The founder of Sikhism, Great Guru Nanak stepped into Odisha in the year 1506 after the completion of his pilgrimage in Assam & Bengal. Chandrakona Gurudwara in West Bengal had documented the Guru’s pilgrimage tour to Eastern states of the country. Bhadrak (Sangat Gurudwara), Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack (Dantan Sahib) and Puri (Mangu Math and Baoli Sahib) are the places mentioned in the records, where it is believed that the Guru stayed during his visit to Odisha.
On 26th July, I got an opportunity to travel with an eminent historian Mr. Anil Dhir, to attend an event in Rasagovindpur in Mayurbhanj district. After the event was completed & we returned back towards Cuttack on NH16, we came across a series of old heritage monuments including temples, Gurudwaras, mutts & old bridges. All of these were used to be parts of Old Jagannath Sadaka & most of them were built either during the British ruling period or prior to that. Mr. Dhir’s research report on “Monuments of Old Jagannath Sadaka” (which he had done for INTACH) is one of the masterpieces ever done on Odisha’s history & he was really kind enough to take me deep through the history, as we were travelling very close to the Old Jagannath Sadaka that once used to connect Jagannath Dham Puri to parts of North & Eastern India.
We were told by Anil Sir that there are about 40 families in the small village of Biranchipur (in Simulia block, Balasore district), those who have been practicing Sikhism for generation after generation, since last 500 years. Guru Nanak during his pilgrimage to Odisha had stayed in this village for few days. The Sikh families of this village are the descendants of same villagers whom the Guru preached himself during his auspicious stay here during his first Udasi (journey) to Odisha in 1506 AD. I requested Mr. Dhir to help me in having a visit to this historic village, which he very generously accepted.
It was about 1:00 PM in the afternoon when we reached Biranchipur village. The Gurudwara is located at the end of the small village. It’s actually a small yellowish painted temple having a mixed architectural style of Odisha & Bengal (the present day temple was built in 1919). Inside the sanctorum a copy of “Guru Granth Sahib” said to be 300 years old is kept on an iron pedestal carefully bounded with silk clothes. Bhaskar Chandra Sahoo, the old man (a farmer) is assigned with the duty to perform all rituals & worshiping the Granth Sahib in daily basis. A treasure relic has also been kept inside the Gurudwara from the time of Guru Nanak’s visit. A Copper Kara, which they believe that, was given to their forefathers by the Great Guru himself.
The story of the Biranchipur Sikhs is truly overwhelming,
that almost defies rational explanation. Despite being cut off from the
mainstream Sikhs and Sikhism for more than 500 years, they have still managed to
preserve their ancient heritage.
(Note: The information posted in this article & some of the photographs have been received from Mr. Anil Dhir)
By Deepak Kumar Nayak
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