Gurdwara Langar Sahib - Gurudwara Langar Sahib Ji, Huzur Sahib

Gurdwara
Langar Sahib
Nanded
8
H
azur Sahib, one of the five Takhats (seats of
spiritual and temporal authority), was built
through the munificence of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh, founder of the first Sikh Empire and
Diwan Chandu Lal, Prime Minister of the
Nizam of Hyderabad. Popularly known as Takhat Sachkhand Sri
Hazur Sahib Abchal Nagar, the place is also associated with Guru
Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith, who stayed here during his
travels to the South and blessed the city as Sachkhand or the `realm
of truth’. The city is called Abchal Nagar because according to a
popular belief that after Guru Gobind Singh bestowed Gurgaddi on
Guru Granth Sahib following Vak was read from the holy scripture,
nfpub Bro[ r’fpzd r[o{ ek Bkw[ igs ;[y[ gkfJnk okwŒ
wB fJS/ ;/Jh cb gkJ/ eos? nkfg t;kfJnk okwŒ
(Eternal is this city of my Guru, my God; Contemplating
(herein) the Lord’s Name).
in far off Nanded, then part of the kingdom of Nizam of Hyderabad.
Being of contemplative mind Baba Nidhan Singh generally
remained engrossed in meditation so much that he often forgot to
participate in the daily regimen of the army. With a view to serving
the God and the Guru, young Nidhan Singh decided to devote his
life to humanity. Traveling from far off village of Nadola of
Hoshiarpur district in Panjab Baba Nidhan Singh reached Takhat
Sri Hazur Sahib Nanded and got involved in the service of Langar
there. A sensitive mind as he was he got upset with an incident
while serving Langar to the pilgrims at Hazur Sahib and decided to
return to his native village.
According to a popular legend while he was waiting to board
the train he went into trance. It is believed that then there was sudden lightening and Guru Gobind Singh appeared at this place and
ordered Baba Nidhan Singh to restore the tradition of Langar from
the place where Guru’s armies were served food from the community kitchen. Guru Gobind Singh also assured him that while Baba
Nidhan Singh and his associates will take care of the service, the
Guru himself will take care of their financial needs and blessed him
saying Kheesa mera, Hath Tera- my pocket and your hands should
combine in restoring tradition of free kitchen at this place. Greatly
encouraged by the blessings of Guru Gobind Singh, Baba Nidhan
Singh took no time in moving to the location where langar was
served to Guru’s army daily. In those days when Hazur Sahib was
According to popular tradition after bestowing the
Gurgaddi on Guru Granth Sahib Guru Gobind Singh ordered the
Khalsa to accept Granth Sahib as Guru Eternal and bestowed the
Sikh community with concept of Guru Granth and Guru Panth.
It was because of Guru’s special blessings to this city that it
enjoys pivotal position in the Sikh history and tradition. According
to another popular legend Guru is believed to have desired his followers to visit this holy town before their final journey. That is why
large number of followers of Sikh faith visit Takhat Sri Hazur Sahib
from different parts of India and abroad.
Sant Baba Nidhan Singh, most popular spiritual figure of this
area, was blessed to have learnt the lessons of Sikh concept of
Sewa at the hallowed portals of Takhat Sri Hazur Sahib before his
being blessed by Guru Gobind Singh to restart the service of Langar
at a place which came to be popularly known as Gurdwara
Langar Sahib.
Gurdwara Langar Sahib and its Founder
According to the popular tradition, in early twentieth century, the
present venue of Langar Sahib was located by Sant Baba Nidhan
Singh (1882-1947). Born in 1882 in Nadola village of Hoshiarpur
District of Panjab, Nidhan Singh started his career in army but soon
abandoned that to serve a larger cause- running community kitchen
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Reproduction from a
painting depicting the
legend of Guru
Gobind Singh
Facing page
(inset)
Takhat Sri Hazur Sahib
Source of inspiration
A panormic view of the
Gurdwara Langar Sahib
and its environs
Hazur Sahib
Gurdwaras in Hazur Sahib being
built and managed by
Baba Harnam Singh of
Langar Sahib Trust,
Nanded
Nanded and nearby Gurdwaras
Gurdwara Langar Sahib
Gurdwara Nanak Sahib
Gurdwara Ratan Garh Sahib
Gurdwara Guptsar Sahib,
Manmad
Gurdwara in memory of Shibzada
Zorawar Singh Ji &
Fateh Singh Ji, Degloor
Gurdwara Lohgarh Sahib
Dera Vishnupuri
Dera Gobind Bagh
Bhupinder Singh Suri
Trustee
Gurdwara Langar Sahib Trust,
Hazur Sahib, Nanded
Photographs by
Malkiat Singh
practically cut off from Panjab for lack of means of communications
Gurdwara Langar Sahib with utmost dedication and devotion till his
there were hardly any visitors or offerings it was Baba Ji’s sheer
end came in October, 1979.
determination and dedication to the Tenth Master that nonstop servAfter the departure of Baba Harnam Singh ji, Sant Baba Atma
ice of Langar continued not withstanding the hardships Baba
Singh ji, popularly known as Moni ji, continued the tradition of servNarinder Singh, the present chief of Gurdwara Langar Sahib narice to humanity like his predecessors. Upon the passing away of
rated various incidents when left over leaves of the vegetables in the
Sant Baba Atma Singh ji Moni, Sant Baba Shisha Singh ji took over
market were collected and cooked in a tin and served to the Sangat
the service of Gurdwara Langar Sahib and he continued the develalong with chapattis cooked on a tin plate.
opmental work started by his predecessor. It was under Sant Baba
Through his dedication and service to humanity Baba Nidhan
Shisha Singh that apart from Langar Sahib and other associated
Singh emerged as the leading spiritual figure in the area. On Baba
Gurdwaras in Hazur Sahib, construction of Gurdwara in the memoth
Nidhan Singh’s leaving for the heavenly abode on 4 August 1947,
ry of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in Banur was also taken up. It was
responsibility of looking after the management of Gurdwara Langar
during Baba ji’s visit to Banur for supervising the karsewa that he
Sahib fell upon his able and dedicated disciple Shirman 108 Sant
fell ill and left for his heavenly abode. In keeping with his wishes
Baba Harnam Singh ji.
Baba ji’s body was taken to
It was under the patronage of
Nanded by air with Baba
Baba Harnam Singh ji that some
Narinder Singh, S. B.S. Suri and
major developmental works were
other dedicated lieutenants recitundertaken. Before we talk about
ing Gurbani during the whole
Baba
ji’s
contribution
to
journey. After performing the last
Gurdwara Langar Sahib it will
rite memorial of Baba Shisha
worth while to briefly mention
Singh ji was also built along with
about Baba ji’s early life and
Angeethas of other Babas.
career. According to the popular
It seems that the legend of
accounts Baba Harnam Singh ji
Guru Gobind Singh blessing Baba
visited Hazur Sahib as a child
Nidhan Singh has caught popular
with his parents. As luck would
imagination of the peasantry of
have it his father fell ill and left for
Panjab who have become backBaba Harnam Singh ji
Baba Atma Singh ji Moni
Baba Shisha Singh ji
his heavenly abode. Baba ji
bone of Langar Sahib and other
quickly adopted this child who
associated Gurdwaras. Because of
through his dedicated service rose to be Baba ji’s successor. The
the dedicated services and non-political activities of Baba Nidhan
young child always accompanied Baba Nidhan Singh ji and became
Singh and his successors Gurdwara Langar Sahib enjoys great
very popular with the congregation. He came to be known as
esteem among the followers of the Sikh faith especially in the rural
Chhote Baba ji. Kind hearted, selfless, God-fearing person as this
areas who consider it their privilege to offer Daswand of their farm
young child was, he rose to be a promising youngman. It was under
products as well as their earnings for Langar Sahib. It is not surhis dedicated leadership that construction of cemented road to
prising therefore that with the passage of time Langar Sahib has
Nagina Ghat and the Gurdwaras of Nagina Ghat and Langar Sahib
emerged an an empire within empire- having huge grain storage,
were started. In keeping with the Sikh tradition of service and obeown grinding mills, own farm for vegetables, own dairy farm and
dience to the elders Chhote Baba ji faithfully followed the complenty of stock of wheat, pulses, rice and sugar. An ultra modern sysmands of Baba Nidhan Singh ji in whatever task was assigned to
tem for cooking has been installed in the place where langar is prehim. It was not surprising therefore that before leaving for his heavpared and served. Apart from the electricity supplied by the local
enly abode Baba Nidhan Singh ji appointed Baba Harnam Singh ji
authorities Langar Sahib has huge generating sets donated by the
as his successor. Baba Harnam Singh continued the serving at
sangat of Delhi, Bombay and other cities. For Baba Buddha NRI
Dedicated to those noble souls who sustained the movement
ufbnk gfs f;T[ iBw[
;tkfo tkik tkfJ;hŒ
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Top left:
Shri Bhupinder Singh
Suri and Baba Narinder
Singh ji nurturing nursery
for Nanded City as Green
City in the World.
Top right:
Shri Bhupinder Singh
Suri along with Shri
Ashok Rao Chavan,
Chief Minister of
Maharashtra
inauguarating Nanded
City as Green City
in the World.
Niwas which has 170 fully furnished air conditioned rooms for
visitors from India and abroad there are ultra modern solar plants
set up on the roof for supply of hot water in the geyser twenty four
hours a day.
Since Baba Nidhan Singh and his successors believed in maintaining perfect Rehat Maryada so far as respect of Guru Granth
Sahib is concerned they use dedicated washing machines for washing the Rumalas of the Guru Granth Sahib. For the benefit of the
devotees at home and abroad they have a dedicated well maintained air conditioned hall where non-stop series of Akhand Paths
are on with neatly dressed Pathis reciting from the scripture. In their
collection they have many rare hand-written Guru Granth Sahib
Birs kept with Maryada.
Gurdwara Langar Sahib and associated Gurdwaras have taken
a new direction under the dynamic leadership of Baba Narinder
Singh and Baba Balwinder Singh. In keeping his philosophy of
combination of Science and Spirituality Baba Narinder Singh
believes that while the Sikh youth should be given modern education they should stay connected with their spiritual roots. Baba
Narinder Singh strongly believes that worldly education sans spiri-
tuality will lead the youth no where and often gives the example
that a bird can fly only if it has two wings and same applies to the
youth. Baba Narinder Singh believes in interfaith harmony and
cooperation and is quite popular with leaders of various communities in Nanded as well as the Management of Takhat Sri Hazur
Sahib. He encourages the Dakhni Sikhs and often quotes their
great reverence for the Keshas by quoting an example of parents
telling their young children not to tamper with unshorn hair as they
are the insignia of the Guru.
Science and Spirituality
The present Chief Baba Narinder Singh ji believes in promoting
Science and spirituality along with conservation of environment.
With this object Shriman Sant Baba Nidhan Singh ji Educational
and Charitable Trust has taken up major projects leading to construction of roads, building of bridges and greening the cities. The
Gurdwara has created an unprecedented record by planting trees in
Nanded to mark the tercentenary of Gurgaddi Divas. They have
plans to plant five lakhs trees in the area so that Nanded comes to
be known as greenest city of the world.
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Bottom left:
Shri Bhupinder Singh
Suri along with others
partaking langar in the
Gurdwara Langer Sahib,
Nanded
Bottom right:
Shri Ashok Rao Chavan,
Chief Minister,
Maharashtra, laying the
foundation stone of the
Green City Project.
Others seen with him are
Baba Balwinder Singh,
Shri Bhaskar Rao, M.P.,
Baba Narinder Singh ji
and S. Bhupinder
Singh Suri.