After numerous court cases and deliberations on the relics of Guru Gobind Singh, they have been put together on a grand stage so the peopel of Punjab can see them for themselves.
The relics were lying under lock and key at the Quila Mubarak since 2009 when the department of culture took its possession from the descendents of the erstwhile Nabha royal family following intervention of the Punjab and Haryana high court.
Though the court had told the department to display the relics at an open museum, it preserved them at Qila Mubarak.
The descendant of Nabha royal family, Tikka Hanumant Singh, also handed over two of the relics of Guru Teg Bahadur to the state government last week, which have also been kept at the Quila Mubarak.
What are the relics?
The relics include:
*Two relics are related to Guru Hargobind Sahib including 46 inches long sword and 22 inches long whip
* There is a Siri Sahib (Sword) related to Guru Teg Bahadar that has ‘Sat Sri Akal Guru Teg Bahadar’ engraved on it.
Relics of Guru Gobind Singh include:*a cloak
*a gutka(manuscript) written by by Guru Gobind Singh,
*a turban and a comb with Guru Gobind’s hair.
*20 inch Siri Sahib(sword)
*30 inches long wooden spear
*five arrows
Manuscript of Guru Gobind Singh
History of the Relics
While all 12 relics of the guru were in possession of Nabha royal family, documented evidence revealed that at least eight of those a turban, three swords, a cloak, comb with hair and a manuscript were in their custody since 1847.
Four of these relics were handed over to Nabha royals by descendants of Peer Budhu Shah, close confidante of Guru Gobind Singh, who fought along with him in the battle of Bhangani. According to entries listed in Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha’s encyclopedia, Mahaan Kosh,’ at least four of those relics a turban, a comb with hairs, a 3-inch knife and a Hukamnama were handed over by the descendents of Peer Budhu Shah to Maharaja Bharpur Singh during his rule from 1847 to 1863. The entry claimed that the Peer’s descendants were awarded precious gifts and big landholdings by the king of Nabha.
The encyclopedia revealed that the 300-page manuscript was purchased by Bharpur Singh from a poet named Bhai Tara Singh. “Bhai Tara Singh told the maharaja that the book has been written by Kalgidhar (tenth guru). Bharpur Singh had purchased it for Rs 2,000 and awarded the poet an annual salary of Rs 200,” reads the entry.
Another sword of the 10th guru, which was gifted to him by one Kalha Rai, was handed over by the nawab of Malerkotla to maharaja Jaswant Singh, who ruled Nabha estate from 1790 to 1840.
The Mahaan Kosh,’ also claimed that Nabha royals did possess part of an arrow used by the 10th guru near Anandpur Sahib. It claimed that the arrowhead was a remnant of the arrow that remained embedded in the tree the guru used for trial of arrows.
“The tree fell some years ago. A Sikh at Kesgarh Sahib gave it (remnant of arrow) to a mahant of Dera Baba Ajaypal Singh, who further handed it over to Maharaja Hira Singh,” the book says. Maharaja Hira Singh ruled Nabha from 1871 to 1911.
Where will they be kept?
The procession of the relics will go through pertient areas of the Punjab. The relics will be kept at the same place at Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur ( On of the five thrones of Sikh polity) where the other weapons of Guru Gobind Singh are now displayed.
After the Anglo-Sikh Wars, several weapons of Guru Gobind Singh were taken to the UK. In the 1960’s they were returned to the Punjab and displayed at Takht Keshgarh Sahib.