Hemkunt Sahib Ji With a Setting of a Glacial Lake Surrounded by Seven Peaks

7/31/2019 Hemkunt Sahib Ji With a Setting of a Glacial Lake Surrounded by Seven Peaks

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Hemkunt Sahib Ji With

A Setting Of A GlacialLake Surrounded BySeven Peaks

Hemkunt Sahib ji with a setting of a glacial lake surrounded by seven peaks, is a popular

pilgrimage site for Sikhs. It is located in the Himalayas at an elevation of over 15,200 ft (4,600

m) in the state of Uttarakhand, India, and is accessible only by foot from Govindghat onRishikesh-Badrinath highway.
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It is most known for a gurudwara, known as Hemkunt Sahib, associated the Sikh guru, GuruGovind Singh, and is one of the most sacred of Sikh shrines, the lake also has a Lakshman

temple built by it.

Hemkund is Sanskrit name derived from two meaning 'Hem' - Snow & "Kund", Bowl so by

Hindu mythology it is meant Bowl of Snow, where Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji (tenth guru of

Sikhs) and Lord Lakshman did his penance. Hemkund comes by crossing Devprayag,

Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandprayag & Vishnuprayag.
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Hemkund is inaccessible because of snow from October through April. Each year the first Sikh

pilgrims arrive in May and set to work to repair the damage to the path over the harsh winter.This Sikh tradition is called "kar seva" (literally "work service") and forms an important tenet of

the Sikh faith of belonging to and contributing to the community.

The take-off point for Hemkund is the town of Govindghat about 275 km from Rishikesh. The

13 km trek from here is along a reasonably well maintained path to the village of Gobind Dhamor Ghangaria. There is another Gurudwara where pilgrims can spend the night. In addition there

are a few hotels and a well-maintained campground with tents and mattresses. After this a 5,000

ft (1,500 m) climb in 6 km of stone paved path reaches Hemkund. There are no sleepingarrangements at Hemkund and one is advised to leave by 2PM to make it back to Gobinddham

by nightfal
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On the way to Gurdwara Hemkunt Sahib ji. It is definetly not an easy task to reach here.

On the banks of the Hemkund lake stands the Lakshman Temple (also known as Lokpal

Temple). It is believed that Lakshman had meditated at this place and the mythical Sanjeevani

Buti that cured Lakshman after Meghnad wounded him during a battle is also said to have been

found in the vicinity. So, the Lakshman Temple is considered as one of the famous Hindupilgrimage sites.
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It was there that Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs is reported to havemeditated in his previous life In 'Bachitar Natak' the great Guru relates his story in the following

words "I shall now relate my own story, how God sent me into this world. I was busy performingpenance on the hills of 'Hemkund' where seven peaks are prominent. The place is called 'Sapt

Shring where King Pandav had performed Yoga, there I practiced austerity and worshipped the

god of death.

Associated with the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara is a

revered Sikh Gurudwara and one of the most visited Sikh holy places. For eight months of theyear, the Lokpal Lake, on which, the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara is situated remains frozen, after

which it melts in the monsoons and meadows of wildflowers colour its banks. Encircled by the

Saptashringa Peaks (seven snow-clad peaks), which are collectively called Hemkund Parvat, itmirrors its surroundings on the crystal-clear waters. The lake is the source of the Laxman Ganga
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(also called Hem Ganga) stream that merges with the Pushpawati stream flowing from the Valley

of Flowers. From this point on, the river is called Laxman Ganga.

As mentioned in the holy Granth Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikh faith hadmeditated on the bank of this lake in one of his earlier births. It is widely believed among Sikhs

that Guru Gobind Singh introduced the features now universally associated with Sikhism. In

1699, he started the new brotherhood called the Khalsa (meaning the pure). The five K's'associated with Sikhism date from this period: kesh (uncut hair) kangha (comb), kirpan (dagger

or short sword), kara (steel bangle), and kachh (shorts).
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The Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara is a grand star shaped structure of stone and masonry at theedge of the lake whose crystal clear water mirrors the image of the seven peaks that surround it.

Streams from Hati Parvat and Sapt Rishi Peaks feed the lake and a small stream called Himganga

flows out of it.
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The sacred and holy lake of Hemkund Sahib ji

Discovery of Hemkunt The Sikhs started to search for Hemkunt, the Tap Asthan (the place of

meditation), in the late nineteenth century, even though the Dasam Granth was recorded in the1730s. The first Sikh to trace the geographical location of Hemkunt was Pandit Tara SinghNarotam in 1884. He was a nineteenth century Nirmila scholar. His findings were published by

the renowned exponent of Sikh history and scholar, Bhai Vir Singh in 1929 in his book called

Sri Kalgidhar Chamatkar. This book was then read by Sohan Singh, who was a retired Granthi(priest) from the Indian army working voluntarily at a gurdwara in Tehri Garhwal. Having read

the description of where the Tap Asthan was, he set out to find the physical spot in 1933.

Unfortunately that year he had no luck and attempted again his search the following year. Hisenquiries led him to the place known as Lokpal to the local folk. The description matched that of

the place described by the Guru as Sapat Shring and the place where King Pandu was believed to

have meditated. Hemkunt had been found. However Sohan Singhs discovery was met with

much scepticism, so he approached Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957) whose work had inspired him tosearch for the Tap Asthan. Both Sohan Singh and Bhai Vir Singh met, and visited the site, and

both were then convinced that the Gurus description of Tap Asthan matched the site found.
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Bhai Vir Singh then committed himself to developing Hemkunt Sahib. He gave Sohan Singh

some money, believed to be an amount of 2,100 rupees, with which to buy some supplies andmaterials to start construction of a small gurdwara on the shore of the lake. Sohan Singh

publicized the cause and was able to collect further funds. In early 1935 whilst purchasing

materials in Mussoorie, Sohan Singh met Modan Singh a Havaldar from the survey departmentwho later accompanied him to the site of construction, then joined forces with him. After

obtaining permission from the local people, they hired a contractor and started work on the

construction of a ten foot by ten foot stone Gurdwara. Construction of this Gurdwara wascompleted in 1936. At the same time, they also enlarged the ancient Hindu Mandir that stood on

the lake shore as a symbol of respect.
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My Heatfelt pranams to all the Gurus, Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh

Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Ji Dhan Akal Purakh
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji writes that the only one worthy to be called a Khalsa, is the one whoseheart lotus is filled with the Supreme Light of the Supreme Lord. And the Khalsa is only that one

who enjoys ATAM RUS. Guru Gobind Singh Ji emphasises that the one within whom there isGods Perfect Light (POORAN JOT) and Gods enjoyable union (ATAM RUS), then there is no

difference between that one and God. No difference between that one and Guru Gobind Singh Ji

himself!
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The only ones who can enjoy this highest level of divine joy ATAM RUS are those upon whom

the Eternal Being has bestowed his mercy. The ones who have taken support of the Perfect Lord.The ones who have meditated upon the perfect Satguru and followed his instructions. Not being

separate from the Perfect Lord, they have become one and the same. The Perfect Lord has come

to reside in their heart. And they are totally engrossed in always singing and praising God.
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Wahiguru ji ka Khalsa, Wahiguru ji ki Fateh

Jo Bole So Nihaal or Bole So Nihal.
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Hemkunt Sahib Ji With a Setting of a Glacial Lake Surrounded by Seven Peaks

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