Sadh Belo
Sadh Belo Island Temple | |
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سادھ بھيلو | |
![]() Temple in the Sadh Belo Island, Sukkur, Pakistan. | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Sukkur |
Deity | Shiva |
Festivals | Shivratri,Bankhandi Maharaj Mela (death anniversary of Bankhandi Maharaj) |
Governing body | Pakistan Hindu Council |
Location | |
Location | Sadh Belo |
State | Sindh |
Country | ![]() |
Geographic coordinates | 27°41′37.6″N68°52′43.5″E/ 27.693778°N 68.878750°E |
Architecture | |
Type | Hindu temple |
Creator | Sant Harnam Das |
Date established | 1823 (place) 1899 (temple) |
Temple(s) | 9 |
Website | |
Pakistan Hindu Council[usurped] |
Part of a series on |
Udasis |
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Sadh Belo(Sindhi:ساڌ ٻيلو,Urdu:سادھ بھيلو), also spelt asSadh Bela[1],orSat,is anislandin theIndus RivernearSukkur,Sindh,Pakistanthat is famous for its highly revered Hindu temples.[2]The temples are associated with the syncreticUdasimovement ofSikhism.[3]The island is famous for Teerath Asthan which is the biggest Hindu temple in Pakistan. The complex has eight other temples, a library, dining areas, a huge garden, along with rooms and residences for monks and people who want to stay on the island on a spiritual retreat.[4]
Etymology
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/SukkurSBHeiligt.jpg/170px-SukkurSBHeiligt.jpg)
The island was once a forested island and was called Menak Parbat. Later the Udasi saint (sage)Baba Bankhandi Maharajsettled here and then this place became known as the Sadhu Bhelo.[5] The word Sadhu Bela means the woods of the sage.[4][6]According to some sources, the Sadh Belo is named after an Arab commander named "Saeed" (Arabic:سعید), who occupied and stationed on the island.[7]
Geography
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Sadh_bela_temple_2-_sukkur_%28asad_aman%29.jpg/220px-Sadh_bela_temple_2-_sukkur_%28asad_aman%29.jpg)
Sadh Belo island is downstream fromBukkurisland, and is separated from it by a short stretch of river. It is located on the River Indus flowing betweenRohriandSukkur.[8]The temple complex is spread on two interconnected islands; Sadh Belo having kitchen, verandah, many temples, and Deen Belo which houses samadhis, a park, and Rishi Nol mandir.[9]
Religious significance
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Hindu_Temple%2C_Sadh_Belo_10.jpg/170px-Hindu_Temple%2C_Sadh_Belo_10.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Depiction_of_Bankhandi_Maharaj%2C_an_Udasi_saint_who_founded_Sadh_Belo%2C_Sindh_in_1823.jpg/220px-Depiction_of_Bankhandi_Maharaj%2C_an_Udasi_saint_who_founded_Sadh_Belo%2C_Sindh_in_1823.jpg)
Baba Bankhandi Maharaj(born as Balchand Sharma[10]), a 15-year-old spiritual seeker, whose origins were reportedly either from Kero Khetar nearDelhi,orNepal,arrived inSindhin 1823, in the town of Sukkur, which was then a major trading hub for the Subcontinent.[11][10]He settled in the forested island of Menak Parbat (which is Sadhu Bela's original name), alone, and became known as the sage of the woods.[12][13]The island was just a clump of trees when Bankhandi first arrived there, but he liked the place so much that he chose it as a place to set up his dhuni (sacred fire). It is said that once Baba Bankhandi sawAnnapurna,the goddess of grain, in a dream. She gave him an oblong metal object calledKamandaland told him that, as long as this object is in the complex, there won't be any shortage of grain for the community kitchen. Later, Baba Bankhandi established various places of worship, including temples, dedicated to Annapurna,Hanuman,GaneshandShiv Shankar,and places forGranth SahibandBhagavad Gita.[9]Baba Bankhandi died at age 60.[12]Baba Bankhandi had many disciples who succeeded him one by one as the mahant or custodian of the place; the most notable among them are Swami Achal Prasad, Swami Mohan Das, and Swami Harnarain Das Udasin.[9]
Temples
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/A_woman_reciting_the_Gita_at_the_Sadh_Belo_temple_on_the_special_occasion_of_the_150th_death_anniversary_of_Baba_Bhankandi_Maharaj.jpg/220px-A_woman_reciting_the_Gita_at_the_Sadh_Belo_temple_on_the_special_occasion_of_the_150th_death_anniversary_of_Baba_Bhankandi_Maharaj.jpg)
The temple was initially constructed in 1899 by the eighthgaddi nashinSant Harnam Das.[11]The place is held in high esteem by Hindus throughoutSindhand even inIndia,occasionally attractingpilgrimsfrom across the border.[14]The annual death anniversary of Baba Bankhandi Maharaj called the Baba Bankhandi Maharaj Mela attended by thousands and is celebrated by a three-day festival in which pilgrims are provided with free lodging, food, and water.[15][16]One of the unique feature about Sadhu Belo is that many prayers and texts are written here in Sindhi, the language of the Sindh province in Pakistan.[12]The security system is very tight nobody can enter or visit the temple without having permission; there is a proper way to get permission fromPakistan Hindu Panchayat.For non-Hindus, it's difficult due to the security system because Sadh Belo is the biggest temple in Pakistan.[8]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/PkSukkurSadhuBelo5.jpg/220px-PkSukkurSadhuBelo5.jpg)
The ‘gaddi nasheen’ of the temple (the family that has been managing the temple complex for generations) moved to India after Partition in 1947. But members of the family still travel once a year to Pakistan to officially open and attend the fair, as symbolic keepers of the temple complex.[12]Currently, Sadh Belo is under the custody ofEvacuee Trust Property Boardand is managed well, but the absence of the former administration of Udasi mahants is felt immensely.[9]
Leaders
[edit]Spiritual leaders of Sadh Belo are referred to asgaddi nashin,some are as follows:
- Baba Bankhandi Maharaj(1st)[13][11]
- Swami Achal Prasad[9]
- Swami Mohan Das[9]
- Swami Harnarain Das Udasin[9]
- Sant Harnam Das (8th)[11]
- Swami Gauri Shankar Das (10th)[9]
- Swami Vish Darsh (11th)[11]
Gallery
[edit]-
Devotees reach the Sadh Belo temple, which is situated in the middle of the Indus River.
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The temple complex at night
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Singh, Harbans (2004).The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism.Vol. 4 (2nd ed.). Punjabi University, Patiala. pp. 6, 377.ISBN0-8364-2883-8.OCLC29703420.
- ^Kothari, Rita (2007).The burden of refuge: the Sindhi Hindus of Gujarat.Orient Longman.ISBN9788125031574.
- ^Thakur, U. T. (1959).Sindhi Culture.University of Bombay.
- ^ab"Sadhu Bela: Pakistan's temple island you won't forget".gulfnews.com.Retrieved2019-07-14.
- ^"Sadhu Bela: Pakistan's temple island you won't forget".Retrieved2 March2020.
- ^"Sadhu Bela: Pakistan's temple island".www.pakistantoday.com.pk.Retrieved2019-07-14.
- ^Razzak, Abdul (1965).Souvenir of Sukkur.Sukkur (Pakistan). Municipal Committee.Retrieved2 March2020.
- ^ab"Sadhu Bela the island of Sukkur".Daily Times.September 15, 2017.
- ^abcdefghJatt, Zahida Rehman (June 12, 2018)."Sadh Belo temple: an abode of Udasipanth in Sindh".dawn.com.
- ^abRasheed, Shaikh Abdul (2017-09-18)."Sadh Belo Temple the most frequented religious site".Daily Times.Retrieved2023-05-29.
- ^abcdeMemon, Sarfaraz (26 June 2022)."Sindh's Sadh Belo Temple".T-Magazine.
- ^abcd"Sadhu Bela: Pakistan's temple island you won't forget".gulfnews.com.
- ^abMahn, Churnjeet; Murphy, Anne, eds. (2018).Partition and the practice of memory.Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 47.ISBN978-3-319-64516-2.
- ^"SUKKUR: Indian pilgrims worship at Sadh Belo, Arore Temple".www.dawn.com.2006-12-07.Retrieved2015-12-27.
- ^"Baba Bankhandi Maharaj Mela attended by thousands of Hindus | Pakistan Today".www.pakistantoday.com.pk.
- ^"Hindus pay homage at Sadh Belo temple".Express Tribune. 21 June 2016.Retrieved12 September2017.