Location
The first Guru Nanak Matth in Nepal is located next to Bishnumati Bridge in Naya Bazar in Balaju, Kathmandu.
Significance and Belief
During the third Udasi which covered Nepal, Guru Nanak is believed to have ‘travelled in search of a company of saints and find a peaceful abode where he could meditate’.2 While travelling, he stayed at the Matth after arriving from Saptari before travelling to Chandragiri Hills in around 1574/75.3 Guru Nanak stopped at the banks of Bishnumati River at the dera (compound) of Royal Yogi, Sidh Hari Daas.4
Hari Daas, a devotee of Hindu Gods Vishnu and Hanuman, was considered a great yogi as he had achieved riddhis and siddhis (miracle powers). He was in deep meditation at the Dera when his meditation was disturbed upon hearing Bhai Mardana playing the rebab and singing kirtan for Guru Nanak Dev. Hari Daas wanted to speak to Guru but Guru Nanak was engrossed in deep devotion. This annoyed Hari Daas, an egoist, as he felt disrespected. When the Guru opened his eyes, Hari Daas started showing his miracles to Guru by changing his appearance seven times. Then he challenged Guru to demonstrate his powers to show his superiority. Guru Nanak pointed to the sky and said that only God had the power for miracles. The Guru shared his beliefs with Hari Daas: “That God lies in truth, and one must respect religion, work honestly, share meals, meditate, pray and thank God. God is the greatest of all and is omnipresent. God gives life to all and that is the nature of God’s creation.” Finally, Hari Daas was convinced that the Guru was no ordinary human and he fell on Guru’s feet seeking forgiveness and requested to become his disciple. The news of Yogi Hari Daas becoming a disciple of Guru Nanak spread like wildfire in Nepal. There are reports that King Jai Jagat Mal came to visit Guru Nanak at the Matth in Balaju and thanked him for visiting Nepal, and requested him to stay at the royal palace. At the time, Guru Nanak chose to stay at the dera for the next 16 months.5 According to Nem Muni, Mahant of ‘Udasi Sri Guru Nanak Matth’, Guru Nanak meditated in the garden under a peepal (Ficus religiosa) tree and before his departure from Nepal, foot-impressions of the Guru were melted into the rock. This place is also known as Sangat Bari.
According to the Guthi Sansthan report based on historical evidence, during Sambat 877 (Bikram Sambat 1813), King Jai Jagat Mal established a guthi of which copper inscriptions have been found whereby 1600 ropanis (200 acres) of land in Balaju was given in the name of Guru Nanak. Later, King Rana Bahadur Shah is also said to have donated land to Guru Nanak Matth, Balaju after he found solace at the Matth. The records of the donations in the name of Guru Nanak can be found till date in Nepal Government records although the land size has shrunk to around 35 ropanis.6
In the book ‘Arts and Crafts of Shah Period’ by culture expert Jagadish Chandra Regmi, it is mentioned that King Rana Bahadur, upon his return from Benares brought back Sadhus of the Nanak sect (between 1857 and 1860 B.S). King Rana Bahadur had arranged for the Sadhus of the Nanak Udasi to stay at Nanak Matta.7
Nanak Matth in Balaju houses the hath likhat (handwritten) Guru Granth Sahib on the first floor of Matth. This place is of significance for both Sikhs and Hindus. Every day, the Udasi Mahant Nem Mumi does the Singhasan (morning worship) and Sukhasan (evening worship) of the Guru Granth Sahib. As the place also holds importance to the Udasi sect, two Brahmins daily conduct worship to the five Hindu deities - Hunuman, Bishnupaduka, 1st Udasi Mahant’s burial site as well as the Holy Cow and the 33 Koti Gods and Goddesses.8
2 Puri M., Gautam P. and Bhattarai A. (2019) Sikh Heritage of Nepal p.12.
3 Guru Nanak Matth Study Report, 2070, Guthi Sansthan, Department of Archeology
4 Shah, M.H. (n.d), Taajudin’s Diary: An account of a Muslim author who accompanied Guru Nanak from Makkah to Baghdad.
5 ibid, p. 251-252.
6 Guru Nanak Matth Study Report, 2070, Guthi Sansthan, Department of Archeology.
7 ibid
Mal (also spelled as Malla) dynasty (1201-1769) was established by Ari Mal (Mal in Sanskrit means a wrester).
8 ibid
