Kesgarh Qila or Takht Kesgarh Sahib, alternatively spelt as Keshgarh Qila, is one of the five takhts of the Sikhs located in Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district of Punjab, India. It is located just 40 km from Rupnagar city, the district headquarters and 78 km from state capital Chandigarh. The fort is also called Takhat Keshgarh Sahib. This Gurdwara was one of the forts constructed by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib for the defense of the Sikhs. He spent his 25 years at Anandpur Sahib and, to protect the Sikhs from the Rajas of the Hill States and Mughals, began the construction of five defensive Qilas (forts) all around the town.
| Takht Kesgarh Sahib | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Takht of the Sikhs [1] |
| Architectural style | Sikh architecture |
| Address | Anandpur Sahib Rupnagar district, Punjab, India. |
| Town or city | Anandpur Sahib |
| Country |  India |
History
edit
The Takht is one of Five Takht in Sikhism, the Takht name is Takht Kesgarh Sahib being the place where the last two Sikh Gurus, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh, lived. It is also the place where Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth in 1699.[2] In the 1930s, a new structure was constructed over the original site and structure of Anandgarh Qila.[3][4] Originally, the Sarai Ganga tributary of the Sutlej River flowed south-westwards from the site of Anandpur Sahib but it no longer does today as its course has changed.[3]
Forts
editThe Qilas (meaning "fortress"), constructed by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib are:[5][3]
1. Takht Kesgarh Sahib Qila at the center (now a Takhat)
2. Anandgarh Qila (fort of bliss)[3]
3. Lohgarh Qila (fort of steel)[3]
4. Holgarh Qila (fort of colour)[3]
5. Fatehgarh Qila (fort of victory)[3]
6. Taragarh Qila (fort of stars)[3]
All the Qilas were joined together with earthworks and tunnels. All Qila Situated at Anandpur Sahib. In this Qilas one Qila is now Takht of Sikhs Takht Kesgarh Sahib Qila. The fort of Anandgarh was located at a central location whilst the forts of Lohgarh, Holgarh, Fatehgarh, and Taragarh formed a circular pattern around it.[3] The original structures of the forts were destroyed by Kar Seva renovators in the 20th century and marble Gurdwaras were constructed in their former location.[3]
Jathedars of Takht Keshgarh Sahib
edit| Name |
Assigned by | Term | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before, there was only one regular granthi for the serive of serve Kesgarh Sahib. | |||
| Gaini Karam Singh | Sarbat Khalsa | ? | |
| Bhai Kharak Singh | Sarbat Khalsa | ? | |
| Gaini Budh Singh | Sarbat Khalsa | ? | |
| Gaini Puran Singh | Sarbat Khalsa | ? | |
| Gaini Amar Singh | Sarbat Khalsa | ? | |
| After the Gurdwara Reform Movement, Jathedar and granthi of the Gurdwara are appointed. | |||
| Giani Bir
Singh |
SGPC | 1942 - 31 March 1944 | |
| Giani Waryam Singh | SGPC | 1 April 1944 - 31 January 1945 | |
| Giani Bir Singh |
SGPC | 1 February 1945 - 31 March 1945 | |
| Giani Kartar Singh | SGPC | 1 April 1945 - 24 June 1945 | |
| Giani Ajit Singh | SGPC | 24 June 1945 - 2 July 1953 | |
| Giani Fauja Singh | SGPC | 14 July 1953 - 7 February 1954 | |
| Giani Ajit Singh | SGPC | 9 February 1954 - 9 February 1955 | |
| Giani Fauja Singh | SGPC | 9 February 1955 - 14 May 1955 | |
| Giani Partap Singh | SGPC | 26 May 1955 - 26 June 1955 | |
| Giani Fauja Singh | SGPC | 27 June 1955 - 30 April 1957 | |
| Giani Bachittar Singh | SGPC | 1 May 1957 - 1961 | |
| Giani Sharam Singh | SGPC | 1961 - 3 January 1971 | |
| Giani Balbir Singh | SGPC | 4 January 1971 - 13 October 1971 | |
| Giani Gurdial Singh Ajnoha | SGPC | 14 October 1971 - 12 March 1980 | |
| Giani Harcharan Singh Mahalon | SGPC | 13 March 1980 - 23 January 1987 | |
| Giani Savinder Singh |
Sarbat Khalsa | 26 January 1986 - 1993 | |
| General Labh Singh | Panthic Committee | June 24 1988 - 12 July 1988 | [6] |
| Giani Balbir Singh | SGPC | 30 May 1998 - 21 September 1989 | |
| Prof. Manjit Singh | SGPC | 22 September 1989 - 26 May 1991 | |
| Giani Daljit Singh | SGPC | 27 May 1991 - 1 January 1992 | |
| Prof. Manjit Singh | SGPC | 2 January 1992 - 23 February 2003 | |
| Giani Tarlochan Singh | SGPC | 23 February 2003 - 30 July 2013 | |
| Giani Sukhwinder Singh Khujala | SGPC | 31 July 2013 - 21 August 2013 | |
| Giani Mal Singh | SGPC | 22 August 2013 - 15 August 2017 | |
| Giani Phula Singh | SGPC | 16 August 2017 - 23 August 2017 | |
| Giani Raghbir
Singh |
SGPC | 24 August 2017 - 22 June 2023 | |
| Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala | Sarbat Khalsa | 10 November 2015 - 13 November 2017 | |
| Giani Sultan Singh | SGPC | 26 June 2023 - Incumbent | |
Gallery
edit-
Photograph of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, India, ca.1952 -
Kesgarh Qila -
Lohgarh Qila -
Holgarh Qila -
Fatehgarh Qila -
Taragarh Qila
References
edit- ^ Nabha, Kahan Singh (13 April 1930). Gur Shabad Ratanakar Mahankosh (1 ed.). Languages Department of Punjab, Patiala. p. ਅਕਾਲਬੁੰਗਾ. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
- ^ Rai, Gurmeet S. (1999). "Abode of Bliss: Historiography of Anandpur Sahib". Nishaan Nagaara magazine - premiere issue (PDF). pp. 14–27.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rai, Gurmeet S. (1999). "Abode of Bliss: Historiography of Anandpur Sahib". Nishaan Nagaara magazine - premiere issue (PDF). pp. 14–27.
- ^ Singh, Roopinder (8 April 2018). "Baisakhi in the City of Bliss". The Tribune. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Gurdwara Qila Lohgarh Sahib Anandpur | Discover Sikhism".
- ^ Journal of Government and Political Studies. Department of Political Science, Punjabi University. 1989. p. 23.