Tarn Taran Sahib

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Tarn Taran Sahib
City
The Sarovar besides the GurudwaraTarn Taran Sahib, Punjab, India.jpg
Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gate, Tarn Taran Sahib.jpg
clockwise from top:
Gurdwara Tarn Taran Sahib, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gate.
India Punjab location map.svg
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Tarn Taran Sahib
Location in Punjab, India
Coordinates: 31°26′57″N74°55′14″E / 31.4491°N 74.9205°E / 31.4491; 74.9205
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
State Punjab
District Tarn Taran
Founded by Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Area
 • Total70 km2 (30 sq mi)
Elevation
500.5 m (1,642.1 ft)
Population
 (2011) [1]
 • Total66,847
 • Rank3th In Punjab
Demonym Tarn Tarn Sahib Wale
Languages
 • Official Punjabi
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
143401
Telephone code+91 (225) 1852
Vehicle registration PB-46
Sex ratio 764 [2] ♂/♀
Website www.darbarsahibtarntarn.com

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.

Contents

History

Tarn Taran Sahib was founded during Mughal rule by the Fifth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563–1606). He was so enchanted by its natural beauty that he established a town and named it Tarn Taran, which translates to the "pool of salvation" in English. He laid the foundation of Sri Tarn Taran Sahib Temple. Tarn Taran Sahib was part of the Bhangi Sikh Dynasty ruled by a powerful Jatt family of the Dhillon clan from 1716 to 1810.

In 1947, the year of the Partition of India and the Partition of Punjab, Tarn Taran was the only tehsil (district) in Punjab, along with Shiekhupura, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Hoshiapur, Kapurthala, Patti, Amritsar, Lyallpur, and Patiala, with a majority Sikh population. The city was the center of the Sikh insurgency during the 1980s and early 1990s. The main occupation in this area is agriculture and agroindustry, with very few other industries.

Tarn Taran district was formed in 2006. The declaration to this effect was made by Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, during the celebrations marking the martyrdom day of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. It became the 19th district of Punjab.

Ranjit Singh and Nau Nihal Singh

Maharaja Nau Nihal Singh of the Sikh Empire. Nau Nihal Singh -The history of the Sikhs Volume 1 - William Lewis M'Gregor pg 317.jpg
Maharaja Nau Nihal Singh of the Sikh Empire.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh had the steps on the two sides of the sarovar, formerly left unfinished by Budh Singh and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, completed and its circumambulatory passage paved. The Darbar Sahib was also reconstructed. Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his grandson, Kanvar Nau Nihal Singh, donated large quantities of gold to have the exterior plated with the metal, but the work made little progress in the troubled times that followed Ranjit Singh's death. It was in the last quarter of the nineteenth century that part of the exterior was covered with goldleaf by Sant Sham Singh, of Amritsar. Only one of the four towers planned by Kanvar Nau Nihal Singh for the four corners of the tank was erected during this time. Under Maharaja Ranjit Singh's orders, the town of Tarn Taran was enclosed by a wall. A few other shrines, such as the Mahji Sahib, the Akal Bunga and the Guru ka Khuh, were developed and several bungas added.

Tarn Taran and the British Raj

After the annexation of the Punjab to the British dominions, the management of the shrines at Tarn Taran, along with those at Amritsar, was entrusted to a sarbarah, or manager, appointed by the deputy commissioner of Amritsar. The role of the manager was, however, confined to general supervision, the priests being autonomous in the conduct of religious affairs. They divided the offerings among themselves and gradually appropriated most of the lands endowed to the Darbar Sahib during Sikh rule. They neglected their religious duties and cared little for the sanctity of the holy shrines and the sarovar. Reforms which reverted gurdwaras to there pre-colonial environments introduced by the Singh Sabha, Tarn Taran, established in 1885, were resisted by the British appointed sarbarahs and mahants. Efforts of the Khalsa Diwan Majha and the Central Majha Khalsa Diwan to cleanse the administration of corruption were met with success.

Gurdwara Reform Movement

As the Gurdwara reform movement got under way, the control of the sacred shrines passed to a representative body of the Sikhs, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, on 27 January 1921. A leper asylum established by Guru Arjan Dev (it was thought that minerals in the water were helpful in treating Leprosy), but completely ignored by the clergy after the abrogation of Sikh sovereignty, was taken over in 1858 by Christian missionaries. [3]

Demographics

As of 2011 Indian census, [4] Tarn Taran Sahib had a population of 66,847. Males constituted 52.3% of the population, and females 47.7%. Tarn Taran has an average literacy rate of 79.33%, higher than the state average of 75.84%: male literacy was 82.39%, and female literacy was 76%. In Tarn Taran Sahib, 11.2% of the population was under 6 years of age and 15% is elderly. 3% of its residents have settled abroad.

Religion

Religion in Tarn Taran (2011) [5]

   Sikhism (75.7%)
   Hinduism (23.2%)
   Christianity (0.7%)
   Islam (0.3%)
  Others (0.1%)

The table below shows the population of different religious groups in Taran Taran city and their gender ratio, as of 2011 census.

Population by religious groups in Tarn Taran city, 2011 census [6]
ReligionTotalFemaleMaleGender ratio
Sikh75,58431,23233,352919
Hindu15,4997,3058,194891
Christian488230258891
Muslim20292110836
Buddhist16881000
Jain10551000
Other religions725400
Not stated4122191157
Total91,84731,89634,951912

Politics

The city is part of the Tarn Taran Assembly Constituency. Kashmir Singh Sohal from Aam Admi Party is the MLA elected in 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election. [7]

Culture

Hub of Sikh culture

The city has many historical gurdwaras which include: Darbar Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Gurdwara Guru Ka Khuh (Gurdwara of the Guru's Well), Gurdwara Bibi Bhani Da Khuh, Gurdwara Takkar Sahib, Gurdwara Lakeer Sahib, Gurudwara Baba Garja Singh Baba Bota Singh, Gurdwara Jhulna Mahal, and Lalpur (Tapeana Sahib).

The main religious hub at Tarn Taran Sahib is Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran, built by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. The Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran has one of the largest sarovar (holy tank).

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Tarn Taran) - This gurdwara is an elegant, three-storeyed structure at the southeastern corner of the sarovar. Approached through a double-storeyed arched gateway, it stands in the middle of a marble-floored platform. The upper portion of the edifice is covered with glittering gold-plated sheets. The lotus dome, damaged in an earthquake (4 April 1905) and subsequently reconstructed, has an ornamental gold pinnacle with an umbrella-shaped gold finial. Exquisitely executed stucco work in intricate designs, inset with reflecting glass pieces, decorate the interior walls and the ceiling. The Guru Granth Sahib is seated on a platform under an elongated dome covered with goldplated metal sheets. This throne was an offering from Kanvar Nau Nihal Singh. A relay recital of Kirtan goes on from early morning until late in the evening.

Har Ki Pauri - A flight of marbled steps behind the Darbar Sahib descending into the sacred pool, marks the spot where, according to tradition, Guru Arjan made the first cut as the digging started in 1590. Pilgrims go down these steps to take Charanamrit or palmsful of holy water to sip.

The Sarovar - One of the largest of the Sikh holy tanks (ponds), it is an approximate rectangle in shape. Its northern and southern sides are 289 and 283 metres (948 and 928 ft), respectively, and eastern and western sides 230 and 233 metres (755 and 764 ft), respectively. The sarovar was originally fed by rain water that flowed in from the surrounding lands. In 1833, Maharaja Raghubir Singh of Jmd had a water channel dug, connecting the tank with the Lower Kasur Branch of the Upper Ban Doab Canal at Rasulpur watermills, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the southeast. The channel was cemented and covered in 1927/28 by Sant Gurmukh Singh and Sant Sadhu Singh. They also supervised karseva, i.e. complete desilting of the tank through voluntary service, in 1931. The operation was repeated in 1970 under Sant Jivan Singh. Most of the bungas around the sarovar have now been demolished and a verandah constructed instead along the periphery. The name Tarn Taran, since appropriated by the town itself, originally belonged to the sarovar, so called by Guru Arjan. Literally it means, "the boat that takes one across (the ocean of existence)". (Tarana in Sanskrit is a raft or a boat). According to Sikh tradition, the water of the old pond was found to possess medicinal properties, especially efficacious for curing leprosy. For this reason the sarovar was known as Dukh Nivaran, the eradicator of affliction. AKAL BUNGA, a four storeyed building near the Nishan Sahib (Sikh flagpole), was constructed in 1841 by Kanvar Nau Nihal Singh. Maharaja Sher Singh provided the finishing touches. The Guru Granth Sahib, "after a procession around the sarovar amid" chanting of hymns in the late evening, is, brought here for the night's rest. Manji Sahib, a small domed shrine in the eastern part of the circumambulatory pavement, marks the spot from where Guru Arjan supervised the excavation of the sarovar. A divan hall, a vast pavilion of reinforced concrete, has now been raised close to it.

The Tower - The only completed column of the four planned by Kanvar Nau Nihal Singh, for the beautification of the sarovar at Tarn Taran, stands at the northeastern corner. The three-storeyed tower, 34 metres (112 ft) high, was erected during the Kanvar's lifetime. The dome on top of it was added later.

Gurdwara Lakeer Sahib is situated at the place where a line on the ground was marked by Baba Deep Singh Ji, before entering into war against the Mughal Empire in 1757. Gurudwara Bibi Bhani da Khuh, situated near Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran, is named after Bibi Bhani Ji. She was the daughter of Guru Amar Das, the wife of Guru Ram Das, and the mother of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. This religio-historic khuh (well) was dug by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, in memory of his mother, at the place where she used to serve food, water, and medicine to the needy and visiting pilgrims. Locals preserved the place with the help of Dera Kar Sewa Tarn Taran, and constructed a gurdwara.

Gurdwara Guru Ka Khuh is also situated in Tarn Taran City. This well belonged to Guru Arjan Dev Ji, and a historic gurdwara has been built at this place.

Other gurdwaras in the District of Tarn Taran are at Goindwal Sahib, namely Gurdwara Baoli Sahib, at Khadoor Sahib, at Baba Buddha Sahib (Bir Sāhib) and those at Amritsar. Goindwal Sahib Goindwal Sahib, situated along the River Beas, is 23 km (14 mi) from Tarn Taran Sahib. It is an important center of Sikhism, as Guru Arjan Dev ji was born there.

Economy

Industry

Tarn Taran has many smaller-scale to large-scale industries:

The central government has plans for setting up a special economic zone (SEZ) at Sri Goindwal Sahib.

Education

The following is the list of colleges in the Taran Taran Sahib city. [8]

Infrastructure

Air

The nearest airport is Amritsar International Airport. At a distance of 30 kilometres (19 mi), direct International flights are available to key cities around the world in the likes of London, Birmingham, Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Tashkent and Ashgabat. Domestic connections are available to almost every major city of India.

Rail

Indian Railways. Narmada at Indore2.jpg
Indian Railways.

Tarn Taran is well-connected with nearby cities and villages with the rail network.

Tarn Taran station is located on the Amritsar-to-Khemkaran line.

A rail line from Tarn Taran sahib to Goindwal Sahib has been recently constructed and a new project of rail from Patti to Ferozpur is under construction.

Road

Tarn Taran is connected by roads to many other locations:

Tarn Taran is located on the historic Royal Highway (Sher Shah Suri Marg) of the Mugal Empire from Delhi to Lahore. NH-15 (National Highway No. 15) also passes through Tarn Taran. It has a fast bus service to Amritsar, with a daily route of about 450 buses daily.

AC coach buses of many transports have routes of Tarn Taran, including PUNBUS, PRTC, RAJ, and NEW DEEP.

Daily bus services run to and from New Delhi, Chandigarh, Patiala, Bikaner, Bathinda, Ferozpur, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar.

There is weekly bus service to Ponta Sahib.

Schools

1 Maharaja Ranjit Singh Public School 2 Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School 3 St. Francis Convent School 4 Mamta Niketan Convent School 5 St. Thomas Convent School 6 Guru Arjun Dev Khalsa School 7 Punjab Children Academy 8 Cupid's School 9 Mata Ganga Girls School 10 SD Sen Sec Public School 11 Sant Singh Sukha Singh Public School 12 SSS Public School 13 Arya Girls School 14 Govt. Sen Sec School 15 Guru Nanak Dev Academy 16 Majha Public School. 17 SD Girls High School 18 Universal Academy 19 SBDS Sen Sec School Patti 20 Shri Mahavir Jain Model High School Patti 21 S.B.B.S Sen Sec School Rasulpur 22 Baba Deep Singh Public School 23 Guru Amar Dass Adarsh Institute Goindwal sahib 24 Guru Amar Dass senior secondary school Goindwal sahib

Colleges

1 Guru Arjun Dev Khalsa College 2 Sewa Devi College 3 Mata Ganga College for women 4 Majha College for women 5 Kalian Homeopathic College 6 Mai Bhago Institute of Nursing 7 Shiv Shankar Institute of Engg and Tech (Patti) 8 Shaheed Bhagat Singh Pharmacy (Patti) 9 Shaheed Bhagat Singh Polytechnic College 10 Shaheed Bhagat Singh B.Ed College 11 International School of Nursing 12. Goutam college Tarn Taran 13 Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College Sarhali

Overview

Tarn Taran is a Municipal Council city in district of Tarn Taran, Punjab. The Tarn Taran No of Distt Wards 19 Which Has Been Included City and Some Of Neae Area's.

Tarn Taran Municipal Council has total administration over 12,874 houses to which it supplies basic amenities like water and sewerage. It is also authorize to build roads within Municipal Council limits and impose taxes on properties coming under its jurisdiction.

Health

The city has adequate health care system The city has one Civil (public) hospital besides six private hospitals. Tarn Taran has a largest 350 Bedded fully computerized Charitable Hospital viz. Guru Nanak Dev Super-speciality Hospital, run under 'Baba Jiwan Singh Baba Dalip Singh Educational Trust'(regd.). Baba Jagtar Singh Kar Sewa Wale is the Chairman. The Hospital has got all core medical facilities with state of art Radiology and Pathology Departments. [9]

Government and politics

Tarn Taran Sahib is situated near the Amritsar district. It sends one elected representative to the Lok Sabha (the Indian parliament), one member to the State Legislative Assembly and two members to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee(SGPC) at Amritsar. It is the headquarters of Tarn Taran district. It is a municipal council with 19 wards. The district borders Doaba, Malwa Belt and Pakistan.

Tourism

The Goindwal Baoli Sahib Gurudwara Goindwal Sahib.jpg
The Goindwal Baoli Sahib

Visitor attractions in and around Tarn Taran Sahib include:

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurdwara</span> Place of worship in Sikhism

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sukhmani Sahib</span> Set of hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib, the main scripture of Sikhism

Sukhmani Sahib, known under the title of Gauri Sukhmani in the scripture, is usually translated to mean Prayer of Peace is a set of 192 padas present in the holy Guru Granth Sahib, the main scripture and living Guru of Sikhism from Ang 262 to Ang 296. This Gurbani text was written by the 5th Guru, Guru Arjan (1563–1606) at Amritsar in around 1602. Guru Arjan first recited the bani at Gurdwara Barth Sahib in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib</span> Sikh gurdwara in Tarn Taran Sahib, India

Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib, officially Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib, is a gurdwara established by the fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev, in the city of Tarn Taran Sahib, Punjab, India. The site has the distinction of having the largest sarovar of all the gurdwaras. It is famous for the monthly gathering of pilgrims on the day of Amavas. It is near Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goindwal</span> Town in Punjab, India

Goindwal, also known as Goindwal Sahib and alternatively transliterated as Goindval, is located in the Taran Taran district of the Majha region of Punjab, India about 23 km (14 mi) from Tarn Taran Sahib. In the 16th century it became an important center for the Sikh religion during the Guruship of the Guru Amar Das Ji. Goindwal is on the banks of the Beas River and is one of the focal points of small scale industries of Tarn Taran district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Majha</span> Region in the central parts of the historical Punjab region

Majha is a region located in the central parts of the historical Punjab region, currently split between the republics of India and Pakistan. It extends north from the right banks of the river Beas, and reaches as far north as the river Jhelum. People of the Majha region are given the demonym "Mājhī" or "Majhail". Most inhabitants of the region speak the Majhi dialect, which is the basis of the standard register of the Punjabi language. The most populous city in the area is Lahore on the Pakistani side, and Amritsar on the Indian side of the border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarn Taran district</span> District of Punjab in India

Tarn Taran district is one of the districts in the Majha region of Punjab, India. The main cities are Tarn Taran Sahib, Bhikhiwind, Khadur Sahib and Patti. The City of Tarn Taran Sahib is a holy place for Sikhs. Tarn Taran's Sikh population makes it the most heavily concentrated district of Sikhs in India and the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikh architecture</span> Style of architecture

Sikh architecture is a style of architecture that was developed under the Sikh Confederacy and Sikh Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries in the Punjab region. Due to its progressive style, it is constantly evolving into many newly developing branches with new contemporary styles. Although Sikh architecture was initially developed within Sikhism its style has been used in many non-religious buildings due to its beauty. 300 years ago, Sikh architecture was distinguished for its many curves and straight lines; Keshgarh Sahib and the Harmandir Sahib are prime examples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Khalsa Diwan</span>

The Chief Khalsa Diwan or Chief Khalsa Diwan Charitable Society is a Sikh organisation that is the central organization of various Singh Sabhas spread across Punjab, India. Unlike the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the C.K.D. is an apolitical body and only concerns itself with religious, educational and cultural issues. The organization originally controlled Sikh religious and educational concerns and was an advocate of Sikh political rights, though it presently is mostly limited to educational spheres. It was the main council of Sikhs until the birth of more radical organizations, such as the Central Sikh League, the S.G.P.C., and the Akali Dal.

Patti is an old city, near Tarn Taran Sahib city and a municipal council of the Tarn Taran district in the Majha region of Indian state of Punjab, located 47 Kilometres from Amritsar. Patti city is situated close to the Pakistani border. It is connected through a rail network starting from Amritsar station to Khem Karan station, with Khem Karan being its last station of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakhpur</span> Village in Punjab, India

Lakhpur is a village near Sahni (Lakhpur-Sahni), Tehsil Phagwara, Kapurthala district, in Punjab, India.

Sarhali is a town and a municipal council in Patti subdivision of Tarn Taran district in the Indian state of Punjab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurdwara Janam Asthan</span> Building in Punjab, Pakistan

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabhal Kalan</span> Town in Punjab, India

Chabhal Kalan is a town in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab, India and is located 13 miles (21 km) away from Amritsar city.

Chung is a historical village in (Bhikhiwind), just 33 km from Tarn Taran Sahib in Patti tehsil of Tarn Taran district in the Indian state of Punjab. Before 1947, it was part of Kasur tehsil of Lahore district. Rice and wheat are the most cultivated crops.

Khadur Sahib is a town and a nagar panchayat in Tarn Taran district of Khadur Sahib tehsil of the Majha region of Indian state of Punjab. Khadur Sahib is a historical place in view of eight out of ten sikh gurus having visited this place. The postal index number of Khadur Sahib is 143117.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balbir Singh (ragi)</span> Musical artist (1933 – 2020)

Balbir Singh was a Sikh Hazuri Ragi who sang and performed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar for 36 years. He was one of the last masters of traditional Sikh gurbani kirtan of the Golden Temple.

References

  1. ↑ "Census of India: Search Details". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Population data pbhealth.gov.in [ dead link ]
  3. ↑ "Sikh Social Warriors". Archived from the original on 19 September 2000.
  4. ↑ "Tarn Taran City Population 2011 Census" . Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "Tarn Taran Municipal Council City Population Census 2011-2022 | Punjab".
  6. ↑ https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11389, India - C-01: Population by religious community, Punjab - 2011, Tarn Taran (M Cl)
  7. ↑ "Punjab Assembly: 12 doctors make it to House". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  8. ↑ https://collegedunia.com/tarn-taran-colleges [ bare URL ]
  9. ↑ "Hospital", KarsewaTarnTaran.com.
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