There are a number of sacred trees considered sacred in the Sikh religion. [1] As many as fifty-eight Sikh shrines are associated with particular trees of importance, with up to nineteen tree species being represented amongst these sacred trees. [1] Many of the sacred trees are associated with miraculous sakhis or historical events. [1]
In India, the ber (Indian jujube) tree and its fruit is widespread and has played a prominent role in Indic culture since ancient times. [2] The tree and its fruit finds mention in Sanskrit literature, such as in religious texts where the tree is sanctified. [2] The name given to the tree varies by the local Indian language. [2] The Sikh gurus themselves favoured the planting of jujube trees at locations of religious significance, such as gurdwaras. [2] At the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, one can find jujube trees which hold religious importance to Sikhs. [2] Whilst jujube trees tend to live for around 100 years, three prominent ones located within the confines of the Golden Temple complex have lived four times the expected lifespan of jujube trees. [2]
The Dukh Bhanjani Ber (meaning "the tree which removes sorrows") is a jujube tree (belonging to the Ziziphus jujuba species) located within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. [1] [3] [2] Specifically, it is located on the eastern side of the parikarma . [3] Sikhs believe a leper, who was the husband of Bibi Rajani, was cured after bathing in the small body of water near this tree. [1] [3] Sikhs believe the tree was named "Dukh Bhanjani" by Guru Ram Das. [3] The small body of water that once existed near the tree was believed to have existed since ancient times. [3] This body of water was later expanded, becoming the basis for the sarovar of the current temple complex. [1] The tree is commonly used as a prayer site for petitionary prayers, such as ones asking for cures regarding severe, unknown, and untreatable diseases and infertility. [1] Many pilgrims believe that taking a dip in the water near the tree will heal ailments. [3]
The Ber Baba Budha Sahib (meaning "tree of Baba Budha") is another jujube tree located also in the Golden temple complex in Amritsar. [1] [2] The Ber Baba Budha Sahib tree is over 440-years-old (dating back to circa 1573). [2] The tree is associated with a prime religious figure of early Sikhism, Baba Budda. [2]
Another jujube tree within the Golden Temple complex is known as the Lachhi Ber. [2]
A Ziziphus jujuba tree associated with Guru Nanak can be found at Gurdwara Ber Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi. [4] It is believed that Guru Nanak revealed the Mul Mantar near the tree. [4] The tree is notable for bearing many fruit annually and having few spines. [4]
A beri tree can be found at Siloani in Ludhiana which Guru Gobind Singh is believed to have tied his horse to whilst traveling in the Malwa region in the aftermath of the Battle of Chamkaur. [5] At the location of the beri, Guru Gobind Singh, whilst disguised in Islamic garbs, met with Rai Kalha, the chief of Raikot, who then escorted the Guru to Raikot. [5] The building (specifically known as a Manji Sahib) at this site was originally a small, domed room, which was transformed into a larger structure later-on. [5] Three iron girdles have been installed to support the aging tree as well as stilts by the local gurdwara management committee. [5]
A Ziziphus jujuba tree can be found at Gurdwara Babe-Di-Ber Sahib in Sialkot, Pakistan. [6] It is believed Guru Nanak had visited Sialkot multiple times during his life. [6] As per lore, Guru Nanak is said to have visited the location of the tree on one of his visits to Sialkot when he was arriving via Saidpur from Talwandi (present-day Nankana Sahib). [6] The tree was located in the south-east of the town of Sialkot at the time and Guru Nanak is believed to have taken rest under it. [6] Later, a gurdwara was constructed at the site. [6] The gurdwara was renovated and restored by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) of Pakistan in 2014. [6]
A sacred, 350-year-old garna tree is located at Gurdwara Garna Sahib in Vill, Bodal village, Dasuya, in Hoshiarpur district. [7] Sikhs believe Guru Hargobind took rest under this tree during a hunting trip. [7] The fruits borne by this species of tree, berries of a dark-purple hue, are called garuna or garaunda in Punjabi, hence the name of the tree. [7] In the past, the Hoshiapur area was once inhabited by many garna trees, and their fruits were consumed by pilgrims en route to the Naina Devi temple. [7] The roots of garna trees have medicinal properties and can be used to treat worm-infested wounds of animals. [7]
A sacred Nim tree ( Azadirachta indica ) that is over 300-years-old is located at Gurdwara Nim Sahib in Akar, Patiala. [8] This tree is considered holy because whilst touring the Malwa region of Punjab, it is believed Guru Tegh Bahadur rested under the tree. [8] It is believed that the Sikh guru touched one of the branches of the tree, which rendered the leaves of that particular branch tasteless forever after, whilst leaves sourced from the other branches of the tree still retain a bitter taste. [8] This miracle is tied to a message in the Guru Granth Sahib, which claims that being in good company that is blessed by the Guru renders one bitterless. [8] In 2006, this tree was suffering from a bark disease. [8] The local gurdwara management committee was recommended removing granite flooring around the base of the tree and adding cow-dung plaster that is mixed with turmeric and copper sulfate, to restore the tree's health. [8] The tree had made a recovery by 2016. [8]
A sacred peepal tree ( Ficus religiosa ) can be found at Gurdwara Pipli Sahib in Amritsar. [note 1] [9] Sikhs believe that Guru Arjan welcomed Sikh adherents from Afghanistan and northwestern Punjab, who had arrived to assist with the excavation work to construct the temple tank of Harmandir Sahib, at the location of this tree. [9] A unique characteristic of this particular tree is that its leaves located on the upper portion of the tree are golden-yellow in-colour. [9] Peepal trees have long been considered spiritually significant in Indic religions, finding specific mention in the Guru Granth Sahib's verses. [9] In India, this species of tree symbolizes the continuity of life due to its long lifespan. [9]
A phalahi tree ( Acacia modesta ), spanning a large area, can be found at Gurdwara Phalahi Sahib in Lakhisar, Bathinda district. [10] This tree once was part of the historical Lakhi Jungle (now a locality). [10] It is believed that Guru Gobind Singh passed through this location whilst travelling from Muktsar to Talwandi Sabo in the early part of 1706. [10] A teeth-cleaning twig, known locally as a datun, made from phalahi, was left at the location, which grew up into four, large phalahi trees. [10] Currently, two dry trunks are parallel to the earth whilst the other two trunks, which are also situated parallel to the ground, have exceeded forty feet in length and are still experiencing growth. [10] These features have been described as being botanical rarities. [10] The tree is not being maintained and is surviving without human help. [10] Devotees place wooden pegs near the roots of the tree in the hopes of being blessed with a son or in hopes of obtaining more milk from their cows. [10] Every month at the tree's location, a special gathering on the full moon happens. [10]
There exists a tahli tree at Munak Kalan under which it is believed Guru Hargobind rested. [11] Furthermore, a well also dating to the period of the sixth Sikh guru can be found in its vicinity. [11] In April 2006, the tree was in poor health and described as "dying & denuded of leaves". [11] The reason for the tree's health decline has been attributed to salt offerings by pilgrims damaging its roots. [11] Experts and the local gurdwara management worked together to restore the tree's health. [11] By August 2019, the tree had made a recovery. [11]
Historic trees associated with Sikh history are also at risk due to neglectful and poorly made judgements without consulting botanical experts, such as strangling the roots and base with concrete and marble, covering the trees with fibre glass, and erecting steel beams around the trunks. [12] Efforts are ongoing to revive and preserve the life of the Beri trees surrounding the Golden Temple. [13] [14] [15] [16]
In the late 1990's, the tips of the three prominent sacred jujube trees within the Golden Temple complex started drying. [2] The branches of the trees were suffering from drying and an insect infection by Kerria lacca (lac insects). [2] The cause of the declining health of the sacred jujube trees has been attributed to pilgrims offering prashad and touching the bark of the trees' trunk with greasy hands. [2] Due to these factors, the passage of sap of the trees became clogged, resulting in drying of the tree, intensifying the insect infestation. [2] In 1993, three measures were adopted to save the trees and restore their health: [2]
Due to the above efforts, with time the trees began to show improvement in their health, such as in-regards to their flowering and fruiting. [2] Many treatment efforts, such as pruning, are still being continued to help the trees. [2]
Damanbir Singh Jaspal of the Chandigarh Nature and Health Society has established a museum of trees on his personal property in Chandigarh for preserving the tree species represented amongst the sacred trees of Sikhism. [1] [17] It contains clones of prominent sacred trees, such as the Dukh Bhanjani Ber, within it. [1] It also contains sacred trees from other religions, such as a tree sourced from Sri Lanka believed to be a descendant of the tree the Buddha obtained enlightenment under. [1] The museum also contains a garden containing medicinal plants. [1]
A gurdwara or gurudwara is a place of assembly and worship for Sikhs but its normal meaning is place of guru or "Home of guru". Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as Gurdwara Sahib. People from all faiths and religions are welcomed in gurdwaras. Each gurdwara has a Darbar Sahib where the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on a takht in a prominent central position. Any congregant may recite, sing, and explain the verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, in the presence of the rest of the congregation.
The following outline is provides an overview of Sikhism, or Sikhi.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is an organization in India responsible for the management of gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship, in the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the union territory of Chandigarh. SGPC also administers Darbar Sahib in Amritsar.
Tarn Taran Sahib is a city in the Majha region of the state of Punjab, in northern India. It is the district headquarters and hosts the municipal council of Tarn Taran district. Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib, a prominent Sikh shrine, is located in the central part of the city.
Kapurthala is a city in Punjab state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Kapurthala District. It was the capital of the Kapurthala State, a princely state in British India. The aesthetic mix of the city with its prominent buildings based on French and Indo-Saracenic architecture self-narrate its princely past. It is also known as city of Palaces & Gardens. According to the 2011 census, Kapurthala is the least populated city in India.
The Akal Takht is one of five takhts of the Sikhs. It is located in the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar, Punjab, India. The Akal Takht was built by Guru Hargobind as a place of justice and consideration of temporal issues; the highest seat of earthly authority of the Khalsa and the place of the Jathedar, the highest spokesman of the Sikhs.
Sultanpur Lodhi is a city and a Municipal Council, just 17 miles Kapurthala city in the Kapurthala district in the Indian state of Punjab. The town is named after its founder, Bahlol Lodhi, the future Sultan of Delhi who renamed the town in 1443 C.E. during his time as governor of Punjab, and has also been mentioned in the Ain-e-Akbari. Sultanpur Lodhi is located on the south bank of a seasonal rivulet called Kali Bein, which runs 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers of Punjab.
Gurdawara Bair Sahib also called Baba Beri or Baba Bair is situated in Sialkot, Pakistan. It was the place where Baba Guru Nanak stayed and met Hamza Ghaus, a famous saint of Sialkot. The berry tree under which Guru Nanak stayed is still present. The gurdwara was built by Natha Singh and it includes a garden, a pool and residential rooms. The gurdwara was damaged in the wake of the Babari Masjid dispute. There used to be a very high temple which was razed to ground when it was demolished by an unruly mob.
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, also called Kartarpur Sahib, is a gurdwara in Kartarpur, located in Shakargarh, Narowal District, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is built on the historic site where the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, settled and assembled the Sikh community after his missionary travels and lived for 18 years until his death in 1539. It is one of the holiest sites in Sikhism, alongside the Golden Temple in Amritsar and Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib.
Gurū Nānak, also known as Bābā Nānak, was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. His birth is celebrated as Guru Nanak Gurpurab on Katak Pooranmashi, i.e. October–November.
Gurdwara Janam Asthan, also referred to as Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, is a highly revered gurdwara that is situated at the site where the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, was born. The shrine is located in Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan.
The Golden Temple (also known as the Harmandir Sahib, or the Darbār Sahib, is a gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. It is the pre-eminent spiritual site of Sikhism. It is one of the holiest sites in Sikhism, alongside the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Kartarpur, and Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib.
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Kartar Singh Jhabbar was a Sikh leader known for his role in the Gurdwara Reform Movement of the 1920s.
A takht, or taḵẖat, literally means a throne or seat of authority and is a spiritual and temporal centre of Sikhism. There are five takhts, which are five gurudwaras that have a very special significance for the Sikh community. Three are located in Punjab whilst the remaining two are located outside of it.
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Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib is a gurdwara in the city of Sultanpur Lodhi, Kapurthala district, Punjab, India, situated on the banks of Kali Bein rivulet. This gurdwara is the historical place related to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Guru of Sikhs.
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