For a long time, I have been going through some granths that have been accepted as prime resources of Sikh references.But to me many of these sources make no logical sense.However, that would be a subject for another day.They generally third and fourth person written..often claied to have been told by the father or the grandfather told the father who then passed it on ....
It has been said Guru Gobind Singh Ji meditated to Durga Devi upon a place referred to as Hemkunt sahib in his previous birth and that he was born off the skin of a tiger which ...was used to cover devta!
Prior to 1932, following the influences of brahmincally oriented writers like Bhai Sahib Vir Singh, and Kavi Santokh Singh Ji etc, a Giani Thakur Singh declared a place near Amritsar ,in Rawalsar Hills, called Suket Mandi as THE HEMKUNT SAHIB ,- the sapat serngh [ a name given by a poet Santokh Singh the author of Suraj Prakash]and he started preaching as such very strongly.People believed and followed to the Hemkunt Sahib in the Rawalsar hills.
But towards the end of 1932, Pandit Tara Singh Narotam , who was another writer with brahminical modes declared Giani Thakur Singh to be wrong and that the real sapat serngh was the CURRENT - Hemkunt Sahib in the Himalaysas. ,where thousands of pilgrims go for yatra,sometimes loosing their lives but come back feeling "rejuvenated"!
In 1936,a Sant Mohan Singh from Tehri Garhwal,sat up the building of the Gurduara.Since then hundereds of thousands of Sikhs go for their once in a life time yatra of this so called alledged place, where it is said Guru Gobind Singh ji, in his previous birth is again allegedly meditated to Durga!After that Durga then predicted the birth of Guru Gobind Singh Ji from the skin of a tiger;hence some claim it gave rise to the Singhs- lions!This is a very long story , that if time permits we can through, so people can start thinking seriously to what exacty Sikhism is and what weare doing!
My question is on what grounds and how did these Sikhs of yester years , who had learnt through brahmini influences declare that this is the right place? When already another place near Rawalsar Hills, near Amritsar was already said to be the Hemkunt sahib!How that place[Rawalsar] was declared Hemkunt sahib, is also based upon the same panktees. So we get it wrong by thousands of miles????One says it is here, another says it is there...what if someone else says all of you ...are wrong! It is ... was after all in the Tora Bora Afghan Mountains!Are we all then going to run off to the Afghan Mountain of Tora Bora!
Hemkunt is described to be a valley surrounded by 7 peaks.If one goes to any mountain range in Malaysia or anyhwere in the world,one can find dozens of such places that are surround by peaks, perhaps 5, perhaps 10 or perhaps 7 .....give a number, and I am sure such can be accomodated for .If Rawalsar in the centre of 7 hills was one place then the current Hemkunt sahib is another, then there must be dozens of others around the world, that can claim the status!
Over ten thousand people,old, young and middle ages females and males are said to have died along this trek to Hemkunt sahib, since its founding!That death is regared as a blessing!More and more people are finding opportunies to earn monies by providing all sorts of services!The first place that one reaches Badrinaath, the Hemkunt sahib trust hands out literature about Hemkunt sahib that says and talks about the vedic mythology and its history and claims that Guru Gobind Singh prayed to Durga devi etc..Excursions and flights are arranged from many countries that charge the yartees through the nose to go for the yatra.The list is long!Most have not seen Chandni Chowk, or Patna sahib, or Nander, or Sirhind in their life, but practically everybody is joining the bhed chaal and dying to visit this very fabled and allegedly mystic place call Hemkunt sahib!
I am not against any Gurduara being built.The more the better, jhoolte rahen Nishan Panth maharaj ke!But as far as I understand from having read thoroughly, there is no biologically eveloped concept that such a place ever exists!The concept is based alledgely simply upon the one single panktee of chaupai sahib...
I wonder if this belief of Sikhs is based upon myth or fact of history!Gurbani has no place for myth!But there is no fact around to show that as well.Gurbani also does not teach in multiple births before life or after life....and by the way, can some one beleive that Guru Gobind Singh the magnificient all inclusive commander could be a fan of Durga devi?
There are other interesting issues that we can cover as the debate develops......hopefuly some knowledgable person can prove that sikhs are not chasing shadows..around ....especially with this place since 1932!
My intention of writing the article was to explore whether there is myth or a fact related to Hemkunt sahib; and not distract to whether GOD is in any special place or not [just yet].
Let us get back,if Hemkunt Sahib is a myth or not.If it is for real, then what/where/who says so ? The explanations given so far,through Suraj Parkash,[Kavi Santokh Singh's Poetry] and Bachitter Natak do not look plausible or convincing enough !Neither are they specific;nor they support distinctive Gurbani uttered by Guru Gobind Singh ji.
The choice of Rawalsar Hills by Giani Thakur Singh first in January 1932; and later,at the the current site on the hearsay of Pandit Tara Singh Narotam exposes that there is really no significant certainty of a fact based decision.
If this is a myth why are Sikhs intent on chasing shadows and myths, while they claim to be followers of a great modern religion.There is a clear contradiction here.Guru Granth sahib and the Gurus did not chase myths, shadows or brahminical practices.
Even if we leave the unfounded myths and allegations of Durga puja by Guru Gobind Singh Ji aside and his previous births, I still see no constructive baseline or fact that clearly points out that is is indeed the site of so called "hemkunt sahib"
There are many more contradictions of practices here.I shall not dwell into that as yet.
The panktee that this MYTH about Hemkunt Sahib is based upon is from Chaupaii Sahib, as based in the bachitter natak, which now is composed in the alleged dasam granth.
Ab mai'n apni katha bekhano/
Tap sadat jeh'h bidh muh ano/
Hemkunt parbat hai jaha'n /
SapatseRng sobhat hai taha'n/
SapatseRng te'h naam kahava /
PanD raj jag jog kamava/
te'h hum adhik tapasya sadhi/
maha kaal kalka aradhi/
IT APPEARS that Kavi Santokh Singh, the author of Suraj Parkash, then became heavily influenced by these panktees and alledgedly created his own story story about [...as according to the panktees]the person doing the tapsiya and gave the entity the name of Dushtdaman!He goes on to say that Dushatdaman stayed to do Tapsiya at hemkunt sahib with the permission of Bhagauti Durga Devi.
It is based on these story description that Giani Thakur Singh then alledgedly identified the Rawalsar Hills to be the hemkunt sahib.Which as said , was later transferred 800 miles or more over to Utrrakhand and the current site of Hemkunt Sahib by Pandit Tara Singh Narotam.All on the hearsay and poetry of one individual who was not even around during the times of Guru Gobind Singh!
May I point out that all religions of yester years are based upon folklore and fables that cannot be verified nor substantiated and only alleged.Only Sikh religion is based upon modern rationale and as it happened.But this story about Hemkunt does not go in line with such Sikh thinking and Gurbani.No Sikh Guru associated with any previous birth, nor recored anything about life prior to their becomming Sikhs.Therea a number instances where Sikh Gurus prior to their adopting the Suikh teachings did yatra, attended dipping in pools, etc; but these ended as soon they accepted the religion of Nanak Ji.
So, if we say hemkunt was associated with Guru Gobind Singh's previous birth; why are we not searching the mandir where Guru Ramdas did pilgrimage yearly [before acceoting sikhi] and why are we not searching for the place on the river ganga where Guru teg bahadur is alledged to have practiced brahminical rituals before he adopted Sikhi?Contradictions galore!
But, finally, the question again rises, are Sikhs chasing shadows in the so called Yatra of hemkunt Sahib ?There is no constructive support to say that such a place as Hemkunt really exists?Finally by choosing such myhthical place as hemkunt are we Sikhs not demeaning other places that trully associated with Sikh history.Why is Hemkunt far more important than River Sirsa, or Anandpur Sahib, or Paonta sahib or Nancy Kaurder sahib or Patna sahib?
Gurcharan Singh Kulim
Kamuning Hills.
It has been said Guru Gobind Singh Ji meditated to Durga Devi upon a place referred to as Hemkunt sahib in his previous birth and that he was born off the skin of a tiger which ...was used to cover devta!
Prior to 1932, following the influences of brahmincally oriented writers like Bhai Sahib Vir Singh, and Kavi Santokh Singh Ji etc, a Giani Thakur Singh declared a place near Amritsar ,in Rawalsar Hills, called Suket Mandi as THE HEMKUNT SAHIB ,- the sapat serngh [ a name given by a poet Santokh Singh the author of Suraj Prakash]and he started preaching as such very strongly.People believed and followed to the Hemkunt Sahib in the Rawalsar hills.
In 1936,a Sant Mohan Singh from Tehri Garhwal,sat up the building of the Gurduara.Since then hundereds of thousands of Sikhs go for their once in a life time yatra of this so called alledged place, where it is said Guru Gobind Singh ji, in his previous birth is again allegedly meditated to Durga!After that Durga then predicted the birth of Guru Gobind Singh Ji from the skin of a tiger;hence some claim it gave rise to the Singhs- lions!This is a very long story , that if time permits we can through, so people can start thinking seriously to what exacty Sikhism is and what weare doing!
My question is on what grounds and how did these Sikhs of yester years , who had learnt through brahmini influences declare that this is the right place? When already another place near Rawalsar Hills, near Amritsar was already said to be the Hemkunt sahib!How that place[Rawalsar] was declared Hemkunt sahib, is also based upon the same panktees. So we get it wrong by thousands of miles????One says it is here, another says it is there...what if someone else says all of you ...are wrong! It is ... was after all in the Tora Bora Afghan Mountains!Are we all then going to run off to the Afghan Mountain of Tora Bora!
Hemkunt is described to be a valley surrounded by 7 peaks.If one goes to any mountain range in Malaysia or anyhwere in the world,one can find dozens of such places that are surround by peaks, perhaps 5, perhaps 10 or perhaps 7 .....give a number, and I am sure such can be accomodated for .If Rawalsar in the centre of 7 hills was one place then the current Hemkunt sahib is another, then there must be dozens of others around the world, that can claim the status!
Over ten thousand people,old, young and middle ages females and males are said to have died along this trek to Hemkunt sahib, since its founding!That death is regared as a blessing!More and more people are finding opportunies to earn monies by providing all sorts of services!The first place that one reaches Badrinaath, the Hemkunt sahib trust hands out literature about Hemkunt sahib that says and talks about the vedic mythology and its history and claims that Guru Gobind Singh prayed to Durga devi etc..Excursions and flights are arranged from many countries that charge the yartees through the nose to go for the yatra.The list is long!Most have not seen Chandni Chowk, or Patna sahib, or Nander, or Sirhind in their life, but practically everybody is joining the bhed chaal and dying to visit this very fabled and allegedly mystic place call Hemkunt sahib!
I am not against any Gurduara being built.The more the better, jhoolte rahen Nishan Panth maharaj ke!But as far as I understand from having read thoroughly, there is no biologically eveloped concept that such a place ever exists!The concept is based alledgely simply upon the one single panktee of chaupai sahib...
I wonder if this belief of Sikhs is based upon myth or fact of history!Gurbani has no place for myth!But there is no fact around to show that as well.Gurbani also does not teach in multiple births before life or after life....and by the way, can some one beleive that Guru Gobind Singh the magnificient all inclusive commander could be a fan of Durga devi?
There are other interesting issues that we can cover as the debate develops......hopefuly some knowledgable person can prove that sikhs are not chasing shadows..around ....especially with this place since 1932!
My intention of writing the article was to explore whether there is myth or a fact related to Hemkunt sahib; and not distract to whether GOD is in any special place or not [just yet].
Let us get back,if Hemkunt Sahib is a myth or not.If it is for real, then what/where/who says so ? The explanations given so far,through Suraj Parkash,[Kavi Santokh Singh's Poetry] and Bachitter Natak do not look plausible or convincing enough !Neither are they specific;nor they support distinctive Gurbani uttered by Guru Gobind Singh ji.
The choice of Rawalsar Hills by Giani Thakur Singh first in January 1932; and later,at the the current site on the hearsay of Pandit Tara Singh Narotam exposes that there is really no significant certainty of a fact based decision.
If this is a myth why are Sikhs intent on chasing shadows and myths, while they claim to be followers of a great modern religion.There is a clear contradiction here.Guru Granth sahib and the Gurus did not chase myths, shadows or brahminical practices.
Even if we leave the unfounded myths and allegations of Durga puja by Guru Gobind Singh Ji aside and his previous births, I still see no constructive baseline or fact that clearly points out that is is indeed the site of so called "hemkunt sahib"
There are many more contradictions of practices here.I shall not dwell into that as yet.
The panktee that this MYTH about Hemkunt Sahib is based upon is from Chaupaii Sahib, as based in the bachitter natak, which now is composed in the alleged dasam granth.
Ab mai'n apni katha bekhano/
Tap sadat jeh'h bidh muh ano/
Hemkunt parbat hai jaha'n /
SapatseRng sobhat hai taha'n/
SapatseRng te'h naam kahava /
PanD raj jag jog kamava/
te'h hum adhik tapasya sadhi/
maha kaal kalka aradhi/
IT APPEARS that Kavi Santokh Singh, the author of Suraj Parkash, then became heavily influenced by these panktees and alledgedly created his own story story about [...as according to the panktees]the person doing the tapsiya and gave the entity the name of Dushtdaman!He goes on to say that Dushatdaman stayed to do Tapsiya at hemkunt sahib with the permission of Bhagauti Durga Devi.
It is based on these story description that Giani Thakur Singh then alledgedly identified the Rawalsar Hills to be the hemkunt sahib.Which as said , was later transferred 800 miles or more over to Utrrakhand and the current site of Hemkunt Sahib by Pandit Tara Singh Narotam.All on the hearsay and poetry of one individual who was not even around during the times of Guru Gobind Singh!
May I point out that all religions of yester years are based upon folklore and fables that cannot be verified nor substantiated and only alleged.Only Sikh religion is based upon modern rationale and as it happened.But this story about Hemkunt does not go in line with such Sikh thinking and Gurbani.No Sikh Guru associated with any previous birth, nor recored anything about life prior to their becomming Sikhs.Therea a number instances where Sikh Gurus prior to their adopting the Suikh teachings did yatra, attended dipping in pools, etc; but these ended as soon they accepted the religion of Nanak Ji.
So, if we say hemkunt was associated with Guru Gobind Singh's previous birth; why are we not searching the mandir where Guru Ramdas did pilgrimage yearly [before acceoting sikhi] and why are we not searching for the place on the river ganga where Guru teg bahadur is alledged to have practiced brahminical rituals before he adopted Sikhi?Contradictions galore!
But, finally, the question again rises, are Sikhs chasing shadows in the so called Yatra of hemkunt Sahib ?There is no constructive support to say that such a place as Hemkunt really exists?Finally by choosing such myhthical place as hemkunt are we Sikhs not demeaning other places that trully associated with Sikh history.Why is Hemkunt far more important than River Sirsa, or Anandpur Sahib, or Paonta sahib or Nancy Kaurder sahib or Patna sahib?
Gurcharan Singh Kulim
Kamuning Hills.
