[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I am Lila Weaver and this is my story of my pilgrimage to India. In the previous blog we took refuge at the Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”527,528,529,530″ img_size=”650×650″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We arrived in Delhi and immediately started to prepare for the next leg of our journey. Washing is done and we pack for the flight to Nanded the next morning. We fly from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, to the Maharashtra province in the south of India on a flight of couple of hours or so.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”531,532,533″ img_size=”650×650″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our arrival is at Guru Gobind Singh airport in Nanded which is a very small airport. So small in fact, that the arrivals hall has only one conveyor belt to receive our bags. On exit we are pleased to see a bus waiting for us. There are only a few of us onboard and so we spread out so all can have un-spoilt views of the journey ahead. The trip was very scenic and involved a drive through beautiful agricultural lands. It was a snapshot of what life was like in the Nanded area. Eventually we reached the city of Nanded itself. Whilst travelling through the town our excitement grew as we anticipated wondering when the white building we had come to visit would appear. After a sudden turn to the left there in front of us, in all its glory, is one of the entrances to the Takhat Sachkhand Sri Abchal Nagar Sahib.
The tenth master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji had his tent pitched in the exact site where the Takhat stands erected today. Guru Ji held his meetings and gatherings here. Guru Ji was recovering after a fierce attack on his life by Wazis Khan, the Governor of Sirhand.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”534,535,536″ img_size=”650×650″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Guru Ji addressed his followers and said that this holy land will be named
“Abchalnagar” which is translated as: “The Eternal City”. Here Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s soul left for the heavenly abode. The Gurdwara was built between 1832 and 1837 by order of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji. In October 2008, the 300th anniversary celebration of the Guruship of Guru Granth Sahib took place here. The Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib, which during earlier years passed into the hands of Udasi Sikh priests was regained by the Sikhs under the influence of the Singh Sabha Movement of the late nineteenth century. Some of the “rituals and ceremonies” are peculiar to this Takhat Sahib. The Takht houses both the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Sri Dasam Granth. The same pattern is followed by the Takhat Sri Patna Sahib.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”537,538,539″ img_size=”650×650″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We hopped off the bus and went straight to the office where our details were captured
on the computer and our keys were handed over to be checked in to two different buildings.
I was fortunate to be placed in the F block of the main building complex and Karman was placed about one kilometer away, in the Punjab residence.
My room number was F 11. I did not pay much heed to that at the time as we wanted to drop our luggage, shower and go straight to the Takhat.
The Langar hall is opposite the F block. During my time here with Karman we enjoyed a few Langer meals. Here as I ate Chole,(chickpeas, Aloo (Potato) and Puri (tiny crispy roties) for the first time. They were delicious. This became one of my favorite dishes.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”540,541,542″ img_size=”650×650″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During my stay I woke up every morning at two am when the morning service started. The loudspeakers were fitted close to my room so I was woken up by the sounds of the Granthi voices reciting scriptures and the sweet sounds of the hymns being sung. Most mornings I went to the Gurudwara at sunrise to join in the morning prayers. On the way to the steps leading into the Gurudwara Sahib there is an ancient well point which used to supply Guru Ji’s settlement with water.
Although I loved being close to this Takhat I struggled to connect with Guru Ji, even though it was the last place Guru Ji was at before he transcended. During my morning meditations I kept on asking Guru Ji how long I must stay, and indeed if I should stay on and not leave with Karman on the fifth day. I started feeling disillusioned and pressured to find what had I come for. I began to feel that the masses of people and the constant movement around me were the reasons I could not connect. There were just so many pilgrims, at the Takhat in the mornings, midday and even at the evening prayers. New pilgrims came on a daily basis, some lingered and some left. There was a constant flow of people. More than what I had experienced at any of the other Takhats. On the forth morning I still had no answer or sign and we had to book our return tickets for the next day. I walked to my room after morning prayers and as I unlocked my door something prompted me to look up at my room number on the door I realized I have to stay “11 days”. I sighed with relief, how did I not notice the room number before? I smiled at myself for being so impatient and shook my head, why did I even doubt? So Karman will leave on the 5th day but I will stay on.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”543,544,545,546″ img_size=”650×650″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Every morning I woke early and attended the early morning sangat and kirtan. This Takhat was so beautiful, white marble and some of the walls of the inner room were gold plated. There were the most beautiful crystal inserts in the tiles. The walls had detailed golden peacocks as wall decorations which left me in awe. On the walls were the most delicate pearl shells crafted into the decorations.
On the outside of the Gurudwara, mats were placed for the masses of pilgrims that take refuge here to attend the morning and evening payers. During my early morning attendance I soon found the most sacred place to sit, right underneath the awe- inspiring painting of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru. This became my spot. Day by day I grew closer to Guru ji as I felt his presence. After all, this was the place where Guru Ji’s soul had departed from. Eventually I would sit facing right up against the marble wall with my hand on the gold-plated step so I could really feel the surge of pure energy that eminated from this sacred room. This inner room of the Gurdwara is called the Angitha Sahib and is built over the place where Guru Gobind Singh was cremated in 1708.
The Angitha Sahib or inner room is the most important part of this holy shrine. There are two sanctums here. While all the functions are carried out by the priests in the outer room, the inner room is a vault which houses priceless objects, weapons and other personal belongings of Guru Ji. No one except the head priest can enter this holy vault. This is the inner room that is covered by pure gold plating.
The evening proceedings of closing the Sri Granth Sahib and laying it to rest is a bit different from what I’ve experienced before and is a majestic affair. Afterwards the priests leave the Gurudwara and are followed by some of the devotees. At the bottom of the footbaths they are met by a Nihang Singh (warrior), who bows to them and then the group breaks up.
On the evening before Karman returned to Punjab we joined the evening rituals. We decided to stroll around the Gurudwara and enjoy the visuals of this glorious building. We took some photos, later back in my room I enlarged the photos, to my amazement I noticed the Falcon sitting to my left on the marble. I do not have the words to explain, how blessed and humbled I felt at that moment, then to be shown the presence of the Falcon in this way. This is a clear visible sign to all. We captured the falcon on camera by pure flook, or was it flook? This was proof that the Falcon is at my side day and night. Not only did the falcon fly above me during day time but amazingly so the Falcon made himself visible in a light body. Waheguru.
During this pilgrimage Guri Ji presented me with many signs, but this one unexpectedly captured now once again proved that my pilgrimage was guided. At this moment I knew that the connection I’ve been waiting for was here.
This is the 9th blog of our Sikh pilgrimage, which will continue for the next few months.
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa
Waheguru ji ki Fateh
Sat Sri Akaal.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]