ਕਰਤਾਰ ਪੁਰਿ (kartaar pur)
Meaning: noun: Literally, the city of the Creator; name of a town founded by Guru Nanak and also by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan.
Quote:
ਕਰਤਾਰ ਪੁਰਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਵਸੈ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੈ ਪਾਸਿ॥
kartaar pur kartaa vasai saňtan kai paas.
The Creator dwells with the saintly people in Kartarpur
– Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 816
Message: Some Sikh scholars are of the view that ‘Kartarpur’ here refers to Kartarpur founded by Guru Nanak (now in Pakistan) while others believe it implies the congregation or assembly of Sikhs (saadh sangat). Dr Ratan Singh Jaggi (Guru Granth Vishav Kosh, page 315) however believes the reference here signifies the founding and residency of Kartarpur, the town built by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Sahib, in 1594.
Guru Nanak’s saintly and kind presence together with his wise words and attitude must have so enthralled people of those times that people must have felt that the Guru was a perfect embodiment of the Divine and the most perfect of men. Even Guru Arjan who lived much later on in life must have heard of Guru Nanak’s fame and saintly demeanour, must have felt the Guru’s presence so close enough for him to compose a hymn in praise of Guru Nanak and the saintly people of Kartarpur.
In fact, there is no difference between the devoted Sikh and his or her Guru. Thus Guru Arjan is making reference to those times of peace and serenity when Guru Nanak and his devotees lived peacefully in Kartapur. Also, since the Sikhs of the Guru followed his divine precepts, the Divine must have surely resided in their actions and words. So Kartapur must indeed have been a heaven on earth.
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Kartarpur founded by Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak established a town in 1504 (by some sources 1518 before he left for Mecca) on the bank of River Ravi, and named it Kartar pur (the city of the Creator). The Guru shifted here in 1522 after his travels and stayed there for the last 18 years of his life until he passed away in 1539. This is the place where he passed the Guruship to Bhai Lehna (Guru Angad). Bhai Gurdas mentions about this in one of his Vaars as follows:
ਫਿਰਿ ਬਾਬਾ ਆਇਆ ਕਰਤਾਰ ਪੁਰਿ ਭੇਖੁ ਉਦਾਸੀ ਸਗਲ ਉਤਾਰਾ॥ ਪਹਿਰਿ ਸੰਸਾਰੀ ਕਪੜੇ ਮੰਜੀ ਬੈਠਿ ਕੀਆ ਅਵਤਾਰਾ॥
Then Baba Nanak returned to Kartarpur where he put aside his attire of a recluse. And putting on a householder’s dress, he sat splendidly on a cot (and executed his mission)
– Bhai Gurdas, Vaar 1/38
The town was then devastated by floods. The descendants of Guru Nanak built a new town on the other bank of the River Ravi, and named it Dera Baba Nanak (now in Gurdaspur, Punjab). Some Sikhs later rediscovered the place and rebuilt the old town, which is the location of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib now. It is located in Narowal District, Punjab, Pakistan.
Kartarpur founded by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan
This is now a municipal town in Punjab, India, and is famous for its furniture industry. It is situated at a distance of 15 kilometers from Jalandhar towards Amritsar on National Highway 1.
It is said that a rascal used to live there on a big tree and troubled people who came to fetch wood from the forest. The people thus approached Guru Arjan and requested him for help. The Guru preached to the devilish man and put him on the right path. The villagers then continued fetching wood from the jungle without any fear.
The sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib, resided here for some time and developed it further. Two of his sons, Suraj Mall and Tegh Bahadur, were married at this place. Guru Har Rai, Bhai Gurdas and Baba Gurditta also resided here. It is believed that the first copy of the Guru Granth Sahib scribed by Bhai Gurdas, and composed by the fifth Guru – “The Kartarpuri Beerh” – or its copy is placed here.
