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Sachkhand
Hazur Sahib
Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib is the principal shrine at Nanded. It marks the site where the Guru had his camp in 1708 A.D. after the departure of the emperor Bahadur Shah. The tenth Guru held his court and congregation here. It is the site of his own tent where he was convalescing after he was attacked by assasins. It is the place from where the tenth Guru rose to heaven alongwith his horse Dilbag.
Guru Gobind Singh, while conferring Guruship on the holy Book, had himself named Nanded as Abchalnagar (lit. steadfast city) after the first word of a hymn read at random on the occasion. Sachkhand (lit. region of Truth) had been used by Guru Nanak Dev to mean the abode of God.
The present building of the Takhat Sahib was got constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh with money, artisans and labour sent from Punjab during early 1830s. The control of Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, which had formerly passed into the hands of Udasi priests was regained by the Sikhs under the influence of the Singh Sabha Movement of the late nineteenth century.
In 1956 an Act was passed by the legislature of Hyderabad under which the management of Takhat Sahib and other histoorial Gurudwaras was legally placed under a 17 member Gurudwaras Board and a five member Managing Committee.
The two-storey building of the Takhat Sahib proper standing on a high base has a small sqare room on the second floor bearing the gilded ribbed dome topped with a tall gilded pinnacle and umbrella shaped finial. There are some rooms in the basement too, so that the edifice is technically four-storeyed. Corners of the roof of the first floor are decorated with domed kiosks on octagonal pedestals. Other embellishments on the exterior included oriel windows and a wide coping on the sides and a fancy fencing on the roof top. Inside, the sanctum has marble lining decorated with inset work in floral patterns on lower parts of the walls and stucco and tukari work on the upper parts as well as on the ceiling. The sanctum is not occupied by Guru Granth Sahib during the day as is normally the case in all Gurudwaras. Here some old weapons and other relics are placed on a marbled platform. This include steel quoits, a broad sword, a steel bow and an arrow, a gilded dagger-sized sword, a few swords and a mace. Guru Granth Sahib is seated in the room in front of the sanctum from early morning to late evening and is placed in the sanctum only during the night.
Among the gurpurbs observed at the Takaht Sahib, the largely attended functions of the year are Dussehra in October and Hola Mahalla in March. However the installation day (Gurtagaddi-divas) of Guru Granth Sahib as the Guru eternal of Sikhs is celebrated with much fervour and enthusiasm.
Takhat Ishnaan. Another important largely attended function is Takhat Ishnaan. One day prior to Divali, the whole sanctum sanctorum of Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib is washed with milk, and on the fifth day following Diwali, i.e. Panchami, the huge procession is taken out, culminating at the Takhat Sahib. At this time, the recension (Bir Sahib) anointed Guru by the Tenth Master Guru Gobind Singh is placed for Sangat to have a darshan (view) of it and pay obeisance.
Hazur Sahib Tour - 5 nights / 6 days.
Day 1 Departure from New Delhi for Hazur Sahib by Train.
Day 2 Reach Hazur Sahib, visit to Gurudwara for evening Aarti.
Day 3 Amritvela at Hazoor Sahib, breakfast and visit of all local historical Gurudwaras
of Nandedl
Day 4 Tour of Gurudwara Nanak Jheera, Bidar
Day 5 End of tour. Departure Delhi by Train.
Day 6 Reach Delhi.
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