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Gurdwara Gurudongmaar Sahib Ji
This magnificent historical Gurudwara (Gurudongmaar) Sikhism
is located in Place Gurudongmaar Lake, which is a town in North
Sikkim, an Indian state. Sikkim is a small but beautiful
landlocked state is located in the Himalayas in northern India.It is considered First Guru of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev ji
visited this place during his trip (UDasi) to China and Tibet.
Guru Nanak Dev ji dug his walking stick at a place where
ultimately the stick has grown into a tree which has trunk in
stick shape and leaves are below the rounded trunk which looks
like handle of stick. An amrit kund was also made to appear
there by Guru ji. Guru Nanak Dev ji visited the place during his
third Udasi in order to support the Karma pa Nying ma pa sect
then being hounded out from Tibet by the Ge lug pa sect. It is
also said that Guru Nanak Dev Ji, on one of his journeys along
with his disciples, had come across this place and vanquished
two demons here before proceeding. The footprints of that battle
were believed to be still left on that cordoned off rock.
Gurudongmaar lake is located in this state at a distance of
about 150 Kms from the capital Gangtok, at an elevation of
18,000 feet alongside a glacial peak known by the same name. The
lake remains frozen most of the year due to heavy snowfall for
almost six months each year.He went through Naku la and Lawu Gompha and reached plateau
area around Gurudongmar. Problems of Grazers in this plateau the
yak grazers approached Guru Nanak Dev ji with a request, that:
"they do not find water in winter as it gets frozen all over,
temperature falling down to minus 35 degrees.
"The Guru hit the
perpetually snow-covered Gurudongmar Lake with his stick to
provide water to the grazers. The ice melted giving way to
crystal clear water. Since then the water of the lake is stated
to never freeze. The lake and the hill feature atop have come to
be known as Gurudongmar Lake and hill respectively. The same
names are found recorded in the ancient maps prepared by the
British in nineteenth century. Some grazers projected another
problem to Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Due to the effect of altitude,
their virility was affected. They requested the Guru to do
something about it. Guru Nanak Dev Ji blessed the lake,
saying,"Whosoever takes the water of this lake will gain
virility and strength and will be blessed with children." The
people of the area have firm faith in Guru's words and consider
the water of the lake as nectar. A Gurdwara was built in the
eighties to remember Guru Nanak Dev Ji visit to the place. The
Lamas from these areas have been visiting Golden Temple,
Amritsar, regularly to pay obeisance to their beloved Guru
Rimpoche, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, also known as 'Guru Nanak Lama' in
their areas.
Renovation of Gurudwara
The present Gurdwara structure was renovated by Jawan's of 22
Sikh Regiment (Indian Army) during own tenure from December 2009
to May 2011. The area located near the border with China.
Religion
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikhism religion, visited many of
the places where Padmasambhava prayed at, including this lake in
North Sikkim. At the local people's request for water, Guru
Nanak, with his 'dang' (a long stick) broke upper layer of ice &
said, "Water of this lake will never freeze". People named this
lake 'guru dang mar' meaning created with the dang of Guru
Nanak.The lake is named after Padmasambhava, the Indian tantric
Buddhist who conducted rituals here. Some believe that this is
why, even at the height of winter, one portion of the lake never
freezes. |
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