DHARAMSHALA SRI GURU RAMDAS JI LAHORE

        This place, related to the lifetime of Guru Ram Das Ji, is situated in Gurdwara Diwan Khana, Chuni Mandi. The ancestors of Guru Ram Das trensacted their trade at this place. Guru Arjan Dev stayed here when he came to attend the marriage of his cousin, Bhai Sahari Mal's son. This dharamashala was attached to Gurdwara Diwan Khanna, later on.

GURDWARA BAOLI SAHIB GURU ARJAN DEV JI (LAHORE)

        This Gurdwara is situated in the famous busy market of Dabbi Bazar in the centre of Lahore city. One side of this Gurdwara adjoins Dabbi Bazar the second is adjusted to Loha Bazar, the third opens on Kesera Bazar and the fourth borders the Guru Bazar when ever Guru Arjan Dev visited Lahore he prefered to stay there. The Guru got a baoli built there. In A.D. 1599, when Guru Arjan Dev, the redeeemer of the mankind came to Lahore, Bhai Chhajju Bhagat came along with a pathan to pay his respect to the Guru and put a bag full of 282 mohars at the feet of the Guru, requesting him to utalise the same for religious works. The Guru asked as to where this money had come from. On this, the Bhagat narrated the story thus: "My pathan friend gave me this bag to keep in safe custody but my accountant (munim) forgot to register this money in his ledger (Vahi-Khata) and by the passage of time, I too, forgot all about it. When the pathan came asking for his money, I refused to pay as my records mentioned nothing of the sort. The case was taken to the official (Hakam) where the pathan lost his case. But while cleaning the shop before Diwali, I found the bag. I put extra Rs.100 therein and try to return the same to my friend with apologies. But the pathan refused to take it as he had lost the case. Niether he considered that money his nor could take it as mine. That is why we have brought this amount to the Guru Darbar". The Guru appreciated their truthfulness and started to build a baoli with that money at this place. At the instigation of Diwan Jaspat Rai, this holy shrine was demolished by Yahaya Khan, the Nawab of Lahore and was turned into the residential quarter. Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1834 A.D. rendered service to this place and got a new building erected and a sarovar dug. Shops were built on all sides as to bring revenue for the management of this shrine. He got a darwaza built near the baoli as a memorial. Bhai Nihal Singh was made responsibe for the Sewa of this place. In 1903 A.D. Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Lahore started weekly congregations here. When Sant Attar Singh Visited this shrine in 1911 A.D., he started the daily recitation of Asa di var. In 1927 A.D., The Gurdwara came under S.G.P.C management, but the congregations at the time of Gurpurs were held by Singh Sabha, Lahore. At time of partition, Bhai Dalip Singh was martyrized on 11th August, 1947.

           GURDWARA BHAI BUDHU DA AWA (LAHORE)

         This place is situated at Shalimar Road near Gulabi Gate (where the Sikh National College stood). It was earlier the brick klin of Bhai Budhu. Due to the admontition of Bhai Kamliya, the bricks remained raw. When Bhai Budhu went to Guru Arjan Dev for asking what to do, the Guru said that he could not alter what had been utterd by a devout Sikh but assured the Sikh that these bricks would be sold at the discarded price. So much was the demand of the bricks that all the raw bricks were sold. To express his gratitude, Bhai Budhu got a Gurdwara consructed at a place of the klin, out of sheer joy and faith in the Guru. This Gurdwara was managed for a long time by the Mahants of the Satlani. In A.D. 1927, when Sikh National College was established, a magnificent building of this Gurdwara was also erected. This place has been taken over by the Archives after the partition.

                  GURDWARA LAL KHOOH (LAHORE)

        This Gurdwara is situated behind the water tank or Pani Wala Talab near Muhalla Barudkhana in the centre of Lahore City. Chandu's haveli was situated there. In A.D. 1606, after the arrest of Guru Arjan, Chandu kept the Guru in one of the dingy cells here. There was a well in this building from where the Guru used to bathe daily. The Guru was tortured by Chandu at this very place. He was boiled alive in a big boul; made to sit on a red hot iron plate and the scorched sand was poured on his head. But the Guru did not express even a single sigh of sorrow or grief. He considered it a Sweet will of his Master. When in A.D. 1619, the sixth Guru Hargobind visited Lahore, the Sikh Sangat dragged Chandu through nose in the bazaars. When he was brought in that state near that well, the grain roaster, who was ordered to pour hot sand on Guru Arjan's body, shot him with the very lladlas and he died in an ignominious manner. A Gurdwara was built there. At the begining, the Gurdwara was very small but later, the sangat purchased the adjoining houses and built a befitting bulding. This shrine was under Local Committee Management but in 1927, S.G.P.C. took its charge according to the Gurdwara Act.

GURDWARA DEHRA SAHIB SRI GURU ARJAN DEV JI                                       LAHORE

      Gurdwara Dehra Sahib is situated opposite the Royal Mosque or Shahi Masjid. At the place, after torturing, the fifth Guru was drowned into the Ravi. At that time, the Ravi lowed along the wall of the fort. The Guru after enduring the most unheard and unseen tortures, without repining, merged into the eternal light on 30th May, 1606. In A.D. 1619, when the sixth Guru Hargobind visited this historical place, he got a memorial rostrum built here to commemorate the martyrdom of his Guru-father. Maharaja Ranjit Singh got built a small but beautiful Gurdwara. As there was no congregational hall attached to this place, the present hall was foounded in A.D. 1909 and daily congregations were regularly held. A sarai was got built for the convenience of the pilgrims. The marble gate was erected. The Flag post was fixed nearby. The Gurdwara has a square passage-way inside. In 1925 A.D. a local committee was formed during the Gurdwara Reform Movement that render a good service to this shrine. In A.D. 1927, the S.G.P.C. took over the management and started rebuilding a Gurdwara on 21th April, 1930. That was completed on 9th September, 1934 wherein on both sides of the Gurdwara was clay area which was paved. Domes were gold plated. The number of devotees in daily congregations increased. Another scheme to extend the hall was chalked out but due to the partition of the country, that could not be accomplished. On 9th September 1947, the Sikhs had to leave this Gurdwara too. The recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at this Gurdwara continues to date. Two Singh render daily service to this shrine. Every year at the occasion of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (On Shahidi Jor Mela) Sikh devotees visit the shrine to pay homage to the great Guru.

                GURDWARA PATSHAHI CHHEVIN

       This place, that was hallowed by the holy touch of the feet of the Sixth Guru Hargobind Sahib, is situated inside Bhatti Darwaza in the Chumalah Muhalla. The Guru accepted the request of the Lahore Sangat and stayed for three days at the house of Bhai Jiwan, a devotee. Bhai Jiwan, out of sheer joy of having the Guru as a house-guest, converted the place into a Gurdwara, after the holy visit. When Bhai Bidhi Chand went to Lahore twice to rescue the horses, that were siezed by the rulers, he stayed there. The sangat rendered to this holy shrine. In A.D. 1915, the hall of this Gurdwara was extended. After some time, Mahant Hari Singh indulged in foul practices. The sangat took over the management of this place in A.D. 1921 and formed a local committee. In A.D. 1927, the S.G.P.C. took over the charge of administration of this Gurdwara. In A.D. 1947, at the time of the partition of the country, Many Singhs attained martyrdom to save the sanctity of this holy shrine.

               GURDWARA PATSHAHI CHHEVIN MUZANG

      When Jahangir handed over Chandu to Guru Hargobind Sahib, he visited this place alongwith Chandu. Guru Hargobind Ji also made his forst halt here, when he set free Bibi Kaulan, the daughter of a Qazi, on the asking of Mian Mir. During this very visit, the Guru commenced the construction work at the Shahidi Asthan of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Maharaja Ranjit Singh got built a Gurdwara at Muzang. In A.D. 1926, by the zeal of late S.Mehar Singh, the present hall came into existence. Daily congregations were held. At first, the local committee managed this shrine which in A.D. 1927 was taken over by the S.G.P.C.

GURDWARA SHIKARGARH PATSHAHI CHHEVIN LAHORE

        This place, related with the visit of Guru Hargobind to Lahore, is situated at Ferozepur Road, little ahead of Muzang. There was a thick jungle at that time here. The Guru hunted here. There is a dry tank near this place which was got dug by the foe of the Sikhs, Lakhpat Rai. In the British times, Bhai Mal Rai ceremoniall placed Sri Guru Granth Sahib at the historical place. Later, this came under the Singh Sabha management. The Gurdwara Committee wanted to establish a college for the girls but this could not be done as the partition came in between.
                        
                          SHAHID GANJ BHAI TARU SINGH

        The Shahidi Asthan of Bhai Taru Singh Ji is situated in Naulakha Bazar. Bhai Sahib used to look after his widowed mother, and his sister by sheer honest earning and helped the needy Sikhs as well. The rulers of the time always disliked these compassionate deeds of his. Under the offence, Bhai Sahib Ji was imprisoned, he was offered temptation and then tortured but he did not budge and remained steadfast. The Qazi passed a decree to scalp him alive. At the place, Bhai Taru Singh's scalp was removed with a hoe, but he kept repeating Waheguru. On 13th Asu, 1802 BK. (A.D. 1745) Bhai Taru left for his heavenly abode but as he had exclaimed, Zakaria Khan died earlier. The devotees got a Gurdwara built at this place. During the Sikh Raj, a big Jagir was granted to this Gurdwara. When the management of this shrine was taken over by the S.G.P.C., the rendering of service to this holy place went to Bhai Asher Singh, who later became Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat. Due to distinguished qualities of Bhai Sahib, it earned great importance, but after partition, we had to abondon this holy shrine. The Gurdwara still exists but the management is with Pakistan Waqf Board.

         GURDWARA SHAHID GANJ SIGHNIAN LAHORE

        This historical place is situated opposite Shahid Ganj Bhai Taru Singh. According to some historians, about two and a half lakh Singhs-Sikh women folk, young and old Singhs and Children were martyrised here. As the women suffered most to immortalism on account of thier heroic deeds, it was named Gurdwara Shahid Ganj Singhnian. In march 1764, when Mir Manu assumed the governorship of Punjab, he announced to exterminate the Sikh's root and branch. At his orders, the Sikhs were imprisoned and brought here to be killed. It is here on the basement, that the devoted women were made to mill grain. Their children were butchered mercilessly and garlands, made of their severed limbs, were put around their necks. When Diwan Kaura Mal's men gave assistance to Mir Manu in Multan expedition, they got possession of this place. The Sikhs started reciting Sri Guru Granth Sahib at this place and a Gurdwara was constructed. It gained importance when the sardars of the Bhangi Misl captured Lahore. Shere-i-Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh also used to visit this shrine twice or thrice a week to pay his homage. The Maharaja granted a Jagir to this Gurdwara but the management remained with the Mahants. On 1st December A.D. 1934, Shiromani Committee got the management of this historic holy place. But after partition, this place was abandoned. At present, the management of this place is with the Waqf board. Although the building is in a good condition but Guru Granth Sahib is not placed.

           SHAHID GANJ BHAI MANI SINGH LAHORE

      The place where Bhai Mani Singh was martyred is situated inside the Masti Gate which is behind the Lahore Fort. Bhai Mani Singh was born in a pious and dedicated Gursikh faimly which was devoted to the Gurus. Bhai Mani Singh had the rare privilege to be a child mate of Guru Gobind Singh. Bhai Sahib had also the honour to scribe the holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the presence of Saheb-i-Kamal Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In A.D. 1721, Mata Sundri Ji appointed Bhai Mani Singh as a Granthi of Sri Harimandir Sahib. Bhai Mani Singh, with the permission of the Goverment, on the occassion of Diwali, invited the Sikhs to Assemble at Sri Harimandir Sahib but when Bhai Sahib came to know that the authorities conspired to kill the assembled Sikhs, he postponed the congregation. For this offence, Bhai Mani Singh was imprisoned. Earlier he was enticed and afterwards threatened with dire consequences but Bhai Sahib did not yield to them and remained steadfast and firm. At the place in A.D. 1724, Bhai Mani Singh was martyred by cutting limb by limb. There was also an old well at this place where after bieng martyred, the Sikhs were thrown into. At first the management was with the Mahants. In 1923, the local committee took over the management which was transferred to S.G.P.C. from 1927 to 1947 A.D. After partition, this place was locked up and is still so.

 

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