Shiv Chander Sharma
The idol worship among Sikhs is not usually prevalent and hardly any Gurdwara can be seen in the country and the rest parts of the world with any idol. But in Jammu city, there is an ancient Gurdwara which has an idol of Guru Nanak Dev Ji where large number of people of all faiths visit daily.
Situated in the heart of the old Jammu city in Dhounthli Bazar between Chowk Chabutra and Panjtirthi, this ancient Gurdware is commonly known as Panchayati Gurdwara. People have deep faith in this religous place and it is believed that the cherished desries of the people are fulfilled by lighting a lamp under the rare banyan tree having Barh and Bhorh on the common trunk and roots for consecutive 40 days. Guru Granth Sahib and the idol are placed in separate rooms in in this Gurdwara. This Gurdwara was constructed by founder of the Jammu and Kashmir State Maharaja Gulab Singh (1846-1857 AD). There is an interesting stroy behind construction of this historical Gurdwara which is perhaps the oldest or at least, among the oldest Gurdwaras of Jammu city.
It is believed that Gulab Singh built this Gurdwara for Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab (1800-1839 AD), who visited Jammu in 1832. In 1822, Gulab Singh was conferred with the title of king of Jammu on May 4, 1822 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Akhnoor on the banks of river Chenab. Prior to this, Gulab singh was army general in Ranjit Singh’s army.
In 1832, Maharaja Ranjit Singh paid a visit to Jammu on the invitation of Gulab Singh. By then Gulab Singh was king of Jammu only and Kashmir and other parts were not under his territory which came only in 1846 AD. As Jammu had no Gurdwara at that time for prayers of Ranjit Singh during his visit to Jammu, Gulab Singh decided to built a Gurdwara adjoining his royal Palace of Mubarak Mandi, where Ranjit Singh was to stay during his visit.
However, in the short time it was not possible to construct a new building near the palace, a Dharamshalla at Dhounthli, just outside the Palace was converted in Gurdwara and a Panj Granthi was appointed by Gulab Singh for carrying out daily prayers and Kirtan, said a historian Dr Dewan Chand.
As per schedule Maharaja Ranjit Singh came to Jammu and offered prayers at this Gurdwara and offered a cash amount as offering besides some other items. He also visited other religious places in the city as well as Purmandal near Jammu, a pious place on the banks of river Devak.
However, how the idol of Guru Nanak Dev was installed in this Gurdwara has another interesting story. When Gulab Singh became first ruler of J&K state in 1846, he built the famous Raghunath temple in the city installing idols of all gods and goddesses.
Des Raj of the loclaity says, an idol of Guru Nanak Dev was also to be installed in the Raghunath temple complex but the priests requested him that some saints and Sadhus, the worhsippers of Lord Shiva, do smoke in the temples during Sadhna which is banned in Sikhism and so installing an idol of Guru Nanak Dev ji will be against the Sikh traditions and religion.
At this, it was decided to install the idol at the Panchayti Gurdwara which is still worshipped by the people of all faiths till date. People light lamps, usually earthern lamps with mustard oil in the Gurdwara below the unique banyan tree for consecutive 40 days in the evening which is considered very important fulfilling the desires of the people.
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