

Also See

• Gurdwara Damdama Sahib

References

• Pictures By Jarnail Singh of Sikhiwiki
• see on itihaasakgurudwaras.com
• Check On Wikimapia
• Advanced Centre Punjabi
• Gurbilas Patshahi 10 Translations by poet Hew McLeod. May 2008