As often happens during such explorations, while searching for Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi in Hafizabad, I unexpectedly discovered something else, an old Hindu temple. We stopped in the main bazaar and inquired about the gurdwara's location. Among those we asked was Chacha Aslam, a man well over eighty but still hale and hearty. While giving us some directions to the gurdwara, he first insisted we visit an old Hindu temple nearby.
He led us through one of the narrowest bazaars I have ever seen, an alley certainly less than two meters wide, with small shops lining both sides. After walking nearly a hundred meters, we turned into a small passage on the left and entered a tiny open space enclosed by two or three houses.
Chacha Aslam knocked at the door, and Mr. Mehmood Sulaiman answered. After we explained the purpose of our visit, he kindly allowed us in. His family lives within the same complex, which consists of several rooms. To cause minimal disturbance, we went upstairs to the first floor. There we found a large hall with wooden galleries and beautifully crafted pillars.
It was a chance discovery, and we were fortunate to meet Mr. Mehmood Sulaiman, the current owner of the property. He is a professor at Government College, Hafizabad, where he teaches Islamic Studies. Despite us being complete strangers, he graciously welcomed us into his home and allowed us to take photographs. His father, Mr. Muhammad Sulaiman, along with the rest of the family, had migrated from Jhabal in District Amritsar. (I later found two possible locations, Jhabal Mannan and Chabal Kalan, situated south of Amritsar.)
I am also deeply thankful to Chacha Aslam, who not only took great interest in our original inquiry about the gurdwara but also informed us about the existence of this temple. He kindly accompanied us to Mr. Mehmood’s house and stayed with us the entire time. Chacha Aslam himself migrated in 1947 from the Massanian area near Batala.
Unfortunately, I could not find any historical details about the temple, such as its significance or date of construction. However, Mehmood Sahib told me that the temple was attacked by some zealots in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid incident in 1992. The damage to the spire is still visible today. Fortunately, the building itself survived with only limited damage.
In Haifzabad there used to be seat of hindu saint Shri Bawa Lal ji, temples used to be called Lal Dwaras, I guess this is one of the lal dwaras. Only local elderly people can confirm it.
ReplyDeleteDear Sir,
DeleteI shall try to find more details.