Gurdwara Mattan Sahib
Gurdwara Mattan also called Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev (Anantnag): A gurdwara in memory of Guru Nanak has been built at Mattan. It is situated at a distance of 60 km from Srinagar. Guru Nanak Dev here held a discourse with Pandit Brahm Das who on hearing Guru ji sweet message decided to follow the Guru's path.
History
In the year 1516 Guru Nanak started his Third Udasi i.e missionary tour. This time he visited Mansarovar, Tibet, China, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir. He visited Srinagar, Anantnag and reached Mattan in the interior of the valley.
At Mattan, Guruji had discussion with a great Sanskrit scholar Pandit Brahm Das, who was proud of his knowledge. Guruji on seeing him coming with huge stock of books, recited the following couplet-
- One may read thousands of books, with cart load of books to follow,
- One may study innumerable epics or fill,
- One's cellars with volumes of study,
- One may read for generations and generations,
- And spend every month in the year studying
- And one may read ones entire life,
- Right up to one's last breath,
- Sayeth Nanak, there is one truth His name only,
- All else is vanity of the egoistic mind "
Pandit Brahm Das was shaken and fell at the feet of the Guru.
Brahmins of Mattan
Large numbers of devotees visit this shrine in the summer season. It may be recalled that in 1675 A.D. a group of Kashmiri Brahmins of Mattan visited Anandpur Sahib to narrate their tale of woe to Guru Tegh Bahadur. He was deeply moved by their plight. For some time he was completely absorbed in thought and long unbroken silence descended upon the entire audience.
Tradition has it that at this critical moment the young Sahibzada Gobind Rai, by chance entered the audience hall from outside. He enquired of his father the cause of the strange silence. The ninth Guru informed him about the grave situation that had arisen in the country in the wake of the religious persecution of Hindus by the Mughal rulers and remarked that only the supreme sacrifice of a great man could save the people. Forthwith the young Prince replied that, there could be no greater man than his father himself. This brave remark of Gobind Rai settled the issue finally. Guru Tegh Bahadur left for Delhi and made the supreme sacrifice on November II, 1675 in Chandni Chowk, for the cause of truth, dharma and freedom of faith of the masses.
About Gurudwara & Location
It is situated at a distance of 60 km from Srinagar. Mattan, also called Martand, is an ancient town four kilometers northeast of Anantnag. The shrine established here is called Gurdwara Patshahi Pahili. Its building constructed by Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa was replaced by the present one during the 1980s. It comprises a rectangular hall with the sanctum at one end and a verandah in front.
