Image: Guru Ram Rai Temple, Dehradun, 1858

Description: Guru Ram Rai Temple, Dehradun. From source: General view of the Sikh temple at Dehra Dun, photographed by Robert and Harriet Tytler in 1858. A caption note accompanying this view reads, "Those who worship in this temple profess a religion between the Mohammedan and Hindoo and composed of Sikhs. Except one of their own sect no person ever had access within the temple until the mutiny. Gaaraa Nanule was the founder of the religion". This temple is of Sikh Guru Ram Rai, who settled at Dehra Dun in Uttar Pradesh at the end of the 17th century. The Sikh religion was a reformist faith founded by Guru Nanak (1469-1539) in the 15th century. Additional information: Ram Rai was the son of Guru Har Rai. He was sent by his father as an emissary to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi. Aurangzeb objected to a verse in the Sikh scripture (Asa ki Var) that stated, "the clay from a Musalman's grave is kneaded into potter's lump", considering it an insult to Islam. Ram Rai explained that the text was miscopied and modified it, substituting "Musalman" with "Beiman" (faithless, evil) which Aurangzeb approved. The willingness to change a word led Guru Har Rai to bar his son from his presence. The Sunni Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb responded by granting Ram Rai a jagir (land grant) in Garhwal region (Uttarakhand). The town later came to be known as Dehradun, after Dehra referring to Ram Rai's shrine. The followers of Ram Rai came to be known as Ram Raiya Sikhs. For the mainstream Sikhs, they were one of the Panj Mel, the five reprobate groups that orthodox Sikhs are expected to shun with contempt. The other four are the Minas, the Masands, the Dhirmalias, the Sir-gums.
Title: Guru Ram Rai Temple, Dehradun, 1858
Credit: No. 12. Temple of Gaaraa Nanule [sic for Guru Ram Rai, Dhera [Dun].]
Author: Robert and Harriet Tytler
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No