Gurudwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib — Local services in Nankana Sahib Tehsil

Dhan guru nanak teri vadi kamai

Nankana Sahib is a city in the Pakistani province of Punjab, Earlier known as "Rai Bhao di Talwandi". It is names after the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev, the first guru of the Sikhs and the founder of Sikhism who was born here in 1469, so Nankana Sahib is a city of high historical and religious value and is a popular pilgrimage site for Sikhs from all over the world. Nankana Sahib is located about 80 kilometers south west of Lahore and about 75 kilometers east of Faisalabad, with a population of approximately 70,000. Nankana Sahib City is also the capital of Nankana Sahib District and Tehsil. Nankana Sahib is a town of Gurdwaras (Sikh temples), the most important of these being the 'Nanak's Ayan' called Janam Asthan or Birth place of Nanak. Guru Nanak passed his whole childhood and young age in Nankana Sahib. The Janam Asthan Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, originally constructed in around 1600 A.D. was renovated in the year 1819–20 A.D. by Gian-Punjab Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia The Sikh Conference of Panjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Peshawar, Kangra and Hazara. During the Akali movement, on 20 February 1921, Narain Das, the Udasi mahant (clergy) of the gurdwara at Nankana Sahib, ordered his men to fire on Akali protesters, leading to the Nankana massacre. The firing was widely condemned, and an agitation was launched until the control of this historic Janam Asthan Gurdwara was restored to the Sikhs. Again in the 1930s and 40's the Sikhs added more buildings and more architectural design. Nankana SahibThe area around Nankana Sahib was formerly a tehsil of Sheikhupura District. In May 2005, the provincial government decided to raise the status of Nankana Sahib to that of a district as a way of promoting development in the area. The development of Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev in Pakistan is one of the numerous projects by Punjab Government. The work of development of Nankana Sahib Resort to host and entertain local and international visitors is almost complete. According to reports, there are plans to construct a 100 Acre University as well as hospitals and health care facilities by the descendents of Rai Bular. In 2007, Government of Pakistan announced a plan to set up a university on Sikh religion and culture at Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak. "The international Guru Nanak University planned at Nankana Sahib would have the best architecture, curricula and research centre on Sikh religion and culture", Chairman of Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Gen (Retd) Zulfikar...

The township was founded by Rai Bhoi, a rich landlord Rajput Muslim and thus was known as Rai-Bhoi-Di-Talwandi. His great-grand son Rai Bular Bhatti, renamed it as 'Nankana Sahib' after the birth of Guru Nanak.[citation needed] The Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, originally constructed in around 1600 CE was renovated in 1819–20 CE by Gian-Punjab Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia The Sikh Conference of Panjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Peshawar, Kangra and Hazara.[citation needed]

During the Akali movement, on 20 February 1921, Narain Das, the Udasi mahant (clergy) of the gurdwara at Nankana Sahib, ordered his men to fire on Akali protesters, leading to the Nankana massacre. The firing was widely condemned, and an agitation was launched until the control of this historic Janam Asthan Gurdwara was restored to the Sikhs. Again in the 1930s and 40's the Sikhs added more buildings and more architectural design.

Migration between India and Pakistan was continuous before independence. By the 1940s Western Punjab was predominantly Muslim and supported the Muslim League and Pakistan Movement. After independence in August 1947, the minority Sikhs and Hindus migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Western Punjab and across Pakistan.

Nankana Sahib and it surroundings were formerly a tehsil of Sheikhupura District. In May 2005, the provincial government raised the status of Nankana Sahib to a district[8] as a way of promoting development in the area. The present status is District Nankana Sahib has three tehsils: Nankana Sahib, Shah Kot, and Sangla Hill. Before December 2008, District Nankana Sahib also included Safdarabad Tehsil.

There are plans to construct a 100 acres (40 ha) university as well as hospitals and health care facilities by the district government with mutual interest of local communities and family of Rai Bular.

In 2007, the Pakistan government announced a plan to set up a university on Sikh religion and culture at Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak. Chairman of Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Gen (R) Zulfikar Ali Khan, said that "The international Guru Nanak University planned at Nankana Sahib would have the best architecture, curricula and research centre on Sikh religion...

Gurdwara Janam Asthan referred to birth place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder & first Guru of Sikhism, (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539) was born in Rāi Bhoi Kī Talvaṇḍī, Present day NankanaSahib, Punjab, Pakistan, approx 75 kilometres from Lahore. Sikhs around the world celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth on the Pooranmashi (full moon) day in the Lunar month of Katak (October-November).

Quote: "Even Kings & Emperors with Heaps of Wealth & Vast Dominion cannot compare with an Ant filled with the love of God".

Facts

From an early age, it was evident that Nanak was an extraordinary child, distinguished by his divine grace. Growing up, he refused to take part in traditional religious rituals, & often spoke out against several societal practices.

He meditated & sang hymns accompanied by Bhai Mardana on the rabab (a stringed instrument). During one of those early mornings while bathing in “Vain Nadi” (a small river), Guru Nanak heard God‘s call to dedicate himself completely to the service of humanity. He then began the next stage of his life, to preach his unique doctrine (Sikhi) to the entire world.

For the next 30 years, accompanied by Bhai Mardana, Guru Nanak undertook four major spiritual journeys, running across India, South Asia, Tibet & Arabia, covering about 30,000 kilometers.

In the later years, Guru ji settled down at the township of Kartarpur ("creator's town"), on the banks of river Ravi in Punjab. He donned the robes of a peasant, earning his own honest living by cultivating the lands. Followers came from near and far to listen to the Master.

He introduced the institution of Langar (free communal kitchen) at Kartarpur, establishing the basic equality of all people regardless of their social and economic status.

In the year 1539, Guru Ji, after having tested his own two sons & some followers, installed Bhai Lehna ji (Guru Angad Dev Ji) as the Second Nanak, & after a few days passed into Sach khand.

Guru Nanak's writings, in the form of 974 spiritual hymns comprising the Japji Sahib, Asa di Var, Bara Mah, Sidh Gosht & Dakhni Onkar were incorporated in the scripture "Guru Granth Sahib" by the fifth Guru...