When Guru Nanak Dev Ji travelled through Orissa, his destination
was the famous Hindu Shrine at Jagannathpuri. On the way to puri, he
stayed at Cuttack, where we have a historical Gurdwara dedicated to his
stay, known as Gurdwara Datun Sahib. It was at Jagannathpuri that Guru
Nanak composed his immortal Aarti. It is said that in the evening when
the priests performed Aarti. Guru Nanak stood there as a silent spectator
as if nothing was happening. He came out in the open and sang the
following hymn :
“The entire sky is the silver plate. The Moon and the Sun are
lamps. The luminous stars are studded in it like jewels. The wind
was the scent of all flowers on earth. Thus worship performed, O
Thou the destroyer of births! And the unstuck melody of his word
ringeth through the universe. Millions are Thy eyes and yet Thou
have no eye. Millions are Thy feet and yet Thou have no feet,
Millions are Thy noses and yet Thou have no nose, and through the
Guru’s instruction this light is illuminated, 0 people! That alone is
worship that pleased my Lord. Like the honey is to bee, my mind cherishes the honey of His Lotus
feet. O Lord! Allay the thirst of Nanak, thy Sarang, O Lord of Bliss! So that he merges in His Name.”
Thus, the Guru Preached against idolatry and exhorted the people to sing the praises of one formless God
who was God of all ‘The place where Guru Nanak sang the above mentioned hymn, a Math was created
by Udasi Priests. It was first established by Bhai Almast, the notable Udasi Priest during the middle of 17th
century. However, the same, being not a Gurdwara in the right earnest, it was being felt that a Gurdwara be
constructed at some nearby available place so that the great event of composition of a great hymn, about
which Tagore had said that it was an international anthem for the entire world, be commemorated. When
Bhai Shamsher Singh of Delhi visited this place, he discussed the matter with the Sadh Sangat of Orissa and
adjoining states and decided to stay back and built a beautiful Guru Ghar. Despite the fact that there is no
Sikh family living in Jagannathpuri, Baba Ji purchased a plot of land and started constructing a Gurdwara.
It is worth mentioning here that one of the five beloveds of Guru Gobind Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh, also
belonged to this place. So, realizing the importance of this place in Sikh history, a beautiful Gurdwara called
Gurdwara Aarti Sahib, a four storey building, has been built now. Beautiful rooms built in it are given free to
the Sangat. The Langar of Guru continues 24 hrs. Anyone from any religion, caste or creed can stay here;
have Langar and blessings of Guru Maharaj.
