| Paonta Sahib |
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The word `Paonta' literally means `space for a foothold' and was sanctified when Guru Ji placed his foot on its soil. Paonta Sahib Gurdwara commemorates the stay of the great Guru on the banks of the river Yamuna.. Guru Gobind Singh Ji reached Poanta Sahib in 1685 and spent four years there. A small Himalayan town on the banks of the river Yamuna appealed to his artistic sense and his love of the beautiful. His entourage was also greatly impressed by the location . He was taught Sanskrit and Persian in addition to Hindi and Punjabi which he learnt at Patna Sahib, he also learnt to shoot and ride. A separate raised ground near the river was leveled up where every evening the Sikhs would gather and hear the poets recite their compositions. Soon more and more poets started assembling around Guru Ji until the number reached 52. One day at the assembly some poets complained that the river was very noisy and they found it hard to concentrate. At Guru Ji's request the waters of the river Yamuna fell silent. Even today the noisy waters of the river fall silent as it passes the gurdwara and then becomes noisy again down river. |
Mock battles, military parades, hunting expeditions, archery competitions, wrestling matches , literary discussions, poetic symposia and kirtan darbars became regular features of the place. This was bound to raise a feeling of jealousy in the minds of the surrounding hill chieftains who could not understand why the followers of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who was peaceful, were now arming themselves. They were therefore becoming afraid of military preparations being made in the Guru's camp.
I those days a group of 500 udasis (a reclusive sect owing their origin from Baba Siri Chand, the eldest son of Guru Nanak Dev Ji) under the leadership of Mahant Kirpal Das, came to Paonta. They were conversant with gurbani and Sikh history and had played a useful role as missionaries. Guru Sahib Ji entertained them, allotted suitable accommodation for their stay and provided them with provisions for preparation of their own meals in the puritan fashion of their sect.
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It was at Poanta that Guru Ji himself found time to write some of his longer poetical compositions like Krishanavtar. This he did in the year 1687. Krishanavtar contains his famous verse : "Blessed is he whose mouth utters the Name of God and whose mind longs to take part in Dharam Yudh. This body is transient and glorification of God enables it to cross the worlds ocean. Let this body become the abode of patience, lit up with the light of intelligence, and let cowardice be swept out of it with the broom of knowledge." Other compositions written by Guru Gobind Singh Ji at Poanta and Anandpur were : Bachittar Natak (autobiography : Wondrous Drama) , Ram Katha , Krishan Charittra, Chaupai Bainti, Charittar Pakhyan and Sarb Loh Granth. |
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Guru
Ji has varyingly used the pen-names of ‘Shyam’,
‘Ram’ , ‘Shah Gobind’
and ‘Gobind Das’ in his compositions
according to the meter in which they fitted. Other poets like Ghalib,
Zafar and Nand Lal have also adopted multiple pen-names, this should
not therefore create any confusion in the minds of the readers of
the Dasam Granth. ‘Shyam’ and ‘Ram’ were
the nick names with which Mata Gujri Ji used to call Guru Gobind
Singh Ji as a child. This also avoided Mata Ji uttering the word
‘Gobind’ occuring in the name of her father-in-law,
Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, according to the custom prevalent among
Indian women at that time. |
“Now I narrate the story of Chaubis Avtar (the twenty four incarnations of Vishnu) and how they played their parts on the worlds stage. Let all holy men listen to it attentively what ‘Shyam’ is saying as best he can.” – Dasam Granth Ji.
“Bestow thy blessings on me, O Lord, and protector of ‘Shah Gobind’” – Khaas Bir
“Victory is of God, says ‘Shah Gobind’ who utters the holy mantra ‘Waheguru’ from his lips” – Sarab Loh Granth.
“He who has held my arm shall now protect the honour of ‘Gobind Das’, the servant of the Lord” – Dasam Granth.
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