Sep 13, 2013 - PATIALA: While Punjab government is planning to shift relics of Guru Gobind Singh to the museum of Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, it has remained unknown to public as to how these relics found their way to the Nabha royals. If one goes by the entries listed in Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha's " Mahaan Kosh", which is considered as the most authentic encyclopedia of Sikh history, at least four of these relics were handed over by the descendents of Peer Budhu Shah to Maharaja Bharpur Singh during his rule from 1847 to 1863.
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| Mahan Kosh – Encyclopedia of Sikh Literature by Kahan Singh Nabha |
The book also revealed that a 300-page manuscript, which is part of the set of relics to be shifted to Takht Kesgarh Sahib, was purchased by the maharaja from a poet named Tara Singh. "Tara Singh told the maharaja that the book had been written by Kalgidhar Patshah (Guru Gobind Singh). Raja Bharpur had purchased it for Rs 2,000 and awarded the poet an annual salary of Rs 200," reads an entry in the "Mahaan Kosh". First published in 1930, the encyclopedia also revealed that besides those of the 10th Guru, the Nabha royals also had two relics of the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind, including a long sword.
Another sword of the 10th Guru, which was gifted to him by one Kalha Rai, was handed over by Nawab of Malerkotla to Maharaja Jaswant Singh, who ruled Nabha state from 1790 to 1840. Originally comprising over 3,300 pages, "Mahaan Kosh", publication of which was sponsored by the erstwhile Patiala state, also claimed that Nabha royals did possess the part of an arrow used by Guru Gobind Singh near Anandpur Sahib. It claimed that the arrowhead remained embedded on a tree, which the Guru used for to shoot arrows while practicing archery.