Save mutts at Puri, activists urge Capt

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 13

As the Punjab Government is going all out to commemorate the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak, members of the Sikh community in Odisha have expressed concern over the impending demolition of Mangu Mutt for creation of a heritage corridor within 75m of ‘Meghanad Prachir’ of Jagannath Temple.

Drawing attention of CM Capt Amarinder Singh, two Odisha-based activists, advocate Sukhvinder Kaur and historian Anil Dhir, who have been taking up the issue with Odisha CM Naveen Patnail on behalf of the Sikh community, said the Punjab Government needs to intervene immediately to save the sacred mutts, Mangu Mutt and Punjabi Mutt, at Puri.

Dhir said the mutts have associational significance with the Sikh faith. The connection between Sikhism and the Jagannath Temple goes back to more than 500 years ago, when Guru Nanak Dev visited the holy temple to spread the message of one supreme reality.

On being asked, Punjab Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister Charanjit Channi the state government would take up the matter with the Centre and the Odisha Government.

Giving a historical background, Sukhvinder Kaur said “The Sikhs’ association with the Jagannath Temple continues till date. Every year, thousands of devout Sikhs visit Puri to pay obeisance to Lord Jagannath”.

The Mangu Mutt was set up by Bhai Almast, a Sikh preacher and head of the Dhuari of the Udasi sect, sometime in 1615. He had been deputed to the eastern provinces by Baba Gurditta, the eldest son of Guru Hargobind, to preach the message of Guru Nanak. The image of Baba Shri Chand, Guru Nanak’s son, is kept in the shrine inside the mutt. It is because of Almast’s impressive work that Guru Tegh Bahadur chose to visit the place in 1670.

Further, in 1699, when Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib, Himmat Rai from Puri offered his head to the Guru. Even the lyrics of Odisha poet Bhagat Jayadeva find a place of eminence in the Sikh holy scripture.

The Mutt was the abode of the Nanak Panthis, who would travel 2,000 miles each year to visit Puri. The Nanak Panthis were primarily responsible of taking the Jagannath culture to Northern India and spread the word of the Lord. Even after partition, they came from Lahore each year during the Rath Yatra. Their presence has been recorded till 1955, after which border restrictions were imposed and they could not travel from Pakistan.

The Odisha Sikhs have demanded that their government remove the commercial establishments and illegal structures, but the Gadi, the Sanctum Sanctorum, should be left intact.

Being demolished

• Mangu Mutt, associated with Guru Nanak, is being demolished for creation of a heritage corridor
• The Mangu Mutt was set up by Bhai Almast, a Sikh preacher and head of the Dhuari of the Udasi sect, sometime in 1615.