Nanded's association with the Sikh faith
A city in Maharashtra, Nanded's tryst with the Sikh faith began when the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh made it his abode. This is also where he passed on his teachings to the holy book of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib in 1708.
Several years later, in 1835, the then king Maharaja Ranjit Singh, constructed the gurdwara in the city at the site where the 10th and the last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh was laid to rest. Travel from Hyderabad to this pilgrimage site of the Sikhs in easily accessible Hyderabad to Nanded cabs.
The Hazur Sahib
The gurudwara at Nanded is part of the Hazur Sahib, which is one of the five thrones or Thakats of Sikhism. These thrones are places of authority and of primary importance to the Sikhs. The gurudwara still holds the weapons of Guru Gobind Singh which are carefully preserved here. The other Thakats include Akal Thakat at Amristar, Takhat Patna Sahib – Bihar, ThakatKeshgarh Sahib in Anandpur, and ThakatDamdama Sahib in Bhatinda.
The Hazur Sahib houses both the religious texts of the Sikhs the Guru Granth Sahib and the DasamGranth. The shrine also has rituals and practices that are a little different in comparison with other places of Sikh worship. Here the practices that were followed at the time of the Guru are still followed meticulously like the application of sandalwood tilak on the foreheads of the priests and the devotees.
It also has two sanctum sanctorums. One is the outer room where all the festivals and functions are celebrated. The inner room holds the personal belongings of Guru Gobind Singh, weapons and other priceless items. Entry to this room is permitted only to the head priest.
Guru Nanak
Situated on the banks of the Godavari, Nanded is also believed to have been graced by the presence of another Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. It is believed that on one of his travels, Guru Nanak has passed through the city.
The tercentenary
October 2008 marked the 300th anniversary of the year in which Guru Gobind Singh had passed his guruship to the Guru Granth Sahib. To mark this occasion the devotees of Sikhism held a grand Guru-ta-Gaddi celebrations in the city of Nanded.
Guru Gobind Singh had declared that is would be the last Guru of Sikhism in Nanded. He had no successors as all of his four sons were martyred and hence he passed the Guruship to the scripture that is revered by the Sikhs to this date. The idea was to provide an eternal leader to the followers of the religion.
Abchal Nagar
During the occasion of conferring his guruship to the Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh had named Nanded as Abchal Nagar which translates literally into 'Steadfast city'.
Nanded is also known as the place where Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's ashram was present. Hence it was also the starting point of the journey of Khalsa victory by Baba Banda Singh, garnering it a significant place in the country's history.
Having seen the first Guru of Sikhism and the last Guru of Sikhism, it is no wonder that thousands of Sikh pilgrims travel to this city. You can also arrange for cabs in Hyderabad and pay a visit to this city to pay your respects at the Gurudwara.