Gurdwara Janam Asthan (Punjabi (Shahmukhi), Urdu: گردوارہ جنم استھان; Punjabi (Gurmukhi): ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਜਨਮ ਅਸਥਾਨ), also referred to as Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, is a highly revered gurdwara that is situated at the site where the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, was born.[2][3][4][5] The shrine is located in Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan.

Gurdwara Janam Asthan
گردوارہ جنم استھان
ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਜਨਮ ਅਸਥਾਨ
Gurdwara Janam Asthan (The birth place),
also known as the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib[1]
Map
General information
Architectural styleSikh architecture
Town or cityNankana Sahib
Punjab
CountryPakistan Pakistan
Construction started1600 A.D.
Completed1819–20 A.D.

Location

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The shrine is located in the town of Nankana Sahib, approximately 65 kilometres from Lahore. Nankana Sahib had previously been known as Rāi Bhoi Kī Talvaṇḍī,[6] but was eventually renamed in honour of Guru Nanak.

Significance

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Gurdwara Janam Asthan is believed to be located at the site where Guru Nanak was born to Mehta Kalu and Mata Tripta.[7]

The gurdwara forms part of an ensemble of nine important gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib.[8] The shrine is frequently visited by Sikh yatris as part of a pilgrimage route in Pakistan.

Gudrwara Janam Asthan

History

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Photograph of the Gurdwara Janam Asthan published in Mahan Kosh (1930), ca.1920's

The first gurdwara is believed to have been built at the site in the 16th century by the grandson of Guru Nanak, Baba Dharam Chand.[8] The current gurdwara was built by Ranjit Singh in the 19th century.[9]

1921 Massacre

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86 Sikhs were killed during the 20 February 1921 Nankana massacre,[10] which took place after a confrontation between supporters of the gurdwara's manager, Mahant Narayan Das, and members of the reformist Akali movement who accused him of both corruption and sexual impropriety.

Conservation

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The gurdwara complex is listed on the Protected Heritage Monuments of the Archaeology Department of Punjab.[11]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Singh, Parvinder. "Pakistan Gurudwara, Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib, Dera Sahib, pilgrimage of pakistan gurudwara, Lahore Gurudwara, gurunanak Janam Asthan, gurudwara hasan abdal". Sikhtourism, Sikh Tourism, Golden Temple, Amritsar Tour, Hemkund Sahib, Sikh Pilgrimage, Punjab Gurudwara Tours, Pakistan Gurudwara Tours, India Gurudwara Tours, Punjab Tours, India Tours. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  2. ^ Staff Report (13 April 2016). "2,000 Sikh pilgrims arrive in city to celebrate Besakhi". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  3. ^ Iqbal, Amjad (22 November 2015). "Over 2,500 Indian Sikhs attend annual pilgrimage". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Sikhs split over sale of Gurdwara Janam Asthan". The Nation. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Sikh pilgrims protest as permission to rally turned down in Nankana Sahib - Pakistan". dunyanews.tv. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  6. ^ Khalsa, Sukhmandir (1 January 2010). "Historical Gurdwaras of Nankana, Pakistan Commemorating Guru Nanak Dev". About.com Religion & Spirituality. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  7. ^ Bakhshi, Surinder Singh (2009). Sikhs in the Diaspora. ISBN 9780956072801.
  8. ^ a b "Nankana's pride". The News. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  9. ^ "PAKISTAN NANKANA SAHIB".
  10. ^ Giani Partap Singh, Gurdwara Arthaat Akali Lehir, 1975, p 104.
  11. ^ Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency. "Guidelines for Critical & Sensitive Areas" (PDF). Government of Pakistan. pp. 12, 47, 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
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  Media related to Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib at Wikimedia Commons

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