In the Master's Presence- The Sikhs of Hazoor Sahib (Part-1)

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About the Book This superbly illustrated landmark work explains story on the last bastions early an exotic world that but disappeared. Using rare pictures and documents, authors explored history of Sikhs Hazoor Sahib-the shrine Deccan, India, far from the traditional Sikh homeland Punjab - where 1708 Guru Gobind Singh, warrior-poet spent much his life battling against the oppressive Empire, found last resting place.

This is first a two-volume work examining the history and traditions shrine Hazoor (which means 'Master's Presence"), revered the Sikh takht or throne temporal and spiritual author ity. The three centuries from very modest structure built over ashes Guru Gobind Singh the destruction" of unique heritage the of modernisation and beautifica tion.

authors have drawn upon wealth of materials oral tradition vivid startling account the empires, events and characters, including maharajas, warriors, emperors, nizams, politi cians and policemen, which sense mystery and reverence that surrounded memory the Sikh Guru.

About the Authors NIDAR SINGH NIHANG is the ninth gurdev (teacher) of the Baba Darbara Singh Shastar Vidya Akhara, founded in the seventeenth century to teach Sikh battlefield arts. He has lectured across the world on the Sikh martial tradition and has contributed to several television documentaries, radio programmes and publications on the subject. He has spent two decades intensively researching the history, philosophy and way of life of the four traditional Sikh orders, Akali-Nihangs, Udasis, Nirmalas and Sewapanthis. He is preparing an extensive series of books on shastar vidya.

PARMJIT SINGH is an independent researcher specialis ing in the photographic history of nineteenth-century Punjab. His previous publications include Warrior Saints: Three Centuries of the Sikh Military Tradition (L.B. Tauris, 1999) and Sicques, Tigers, or Thieves': Eye witness Accounts of the Sikhs (Palgrave Macmillan, 2004). He is currently working with Nidar Singh Nihang on a four-volume, official history of the Buddha Dal, the ancient warrior order of the Akali-Nihang Sikhs. KASHI HOUSE is a non-profit publisher that aims to produce illuminating publications on the historic, artistic & linguistic heritage of Punjab & the Sikhs.

Preface Many people became martyrs there; and many houses for fakirs were erected in that place. Amidst them they erected shrine over Gurol's ashes], near burying place, they made many other mauso leums and dharamsalas, deposited Granth sahibs them. The name of city, which was called Nader, was changed Abchalnagar. In present day, many Sikhs there, and their oblations with devotion. In that tomb, thousands of swords, shields, spears, and are be found at times; moreover the Sikhs, who go there, worship those arms. The Sikhs believe this, limbed betondo, she eminent position of In cogently recounting the sense of bereavement and separation felt by Gobind disciples the of death on October 1708, the teenth-century author this passage vividly conveys the deep sense of reverence and mystery three centuries.

Guru spent his last camped outside town Nanded, now Maharashtra State back then located within distant quarter sprawling Mughal Empire. Referred Sikhs Abchal Nagar ("Everlasting City"), small shrine dedicated the memory the tenth Guru was here soon after demise. Variously known Sach Khand ("Realm Truth") Hazoor Sahib ("Master's Presence"), the shrine's modest appearance belied significance the authority the Sikhs.

The takht rapidly became the focal point of vibrant community of who their lives its service. The very first 'Hazoori Sikhs were riors and mendicants who adopted pattern of life has endured through time, change strife. Separated the Punjab hundreds of miles spared the post-annexation 'Dalhousian revolution that transformed Punjab into shining colonial jewel, Hazoori Sikhs steadfastly maintained ancient religious traditions and a fascinating oral history, which uncovers aspect Sikh history appears almost considered heresy.

Introduction In the early sixteenth century, Guru Nanak (1469-1919) and his faithful mare companion. Bhai Mardana, traversed the broken and hilly surface the Deccan Plateau in southern India they travelled northwards from Bidar, the former capital the expansive but crumbling Bahmani Sultanate One their stopping points was Nanded,' small town situated on the north bank the River Godavari. In Guru Nanak's time, was thinly popu lared but this was not always the case; ancient times under the early Hindu monarchs, was said to have been well populated and fruitful! Prior the Guru's visit, Nanded was the capital the Telangana district the Muslim ruled Bahmanid Empire. Stretching south the Vindhya mountain range, from the Arabian Sea the Bay of Bengal, this great medieval Indian kingdom was founded 1347 its Turkish governor, Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah, who revolted against his overlord the north-the powerful Sultan of Delhi.

The Delhi Sultanate emerged the thirteenth century when Muslim rulers, mainly Turkish speakers, from Iran, Central Asia and Afghanistan, governed Northern India. Ruling from Delhi, and lured by reports of fabulous wealth, these Turks had infiltrated southwards the early fourteenth century and subdued the Deccan which until then had been ruled by Hindu kings. Islamic rule was prevail there the next six centuries, until 1950, when the last nizam Hyderabad relinquished power the Indian Union.

remarkably varied population coloured the Deccani canvas. Not only were there Indian Muslims and Hindus, but also large and powerful communities of Turks, Persians, Arabs and Africans. Sufi mystics, scholars, writers, merchants and military men from over the Middle East came preach, write, trade conquer, lured by generous royal patronage. Until the Mughal conquest of 1687, the Deccan, with its long-standing commercial links with the Arab world across the Arabian Sea, became India's greatest centre of Arabic learning and literary composition.

This mix races was culturally enriching for the region, but also source of perennial political instability with Muslim invariably fighting Muslim. Turks, Arabs and Persians formed clique of 'foreigners, comprising mainly Shia Muslims, who were bitterly opposed to the Sunni 'natives, the Indians and Afghans Literally "true devotee" This was the designation used for the Muslim devotees and allies the Sikh Gurus. Also written Nander.

In Punjab, Muslim invaders came be regarded "Turks" a result their common linguistic heritage.

**Contents and Sample Pages**