All Human Beings are equal

The moment child Gobind Rai was born in Patna, Pir Bhikhan Shah of Thaska offered his prayers facing East instead of towards the West contrary to his daily practice. He left for Patna immediately. On arrival at (Guru's) residence, Pir placed two bowls of milk and water before the divine child. The new-born Divine Being put his hands on both the bowls thus signifying the entire humanity springs from the same divine fountain: How can some be good and others evil

Guru's Blessings

Gangu Shah sought Guru Amar Das Sahib's help for his livelihood. With the Guru's blessings he flourished as a banker in Delhi. But he had a setback when he turned away a needy person sent by the Guru. Gangu begged for pardon and fell at the Guru's feet in Goindwal. Thereafter, he never sent back any person.

Sri Harimandir Sahib

Also called Darbar Sahib is known to English-speaking world as the Golden Temple on account of its scenic beauty and the golden coating on its exterior above the first-floor level. It was built under the direction and direct supervision of Guru Arjan Dev ji, who according to current tradition, got it's foundation laid by a well-know Muslim divine, Mir Muhammad, better known as Hazrat Mian Mir of Lahore, on the first of Magh 1645 Bikrami corresponding to 28th December 1588. On completion in about 10 years time, it became the venue for the daily religious services - Kirtan and discourse. When Guru Arjan Dev ji had compiled the compositions of the Gurus including his own and of a numbr of Hindu and Muslim saints into a single volume, now known as the Adi Granth or Guru Granth Sahib, he installed it in the Harimandir on 16th August 1604. Baba Buddha was appointed the first officiant. The routine and liturgy set by Guru Arjan Dev himself is still operative with very little change. Kirtan commences in the Harimandir between 2 am and 3 am depending on the season and continues incessantly, with only ardas or supplicatyory prayer injtervening occasionally, upto 10pm or 11pm. The Holy Book is then taken in procession to a room in the Akal Bunga for rest, and is brought back to the Harimandir again is a procession at about 5 am. the intermission is used for daily cleaning up of the premises. 

Religious service and significance apart, the architectural design and beauty of the harimandir has its own attraction. Standing in the middle of the pool of Nectar on a plinth of hard stone reached from the bank over a bridge, it provides a rare atmosphere of coolness, calmness and serenity. Its square shape and appropriate dimensions give it perfect geometrical symmetry and compactness. Four doors opening one on each side signify free access from all sides to all irrespective of caste or creed. Of particular interest to common vistiors as well as to connoiseurs of art is the beauty of its interior including intricate floral designs embossed on metal or inset in stone and painting or filiree work on walls and ceiling which are simply enchanting. But the present build and heauty are not wholly original. Harimandir has ha dits share of persecution suffered by the community as a whole. After Guru Hargobind had to leave the town subsequent to the first battle of Amritsar in 1629, no Guru graced the harimandir with his presence. Only Guru Tgegh Bahadur came on a visit in 1664, but he too was not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum. Massa Ranghar, the appointed Kotwal of Amritsar after the execution of Bhai Mani Singh in 1737, befouled the sarovar and desecrated the Harimandir. In 1762, Ahmad Shah Abdali had the Harimandir blown up with gunpowder. It was reconstructed by Dal Khalsa through Bhai Des Faj of Sursingh village. The reconstruction was completed by 1776. The present appreance of the Harimandir dates from the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1801 - 39), although the work of interior decoration continued long after his death. But the Sikh rulers left the religious management with Udasi and Nirmala priests who had been looking after Sikh shrines during the troubled period when baptised Sikh suffered persecution of the creellest kind and were not permitted openly to serve their places of worship. Although Maharaja Ranjit SIngh appointed Giani Sang Singh and, after his death in 1832, his son Bhai Gurmukh Singh as managers yet their responsibility extended only to the beautification of Darbar Sahib. After the annexation of the Punjab by the British in 1849, the practice continued. While the government appointed a sarbarah, the religious administration remained with the mahants and pujaris. Several Malpractices and mismanagement had crept in, which even the Singh Sabha Movement failed to rectify. It was only at the beginning of the Gurdwara Reform (or Akali) Movement (on 15th October 1920) that the harimandir was liberated from the malignant control of the priestly order and brought under panthic management. At present the Harimandir alone with Sri Akal Takht Sahib and other holy shrines in Amritsar are managed directly by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee under section 85 of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925.

Baba Buddha places a tikka (a mark of distinction) on the forehead of Guru Arjun Dev, pronouncing him the fifth Guru. Guru Ram Das is seated on the right.

Shabad by Bhagat Ravi Daas Ji in Raag Soohee on Pannaa 793 in Sri Guru Granth Sahib


rwgu sUhI bwxI sRI rivdws jIau kI
<> siqgur pRswid ]
sh kI swr suhwgin jwnY ]
qij AiBmwnu suK rlIAw mwnY ]
qnu mnu dyie n AMqru rwKY ]
Avrw dyiK n sunY ABwKY ]1]
so kq jwnY pIr prweI ]
jw kY AMqir drdu n pweI ]1] rhwau ]
duKI duhwgin duie pK hInI ]
ijin nwh inrMqir Bgiq n kInI ]
pur slwq kw pMQu duhylw ]
sMig n swQI gvnu iekylw ]2]
duKIAw drdvMdu dir AwieAw ]
bhuqu ipAws jbwbu n pwieAw ]
kih rivdws srin pRB qyrI ]
ijau jwnhu iqau kru giq myrI ]3]1]


Raag Soohee, The Word Of Sree Ravi Daas Jee:
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
The happy soul-bride knows the worth of her Husband Lord.
Renouncing pride, she enjoys peace and pleasure.
She surrenders her body and mind to Him, and does not remain separate from Him.
She does not see or hear, or speak to another. ||1||
How can anyone know the pain of another,
if there is no compassion and sympathy within? ||1||Pause||
The discarded bride is miserable, and loses both worlds;
she does not worship her Husband Lord.
The bridge over the fire of hell is difficult and treacherous.
No one will accompany you there; you will have to go all alone. ||2||
Suffering in pain, I have come to Your Door, O Compassionate Lord.
I am so thirsty for You, but You do not answer me.
Says Ravi Daas, I seek Your Sanctuary, God;
as You know me, so will You save me. ||3||1||

Shabad by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Maaroo on Pannaa 989 in Sri Guru Granth Sahib


ipChu rwqI sdVw nwmu Ksm kw lyih ]
Kymy CqR srwiecy idsin rQ pIVy ]
ijnI qyrw nwmu iDAwieAw iqn kau sid imly ]1]
bwbw mY krmhIx kUiVAwr ]
nwmu n pwieAw qyrw AMDw Brim BUlw mnu myrw ]1] rhwau ]
swd kIqy duK prPuVy pUrib ilKy mwie ]
suK QoVy duK Agly dUKy dUiK ivhwie ]2]
ivCuiVAw kw ikAw vICuVY imilAw kw ikAw mylu ]
swihbu so swlwhIAY ijin kir dyiKAw Kylu ]3]
sMjogI mylwvVw iein qin kIqy Bog ]
ivjogI imil ivCuVy nwnk BI sMjog ]4]1]


Shabad:
Those who receive the call in the last hours of the night, chant the Name of their Lord and Master.
Tents, canopies, pavilions and carriages are prepared and made ready for them.
You send out the call, Lord, to those who meditate on Your Name. ||1||
Father, I am unfortunate, a fraud.
I have not found Your Name; my mind is blind and deluded by doubt. ||1||Pause||
I have enjoyed the tastes, and now my pains have come to fruition; such is my pre-ordained destiny, O my mother.
Now my joys are few, and my pains are many. In utter agony, I pass my life. ||2||
What separation could be worse than separation from the Lord? For those who are united with Him, what other union can there be?
Praise the Lord and Master, who, having created this play, beholds it. ||3||
By good destiny, this union comes about; this body enjoys its pleasures.
Those who have lost their destiny, suffer separation from this union. O Nanak, they may still be united once again! ||4||1||

Shabad by Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Gond on Pannaa 870 in Sri Guru Granth Sahib


goNf ]
nrU mrY nru kwim n AwvY ]
psU mrY ds kwj svwrY ]1]
Apny krm kI giq mY ikAw jwnau ]
mY ikAw jwnau bwbw ry ]1] rhwau ]
hwf jly jYsy lkrI kw qUlw ]
kys jly jYsy Gws kw pUlw ]2]
khu kbIr qb hI nru jwgY ]
jm kw fMfu mUMf mih lwgY ]3]2]


Gond:
When a man dies, he is of no use to anyone.
But when an animal dies, it is used in ten ways. ||1||
What do I know, about the state of my karma?
What do I know, O Baba? ||1||Pause||
His bones burn, like a bundle of logs;
his hair burns like a bale of hay. ||2||
Says Kabeer, the man wakes up,
only when the Messenger of Death hits him over the head with his club. ||3||2|

Tejinderpal Singh Ji Dulla - Toronto August 2011

Principal Shamsher Singh Kareer

Sacha Sauda

Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji feeding the hungry holy men

Nankana Sahib Shaheedi Saka

Gurdwara Nanak Piao

Gurdwara Nanak Piao Sahib is a historic Gurdwara located on the Grand Trunk Road (National Highway-1) between Rana Pratap Bagh and Azadpur, New Delh. This Gurdwara sahib is made in honor of first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who provided fresh and cold water to the thirsty travelers at this site.

History

During his first Udasi (Tour for the moral uplift of humanity) c. 1506-1510, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jistayed here for sometime and sanctified this place by his majestic personality.

Due to heavy traffic on G.T Road, a large number of travelers passed through the area. To provide fresh & cool water to the thirsty travelers, Guru Ji not only had a deep well dug here, but also set up a permanent refreshment area at this sacred place. Guru Ji took great pleasure in serving the cool & fresh water to the passersby with his own hands.

Akali Baba Phoola Singh jee - Great Gursikh and warrior during Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's period.

Guru Nanak Dev jee on an Udaasi (journey) with Bhai Mardana jee.

Bookseller at Amritsar (1908)

Sikh Gurus' family tree

The Amrit of Guru Gobind Singh Ji not only brought about a revolution in aspects of society but also raised women to a position of equality, socially, politically and on the battlefield as well. Amoung the numerous examples of women showing courage and strength on the battlefront was Sada Kaur. Born in 1762 she went on to marry Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya, the only son of Misldhar Jai Singh Kanhaiya. Sada Kaur played an important role in uniting the Khalsa forces under the command of Ranjit Singh to drive out the Afghan invader Shah Zaman.

Bidar Samagam 2008

Videos:

Nirmal Singh Khalsa

Guru Angad Dev Ji

The first duty Guru Ji performed after morning prayers and listning to kirtan was to tend the sick and needy. Guru Ji's healing touch and loving compassion relieved many of their pains.

Toronto July 2007 raensabhi - Tejinderpal Singh Ji Dulla

Here are the video links Dulla Ji's kirtan. Dulla Ji performed the most amazing and baraig maee kirtan at the very end of the raensabhi just before an anand karaj was about to start. The shabads that Dulla Ji sang were perfectly related to the theme and situation at the time.

At present Dulla Ji is still recovering from the accident. Lets all do ardas for him and his family so that he can attend more of such samagams and create a blissful feeling by performing kirtan.

Anyway, enjoy the videos and feel free to share.

Part 1 (can be played in either windows media player or VLC player)

Part 2 (can be played in either windows media player or VLC player)

Thara Sahib, Near Akal Takht Sahib

It is situated in the north of Akal Takht Sahib. Where Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib sat and prayed a while when the Mahants had barred his entry into Harminder Sahib. Thara means a raised platform of Masonary.

Bhangian di Tope: This canon belonged to the Bhangi Sikh rulers of Punjab. This was one of the largest canons of that time. It is now displayed on Mall Road in Lahore, Pakistan.

Nagni Barsha

Nagni Barshi, the spear that Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave to Bhai Bachitar Singh, which he used effectively to thwart a drunk and well-armored elephant.

According to popular accounts, Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah presented this Saif to Guru Gobind Singh Ji because Guru Ji aided Bahadur Shah in his succession for the throne, and in battle killed Tara Azam with an arrow.

Dah-e-ahini of Guru Gobind Singh Ji