Kartarpur Da Virsa (heritage/Legacy of Kartarpur) is the latest book from the pen of Prithipal Singh Kapoor, a renowned Sikh Historian & Scholar, former Editor-in-Chief of Sikh Encyclopedia compiled at Punjabi University Patiala and former Pro-Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
He has earlier authored 13 books, edited 16 and translated another 3 books, contributing imemsely to Sikh literature. The present book was writen in context with 550th anniversary of First Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji; timing it with opening (now closed due to Covid-19) of corridor to Kartarpur (Pakistan).
The book provides a brief glimpse of early life of Guru Ji, his job as Modi (Store Keeper) at Sultanpur Lodhi, Marriage and enlightenment at the banks of a Bein, a rivulet passing along Sultanpur and then four Oddeseys, long journeys to places of religious significance associated with different sects & religions; and his dialogue & discussions with Sufi Saints, Pirs, Islamic Thinkers, Yogis, Naths, Siddhas, Udasis, Pandas etc. During these oddeseys, he collected religious literature written by various saints like Seikh Farid, Namdev and others. It also gives a brief history of Punjab through Misl period, Singh Sabhas, establishment of SGPC leading to partition.
Guru Nanak Dev used to come back to his village after every oddesey then used to visit Sultanpur and Pakhoke (Randhabe), his in-laws village which was situated close to Ravi. It was his first oddesey only that Guru Ji visualised of setting a holy colony here on the right bank of the river. This place was on the route of big Hindu religious centers; Vaishno Devi near Katra in Jammu, Chintpurni & Jwalamukhi in Himachal.
When he finally decided to settle down after his oddeseys in all the four directions, he purchased a piece of land at village Dodan (Narowal Distt. in Pakistan) with the help of his devout followers around 1520-21 and inhabited a village now called Kartarpur. Soon the popularity of Kartarpur started rising with word of mouth from the pilgrims passing through it going towards Hindu Shrines.
It started flourishing as a seat of divinity where Yogis, Naths, Siddhs, Scholars and Pandits started visiting for religious discourses. The author has unambiguously explained, how Guru Nanak laid the foundation of the present Sikh religion by clearly stating the Sikh Tenets and establishing fundamental Sikh Institutions.
As per his world view and desired way of life for devout Sikhs the central tenets are ‘Nam Japuna, Kirat Karni & Wand Chhakna’; to recite the Name of God in the form of reciting Gurbani, to earn one’s living by doing physical work and sharing one’s meals and earning among fellow human beings.
It is here he laid the foundation of basic Sikh Institutions: Sangat (divine congregation), Langar (community kitchen), Pangat (eating together sitting in the same line irrespective of one’s caste or religion as a symbol of equality), Sewa (selfless service to society), Kar-Sewa (working together for common religious project), Dharamshal (community center which later became Gurudwara) and Kirtan (singing hyms from Gurbani in congregation).
It was here that Guru Ji appointed his successor Guru Angad Dev Ji (earlier Bhai Lehna) after scrutinising his credentials for selfless service, devotion and complete surrender to Him ignoring the claims of his sons. Guru Ji went to His Heavenly Abode after passing on Guruship to Guru Angad and directed him to carry on the Jot (holy spirit) thare at Khadoor Sahib.
Bahadur Singh
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