06/10/2016
About Nanded Gurudwara=
Nanded, is one of the important centres of Sikh pilgrimage situated on the left bank of River Godavari, is a district town in Maharashtra (Western State in India). It is a railway station on the Manmad-kachiguda section of the south central railway, and is also connected by road with other major towns of the region. The sikhs generally refer to it as Hazur Sahib or Abichal Nagar. Both of these names apply, in fact, to the principal shrine, but are extended in common usage to refer to the town itself. Hazur Sahib is a title of reverence, meaning Exalted Presence; Abichal Nagar: Abichal= Immortal,everlasting and Nagar Town or City. The town ranks as one of the takhts, or seat of religious authority and legislation for the Sikhs. Nanded, which was visited both by Guru Gobind Singh, claims several Sikh shrines of historical importance.
At the time of Emperor Bahadur Shah�s march towards the south via Rajputana, Guru Gobind Singh accompanied him with his own disciples and followers. Crossing the Tapti in mid-June and Ban Ganga on 13 August, the two camps arrived at Nanded towards the end of August 1708. Bahadur Shah, after a brief halt, crossed the Godavari and proceeded on to Golkonda, but the Guru stayed behind at Nanded. Here he converted a Vaishnavite Bairagi recluse, Madho Das, also known as Lachman Dev, who after initiation into the Khalsa fold, received the name of Banda Singh.
To Nanded came from the Punjab two Pathans, on the trail of Guru Gobind Singh . They had been hired by Wazir Khan of Sirhind, who felt threatened by the conciliatory negotiations going on between the Emperor and Guru Gobind Singh . These Pathans, the name of one of them is recorded as Jamshaid Khan, dissembling as interested listeners, started attending the evening divan or service. Finding the Guru alone in his tent one day, they fell on him inflicting a stab wound. Before the blow could be repeated, the Guru despatched one of the Pathans with his own sabre. His companion fell under the swords of the Sikhs who had meanwhile rushed in. Guru Gobind Singh �s wound healed, but it broke out again as he was stretching a powerful bow. Bestowing the succession on the Granth Sahib and thus ending the line of personal Gurus, Guru Gobind Singh passed away on 7 October 1708.
Guru Gobind Singh had desired one of his Sikhs, Santokh Singh, who supervised the community kitchen, to remain in Nanded and continue running the Guru ka Langar. A number of other Sikhs also decided to stay back. They built a small shrine in memory of Guru Gobind Singh and installed the Guru Granth Sahib in it.
