| SACRED TANKS IN PUNJAB |
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| Amrit Savour |
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The holy tank surrounding the Golden Temple (Shri Harmandir Sahib) at Amritsar is called Amrit (the water of immortality) Sarovar (pool). In fact the city of Amritsar derives its name from the sacred tank. Pilgrims bathe in the tank, and symbolically drink its waters. A holy dip in the tank is also part of the spiritual baptismal ritual for the Sikhs.
(Picture Source: members.chello.at) |
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| DUKHNIVARAN SAHIB SAROVAR |
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Gurudwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib is located in Patiala city, Punjab. A large sarovar also forms part of the Gurudwara complex. Devotees take a holy dip in the sarovar before visiting the gurudwara.
(Source : http://patiala.nic.in/) |
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| Muktsar Sarovar |
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The Muktsar Sarovar of the historic Shri Darbar Sahib Gurudwara at Punjab is a sacred to the Sikhs. Devotees take a dip in the holy tank every year of the eve of Maghi Mela. Maghi was celebrated in memory of 40 Muktas, who deserted Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib joined him later at Muktsar, which was earlier known as Khiderana Dhab. They fought bravely and defeated the Mughals in the last battle by sacrificing their lives.
Guru Gobind Singh himself cremated all these brave Sikh soldiers and renamed the Dhab
Khiderana as Sri Muktsar Sahib. To commemorate their sacrifice, Guru Gobind Singh had enlarged the tank near the battlefield and called it Muktsar or the tank of Salvation.
Later on, a Gurudwara was built at the site of the cremation of the 40 martyrs. Since then, every year thousands of followers of Sikhism gather here and take bath in the tank before offering prayers at the Gurudwara. |
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| RAM TIRATH SAROVAR |
Ram Tirath Sarovar is located about 11 km north-west of Amritsar. The sarovar is believed to have been dug by Hanuman. The circumference of the tank is about 3km and there are temples on its sides. A majority of the pilgrims consider it auspicious to have a dip in the sacred tank in the early hours of the Puranmashi ( full moon) night .
Ram Tirath is an ancient pilgrimage centre associated with the period of Ramayana. Devi Sita is believed to have spent her period of exile at this place in the ashram of Maharishi Valmiki. It is said that Rishi Chavanprash cured Maharishi Valmiki of leprosy by having him bathe in the pond. Ram Tirath Mela ( Fair ) is celebrated every year here a fortnight after Diwali. Pilgrims in large numbers take a holy dip in the sacred tank. After the plunge, they circumbulate the tank. Women light lamps made from kneaded flour and put them in the tank by placing them on leaf plates. It is believed that this ceremony absolves one's sins and is known as tulla-toarna (meaning floating of tullas ).Throughout the ceremony devotional songs and hymns are recited.
(Source: http://amritsar.nic.in) |
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| TARN TARAN SAROVAR |
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Tarn Taran Sarovar is located in the Gurudwara Tarn Taran Sahib, which about 25 kilometers south of Amritsar. The Gurudwara has the distinction of having the largest water tank of all the gurudwaras in the country. The sarovar has high religious sanctity. People especially of the Majha belt consider taking a dip in the sarovar to a dip in the Ganges. It is a belief about the sarovar that anyone having a dip especially on amavasya day is relieved of all sins and illnesses. As the folklore goes, a leper (a person who has leprosy) who can swim across the tank will be miraculously cured.
(Source:http://www.aboutgoldentemple.com/) |