Freed

This is a picture of the Interior of the Akal takht - It is not clear if this is the Interior before the army attack or after the 'Government', rebuilding.( but it is before the DDT rebuilding) I would presume it is after the govt rebuilding as the marble behind the Bhai Sahib standing looks quite new - But as the gach and gold work on the arches looks intact it could be before ? Having said that the 'govt' rebuilding did not involve demolishing the structure but 'fixing up' the damage- so some of the original remained *from The Golden Temple - Patwant Singh 1988

Here are some interesting pictures The First shows The Akal Takht in the 1960s - Note it is much more delicate in design. Also note the houses to the right - When I visited Amritsar as a kid in the 1970s - I remember the bazaar came right up to to back of the Akal Takht The entire Darbar Sahib Complex was part of the city,Not separated like today - all the bazaars and Houses on the Akal takht side have been demolished by the Government and replaced by the 'beautification project' or 'Galiara' paved area. *taken from Indian Temples and Palaces - Michael Edwardes - Hamlyn-1969 This picture shows the Akal Takht interior in the 1960s *taken from Sikhism -W Owen Cole Piara Singh Sambhi 1973 This picture shows the Akal Takht at the turn of the century - note the huge immilli (tamarind) tree compared to the one above in the 1960s * taken from The Golden Temple - Patwant singh - 1988

Amandeep Singh is it true Patiala still owns large amounts of land around West London- I vaguely remember hearing that the 'Gymkhana Club' and grounds Near Osterley are owned by them amongst other plots. - I don't have any real pressing 'need to know' - just thought of it when you mentioned Sinclair Rd !

The Maharajas gave generously to Darbar sahib , Panja Sahib and many gurdwaras esp Dukh Nivaran & Moti Bagh in Patiala - They were great benefactors to Khalsa College Amritsar - they built schools and colleges eg Mohindar college Patiala - Then the only college between Lahore and Delhi. M .Mohindar Singh is known to have donated 10 lakh rupees for famine relief in Bengal 1873 - He also started the Sirhind Canal project which brought water to the fields of the then dry and relatively unproductive Malwa. The Patiala Gharana of classical music is also famous - a place where musicians went after the collapse of the Mughal empire. Patiala was a centre for sports - polo cricket etc -(The Polo team allegedly gave rise to the Patiala Peg -but thats another story !!) These are just some things I can think of off the top of my head - will add more if you like !

In the Sikh Royalty post I mentioned the Hukumnama sent by Guru Gobind Singh to the sons of Phul. http://www.sikhawareness.com/sikhawareness...opic.php?t=7021 Here is a picture of the Hukumnama . *taken from Gurdwaras - In India and around the world - Patwant Singh 1992 This is dated August 2 1696 - It includes the Nisan - signature - of Guru Sahib . Line 7 and 8 contain the lines 'tera ghar mera asay' which has been adopted as the Patiala motto ever since. Here is an english translation : There is One God. The Guru is Great . It is the order of the Guru. Bhai Rama and Bhai Tilokha, the Guru will protect all. You are required to come with your contingent. I am pleased with you. Your house is my refuge. On seeing this letter you should come in my presence. Your house is my refuge. you should come immediately. On seeing this letter you should arrive with horsemen. Do come. I have sent one Robe of Honour. Keep it with you. (Translation from a Dix - Noonan - Webb sale catalogue July 2003.) Guru Gobind Singh is asking them to come to him with Arms and Horses - just as History records Guru Sahib said to all his Sikhs. - This is a reference to the Battles with the Hill Rajas. - The brothers Ram Singh and Tilokha Singh - being devoted Sikhs came to their Guru . Guru Sahib won all those Battles . Warning !! These next references are Controversial and Highly Contentious - Some may be Highly offended by them - Please do not Shoot the messenger !! The Maharajas of Punjab and the Sahibzada Prophecy These pictures are from The Bijay Mukht Granth - They are absolutely fascinating ( as is the rest of the Bijay Mukht Granth) - This granth is a collection of Sakhis relating to Reyat Maryada. They relate a prophecy of Guru Gobind Singh regarding His sons - the 4 Sahibzadas. In it Guru Sahib is asked if his Sons will return to the World and he states that they will return in Samat 1930 (CE approx 1873 ) Baba Zorawar Singh as the Ruler of Kapurthala Baba Jhujaar Singh as the Ruler of Nabha Baba Fateh Singh as the Ruler of Sangrur and Baba Ajit Singh as the Ruler of Patiala Isn't that just AMAZING ! Perhaps Bhai Sahib Amritpal Singh 'Amrit' ( or any other scholar on SA) can shed some light on this prophecy - Who was The Author of the Bijay Mukht ? and any comments on its Authenticity - any input Greatly appreciated !!! * Ref - Sau Saakhi - Bijay Mukht - published by Bhai Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh - 2002 edition page 87 - 88 This Sakhi also makes mention of The sons of Singhs Cutting their Kesh -- It can be seen that this is not a modern phenomenon - it also has the quote about the son of a Singh who cuts his hair - his 'Roots' have dried up and the Son of a 'Mona' who keeps his kesh his roots are 'evergreen' This Granth has countless sakhis - with gurbani - on all topics that Modern Jathas fight about - Kesh - Weddings - 'Hindu' rituals Get yourself a copy !! I appeal again to the Sangat if you have any comments about the Author or authenticity of this Granth - please post !! AND if you are offended please do not attack me I am just 'the messenger' not the writer !! Please forgive ALL mistakes - Bhul Chuk Maaf Let the Games Commence !!!!

The K. Natwar Singh biography debunks lots of myths about Bhupinder Singh - It is very good - unlike a lot of Indian biogs it shows the real face behind all the jewels - all their human traits and insecurities ( Amandeep - our resident Distinguished published author has also recommended this book so it must be good !!! --- Just a little joke - Bhaaji - no offence !) My favourite myth is the "Jewels and Glorious erection " one - I'll say no more - if you've read the book you'll know - that one is hilarious !! it's on page 3 (quite appropriately !!) of The Magnificent Maharaja- K. Natwar Singh - Harper Collins -1998

I looked through all the posts on Sikh royalty and they were all of Male royals - so here is a picture of a Kapurthala princess - to even up the posts !! An extremely glamorous portrait of Princess Sita Devi of Kapurthala *taken from The Unforgettable Maharajas - 150 years of Photography - Roli Books- 2003

Rani Mudge !!! an absolute classic - you gotta love that rustic sense of humour !!

In a different post N30 S!NGH has said that some people say Sikhi lacks royalty http://sikhawareness.com/sikhawareness/viewtopic.php?t=7016 Nothing could be further from the truth - look at the size of these Rocks ! The house of Patiala descends from Phul- who was given a blessing from Guru Har Rai (I need to check though I could be wrong) - and they are Sidhu-Brars - the only Clan mentioned by Guru Gobind Singh in his bani - in The Zafarnama " hama kaum berar hukum maraasat" - the Brar Clan are under my orders. The Patiala motto 'Tera Ghar Mera Asay' - your house is my refuge - comes from a Hukumnama sent by Guru Gobind Singh to Patiala requesting their presence in the Battles against the Hill Rajas - This hand written Hukumnama - With Guru Gobind Singh's Nisan / signature , can still be seen at Patiala - it is addressed to Ram and Tilokha - dated 2 August 1696. Their kingdom is a gift from Guru Sahib. Plus we must remember we are all Sardars Sardarnis - Royalty - A gift from Guru Sahib . This picture Of Bhupinder Singh - Maharaja of Patiala - is the Vandyk portrait 1911 from the National Portrait Gallery London - it shows him wearing his Cartier diamonds This Picture of Yadvinder Singh- Maharaja of Patiala-in 1941 shows him wearing a dazzling array of jewels including a diamond tiara , Empress Eugenie's diamond necklace and the fabulous De Beers diamond necklace - the yellow diamond at 234.5 carats remains one of the largest polished diamonds in the world. This is the Kapurthala Kalgi - the central emerald weighed 177.40 carats And last but not least - The original BazuBand in which Maharaja Ranjit Singh wore the Koh-i-noor diamond - unfortunately now set with a paste replica * All pictures taken from - Maharajas' Jewels - Katherine Prior John Adamson - Assouline - 2000 ENJOY !!

Please do ! would love to see them . I've always thought that it is a shame the Kapurthala palace is now a school and not open to the public - It would, along with the Old Patiala palace, make an excellent Heritage hotel - on the lines of those in Rajastan - They'd bring in lots of tourist and NRI money - which would pay for restoration etc - It would also give us Punjabis more places to go to & somewhere swish to stay - Other than the usual 'fake' Irish Pub style heritage places you get - it's not polite to say - but yes I mean you 'Haveli' restaurant Jalandhar !!

These pictures are especially for all the SA members who are feeling "Broody" All together now say AAAHHH !! These pictures of the Kapurthala Princes are adorable !! The first is a tinted photograph of the Kapurthala Princes sat on a tiger skin with dazzling 'Kalgis' on silk turbans and Superb 'Chogas' The second shows the Anglo-phile and Franco -phile tendencies of Kapurthala - The princes looking cute in their "Little Lord Fauntleroy" outfits * both taken from The Unforgettable Maharajas - 150 years of Photography - Roli Books 2003

Bhupinder Singh - The Maharajah of Patiala has always fascinated me - He like me, was a Singh of the XXL lardy variety so he has always been a role model !! These Pictures are fascinating - The first shows The Maharajah with the Prince of Wales (of Wallis Simpson / Abdication Fame) and Capt. Metcalfe after "a morning at the pigs" *taken from The Maharajahs - John Lord - Random House 1971 This Photograph is extremely rare - it shows the Maharajah in an informal pose without his turban, glasses perched on his head - surrounded by his daughters. This is rare as the Maharajah was famed for his style and his perfect turban - the Patiala Shahi Turban.It is said that he took around 2 hours to fix his beard and tie his turban and had special valets for his beard and turban.- This explains why you rarely see him in a photo having a "Bad Turban Day". I have yet to find a Singh or Singhni - who is not very particular about their Turban - ALL of us are peacocks when it comes to our Dastars - but having special valets explains the perfect turban ! - Talking about 'bad turban days' reminds me of the UK Sikh comedian Sody Singh Kahlon - who relates the story of the turban with a life of its own - you can NEVER tie a good turban when you need to- for that important meeting (usually a cha & samosa meeting with your future wife at some Aunties house) and the exact same turban that was 'too short' will on the next tying be 'too long' -- SO TRUE ! *taken from The Unforgettable Maharajas - 150 years of Photography - Roli Books- 2003 This last picture shows Capt Amarinder Singh on his wedding day - The Current Maharaja of Patiala - or like Indian writers like to say the 'erstwhile Maharaja'.He is the current Chief Minister of Punjab and his wife an MP. L to R Maharajah Yadvinder Singh, Amarinder Singh, Malvinder Singh (wife of)Natwar Singh, Preneet Kaur, MahaRani and Rupinder Kumari *taken from The Illustrated History of the Sikhs 1947-78 - Gur Rattan Pal Singh 1979

These Pictures show some of the many lost gems of The Darbar Sahib. Some gems were lost due to nature , some due to the British,some due to Operation Bluestar and some due to the neglect of the SGPC. This Picture is a 19th C. Oil - showing The Minars of the Ramgarhia Bunga - complete with domes - The domes were lost due to an earthquake in 1905 - these were rebuilt, after the damage caused by Bluestar, along with the Minars quite recently. The picture also shows the Havelis and Bungas of Sikh Sardars - some demolished by the British to make A Gothic clock Tower , some demolished by the SGPC to make the Langar Hall, Manji Sahib and widen the parikarma. *taken from The Sikh Heritage - Dr Daljeet 2004 pg38 This picture also shows the now demolished Bungas havelis and akharas - Ironically the ones we remember in The standardized SGPC Ardas - I believe the big one is the NauNihal Singh Haveli (Grandson of Ranjit Singh) This picture shows the Marble Marker which used to show where Baba Deep Singh Fell defending The Darbar Sahib - I don't know if this is a modern myth, but I've heard Dhadi Jathas claim that during Op Bluestar the Tanks could not go further than this spot - as if the Shahid Faujan were keeping them back .- This part of the parikarma has been repaved with plain marble. *taken from The Sikhs -Sondeep Shankar Gurbachan Singh 1998 These next pictures show the Courtyard between the Harimandir and the Akal Takht - This was damaged during Bluestar - This beautiful marble floor was highly intricate with geometric patterns and animals and birds - All now Gone - with no explanation *taken from One Day at The Golden Temple - Rupinder Khallar 1997 This picture shows the gorgeous marble work in front of the Akal Takht - paid for by amongst others Mah. Sher Singh son of Ranjit Singh and the Maharajas of Jind and Kapurthala - the central round feature was beautiful with animals flowers and birds - Similar to the work that can be seen in the upper storey of the Harimandir -under Guru ji's Manji Sahib. All this priceless work has disappeared -quite recently - the courtyard is now paved with plain marble slabs and the central feature replaced with a much simpler design. *taken from Marg Vol XXX 3 1977 - pg 37 This is the marble inlay( from the Harmandir upper floor ) that the Akal takht work resembled * taken from Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms - Susan Strong 1999 pg 57 These 2 photographs show frescos from the Akal Takht - Lost after Op Bluestar and the rebuilding *taken from Sikh Architecture P S Arshi 1986 *taken from The Golden Temple - Patwant Singh 1988 This last Picture shows the remains of the Sikh Reference Library after Operation Blue Star. *pic from sikhtimes.com I hope this post hasn't depressed you all too much - these pictures always make me sad and angry . This Post is dedicated to all those who gave their lives and energies to beautify, protect and defend Siri Harmandir Sahib. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh ! Sat Siri Akaal ! GurBar Akaal !

Whenever I visit Amritsar - no matter how long for- there is never enough time to see everything - This is a mixture of so much to see , Who accompanies you (never go with my Massar Ji -he is a communist so has little interest in religious things and also he can't go 2 hours without being fed so as soon as you get there - he will start grumbling that he wants to go to The Bhravan da Dhaba for Lacchedar Parauthe !) - and the biggest factor - the fact that as soon as you walk down the steps onto the parikarma you are transported to a 'different place' and all you want to do is have a darshan of Guru Sahib - all other things just leave your mind. I have a cousin who goes to Darbar Sahib at least 3 times a year - yet he told me he has never been up to the upper levels(shish mahal and roof pavillion) of the Darbar Sahib. I know lots of people like that - even if they have done some research before they go -all of that goes out the window when you get there and are overwhelmed with 'Sharda' Here are some pictures of some of the hidden gems at Darbar Sahib that sometimes people - me included - miss or they get overlooked. If you have any examples post them too !! The Takht-e-Taus Ramgarhia Bunga This stone slab is located in the Ramgarhia Bunga - It was brought from Delhi when Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Jassa Singh Ahluwahlia , Baghel Singh and the Khalsa Army Took over Delhi in 1783- the Slab was part of the Mughal Throne in the Red Fort - where the Emperor was crowned - It is amazing that from that throne the orders to behead Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib were made and within a few decades the Khalsa had taken the throne ! The Chhatar given by Maharaja Ranjit Singh This Chhatar topped with a peacock made of one piece of sapphire with a pearl mala in its mouth - is part of the Jalao kept in the Toshkhana in the darshani Deori it is only shown to the Sangat 5 times a year on Gurpurbs *taken from The Golden Temple - Mohinder Singh UBSPD 2002 pg 75 The Sun Dial This sun dial is on the walkway to the Harmandir- it is situated after the 5th lamp post on the left side as you face the Harimandir. - It was built by Lehna Singh Majitha in 1852 (ref Sikh Architecture -P S Arshi 1986 pg102) For some reason I find this fascinating ! The Lamp in the Harimandir I couldn't find much about this lamp - It is beautiful with Lion heads where the flame comes from - I remember hearing that phosphorous was used to light the lamp - it is hard to spot hidden away on the right hand side as you enter - in the photo it is covered - as electricity was only introduced into the Harimandir in 1930 I guess it must of produced quite a bit of light.This always reminds me of the Sikhs who risked their lifes to have a darshan of Darbar Sahib and keep the Jot alight - during Hard times . In the second pic you can see the lamp in Carpenter's watercolour of 1854 it on the far left. * Both pics taken from The Golden Temple - Patwant Singh 1988 Some Photos of the Upper Storey And Lastly The Roti Machine in the Langar !!! Hope you enjoy the Pics - If you have any interesting pics - Please post them !!!

bhalo bhalo rae keerathaneeaa || Blessed and good is such a kirtanee, who sings such Praises. ang 885 These priceless photographs show keertaneeay with Tantee Saaj - Stringed instruments. Can you imagine sitting in Darbar Sahib and hearing Keertan with Tantee Saaj - it would be pure bliss ! The first picture is from Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha's Gurshabad Rattanakar Mahan Kosh. The instruments are Left to Right : Sitar - Dutara - Taos - Taanpura - Saranda - Rabaab and Tabla The second picture is from the Gertrude Bell Archive - It shows a scene from Darbar Sahib from January 28 1903 While Bell doesn't think much of the Darbar Sahib "It's not at all old nor particularly interesting as a building, but extremely picturesque" She does relate a story of two 'lute players' - "There were two men outside playing on a sort of lute and singing praises of the Granth, but they can't have been very serious worshippers, for when I stopped to photograph them, I heard them interpolate into the song "and the Memsahib came and took a picture" - all in the same squeaky tune. Perhaps he was telling the Granth about me! " What can you say? - it was the height of Empire - The White Man's burden and all that - patronizing colonial nonsense ! You can't make out where the lute players are - but from the geometric pattern in the marble floor it appears to be the courtyard in front of the Akal Takht ?? Enjoy !!

This may not be to everyone's taste - but it is Simple, beautiful and has an important message . * Taken from 'Pure Longing Fulfilled' - Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa -Akal Publications 1999 pg 86-7 "If Guru Nanak came back today" - Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa

Here it is - sorry about the quality - its from a dusty book printed in India !

The Bhai Kanaiya Statue / Fountain - situated on a chowk / roundabout in Bhatinda City. This is an extremely striking statue - it makes a refreshing change - in both choice of subject and its construction - from the usual modern political/independence/mythological public statues that you see, which are usually quite cartoon like and painted in 'fairground-esque' colours (for an example see The Maharajah Ranjit Singh Statue at The Sikh School Hayes Middx UK) Very impressive - especially after the very long bumpy drive from Jalandhar - a sight for sore eyes (and bottoms !) Does anyone have any info about other places to see in Bhatinda ? - I went on a very fleeting visit for a wedding - I didn't even get time to see the Fort ! I told my brother in law and he said why would you want to go to Bhatinda - it's just full of sand and camels ! - But he would say that he's from Chandigarh !

An interesting entry in ' The Illustrated History of the Sikhs 1947-78 ' Gur Rattan Pal Singh 1979 page 22

A Tribute to the Men Women and Children who gave their lives to protect the sanctity of Siri Darbar Sahib June 1984 Sentry point and sandbagged positions on The Ramgarhia Bunga June 1984 * Taken from Khalsa Panth - Raghu Rai Khushwant Singh,1984 pg 129

Dear CE, Here are some pictures of Baba Santa Singh Ji in their younger days - I especially like the ishnan sewa picture - note the way Baba ji's beard has been flared out 'Rajput' / Khshatriya style in the second picture.Enjoy ! * taken from The Illustrated History of the Sikhs (1947-78 - Gur Rattan Pal Singh 1979 - pg 330 * Taken fom Khalsa Panth - Raghu Rai and Khushwant Singh 1984 pg108-9

To be honest - it tastes awful ! - what the chefs on telly call an acquired taste ! Im glad to hear I'm not the only one who is the designated driver for the pub crawl ! I remember as a kid my whole family would head for the Midlands squashed into our Vauxhall Viva - on a Friday - for a weekend which involved running riot around Smethwick High Street (us Kids ) and a 3 day session usually in the Red Cow pub for the Men - My dad would then insist on driving us home (this is the 70s) claiming he 'drives better' when he's had a few glassies ! (read that as three quarters of a bottle of Vat 69 and 15 pints of bitter!) We would arrive home just in time to have a wash and go straight to school on Monday !- God only knows how we survived !! Thankfully those days are over ( at least for my Dad) - I always find it funny when 'Uncles' at the gurdwara complain about the youth of today - I mean they lived through the swinging sixties - OK granted they had a hard life working in foundaries - living 20 to a house on Abbotts Rd Southall - but come off it I doubt all of them were 'angels'! Anyway - before I get told off by the forum police - I'll shut up One thing though when you're the designated driver Singh - you get to see and remember all the antics people get up to ! My wifes family are all geordies - so they are a good 5 hour drive away - when I get there I end up driving them all about - just what I need more driving ! - the only bonus is I get to tell them I remember when ***** fell on his arse while doing his 'Usher' Moves and how Uncle ***** nearly broke his leg dancing on one leg to Apna Punjab !!! - Plus all the Geordie accents get even more indecipherable the more they drink I'll shut up now - Disclaimer -- I am not glorifying drink - I just live in the Real world !!!

I do not claim to have any real insight into Nihang traditions -I'm more of an enthusiastic observer - have been an avid 'fan' ever since I was 6 (a long long time ago 1976 !) and my Dad took me to The tower of London and I saw the Akali Dastar - My dad couldn't explain properly what it was but said he would take me to Anandpur and I would find out - we went to Anandpur the next year and I have been fascinated by Nihangs ever since- in fact I'm sure the Nihangs near our pind avoid me when I visit because they know I'll bombard them with questions ! Anyway back to Half stops - in another part of this forum there is an on going 'debate ' about Pajamas - Here is a picture of Nihang winter Bana - * taken from 'Khalsa Panth' Raghu Rai and Khushwant Singh- Tricolour Books-1984- pg 112 (detail) At my cousins wedding a couple of weeks ago there was a Nihang in the Baraat (from Bedford) - He was wearing a pair of Blue half stops as well as a natty pair of shades ! - so the tradition continues in England. Here is the reference to half stops in the Rehat Maryada of the Khalsa Sunder Gutka - published by Singh Sahib Jathedar Baba Santa Singh Ji- Shromani Panth Akali Budha Dal, Panjwan Takht Chalda Vahir- Punjab (Hindustan) Point 16 : On a side note here is a point we can ALL learn from - Point 32 !!

Anyone who has grown up in an Indian household in Britain will be aware of the 'Coffee' ritual - you have unexpected guests ,at least 2 complete families, late in the evening - They expect to be fed and watered and sit up all night either gossiping or watching dodgy wedding videos usually from India - or (an increasingly rare occurrence ) wait for the menfolk to stumble back from the Pub. At some point the women folk will want a 'coffee' - this is not coffee as any normal person will recognise - but a huge pateela / vat of full fat milk ( if you're a Brummie that yucky sterilized stuff in a glass bottle with a metal cap - you know who you are !) with at least 2 bags of sugar , some Saunff and wait for it a tiny teaspoon of instant coffee ( well you wouldn't want Bunty and Bubloo to be up all night jumping on the sofa (actually Indians only have Bed settees- you know the ones - rock hard, with added storage that can be flipped into a double bed - to accommodate more guests ) - because of All the caffeine in one teaspoon of coffee in 15 pints of milk ! Anyway if you were posh ie. had an extension built on your garage which housed a 15 year old Merc - Then you used Camp Coffee -- Why? - because it had a Singh on the bottle - usually the only other Brown face you ever saw that didnt belong to your family !! The Singh on the bottle was always a cause for concern in our house - why was a cavalry officer serving coffee to a British soldier in a kilt sat in a chair - where were the 'bearers' isn't that their job ? - was this just an example of the brits lording it over the darkies during the Raaj - or just our superior punjabi thinking - WE never did that sort of thing ! Anyway to cut a long story short I was in Sainsburys today and saw a bottle of Camp Coffee - I didn't think they made it anymore and Lo and behold they've changed the bottle - now the Singh and the Scot are both sitting down on chairs having a drink together !! Is this a case of politcal correctness - re writing History - like getting rid of the Golly on Robertsons Jam ? or am I just bored and got way too much time on my hands - I 'll let you decide !!! Before After

Thanks for Hosting N30 Bhaaji !!