About Gurdwara Janam Asthan
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was given birth by Mata Tripta Devi as the son of Mehta Kalu on Visakh Suddhi 3 (20 Visakh) Samavat 1526 (15 April 1469) at this place. The room where the midwife Daulta had the honour of being the first person to see Guru Nanak Dev Ji as a baby, was at this place. The Chaukhandi of Gurdwara Janamasthan (Prakashasthan) is located at this place now. The present building was constructed with the approval of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1819-20 CE. After the partition of India, this gurdwara was handed to the Pakistan Board of Evacuee Trust Properties for care and maintenance. Thousands of Sikh pilgrims come annually to visit the site of the birthplace of their first guru. It therefore holds an immense significance in the Sikh imaginary. (Source: Historical Sikh Shrines in Pakistan by Iqbal Qaiser)
About our Project
This is a course-work project for HIST 2121- Historical Documentation and Digitization- created by two students of History, Maryam Ahmad Kiyani and Usama Liaqat. The project, 'A study of Ritual in Gurdwara Janam Asthan' will aim to go beyond a simple architectural understanding of a space of worship. Instead, it will look at how these spaces are forged in their true character not by the hand of the bricklayer or the skill of the artisan, but by a sustained intercourse between the devout visitor and the material space. The concept of ritual is the sacred rope which ties together the visitor, the space, and the teachings of the Gurus. It is a way of humanising the space, varnishing the bricks with the hopes, dreams, and prayers of a multitude which has come to supplicate and pay respects. It is a way of populating the inexorable structures of staunch material with the smiling ghosts of the past, and the uncertain phantoms of the present. It is a way of affirming tradition, piety, virtue, and humility. Above all, it is a way of connecting the devotee to the Transcendent.
For whom?
We aim to address high school students who, especially in Pakistan are not very knowledgeable of the practices of other religions. By allowing them some familiarity we aim to reduce the distance between them and foster an understanding which may bring them together. At the same time we hope to provide budding scholars of religion with material which may lead them to better appreciate the way in which the Sikh community connects with the Transcendent.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge that this project was built during COVID-19 which is why a lot of plans could not be implemented due to lock down. Although we had visited Gurdwara Janam Asthan earlier, we had not taken pictures and videos in the manner that we wished to use for the website. Making the most of given resources in these extra-ordinary times, we spoke to granthis and caretakers of Gurdwara Janam Asthan over Zoom several times, and the videos attached in the rituals page are Zoom recordings. For that, we would like to acknowledge the great help Mr. Tahir Nawaz provided us by bringing us in contact with the granthi and facilitating our video calls over Zoom. We would also like to thank Dr. Nadhra Khan and Dr. Murtaza Taj for teaching this course.