Mahant
Ganga Ram Viakarni
Fresco from the Udasi Chitta Akhara in Amritsar depicting Ganga Ram Viakarni (centre) with a disciple (left) and a fly-whisk attendant (chaur sahib; right)
Personal
ReligionSikhism
SectUdasi
Known forFounder of the Chitta Akhara

Ganga Ram Viakarni (fl. 18th century), also known as Ganga Das Viakarni,[1] was an 18th-century Udasi mahant who founded the Chitta Akhara (also known as 'Akhara Ganga Ram' after its founder), an akhara located in the Mai Sawan Bazar neighbourhood of Amritsar.[2][3]

Biography

Ganga Ram was an expert of Sanskrit and Gurmukhi syntax.[4] The misldars (chieftains) of the Sikh Confederacy in his time granted him permission to operate a langar kitchen near the Harmandir Sahib complex.[4] He founded the Chitta Akhara in the year 1789.[2] Another source states he founded the akhara earlier in 1781.[5]

Legacy

His akhara still functions to this day, it contains historical fresco artwork depicting Sikh themes.[1][4] The akhara also contains ancient tombs.[5] His akhara is part of the route of the Amritsar Heritage Walk tour.[6]

Successive mahants

  • Lachhman Das (circa 1923)[2]
  • Sohan Das[2]
  • Bachan Das[2]
  • Damodar Das[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Frescoes whitewashed". The Tribune. 22 October 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Proceedings - Punjab History Conference (Thirty Ninth Session) - March 2007. Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. 2007. p. 282. ISBN 9788130201467.
  3. ↑ Singh, Fauja (1977). The City of Amritsar: An Introduction. Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. Some of the better-known Akharas were: Akhara Braham Buta (enlarged and rebuilt), Akhara Ganga Ram Bikrami, Akhara Adwait Braham, Akhara Kanshiwala, Akhara Sangalwala (enlarged and rebuilt), and Chitta Akhara etc.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Teja, Charanjit Singh; Kumar, Sunil (16 January 2021). "Dens of belief: Akharas of Amritsar". The Tribune. Retrieved 10 August 2023. Frescos and buildings: There was a tradition with Udasi saints to depict the Sikh history and mythology with the wall paintings murals and frescos inside their deras. The deras in city are enriched with the wall painting, though the inner circles of akharas are not open for all due to their spiritual beliefs.

    Chitta Akhara: It is located in Bazaar Mai Sevan. It was established by Mahant Ganga Ram Viakarani, an expert of Sanskrit and Gurmukhi grammar. Chiefs of Sikh misls gave him grant to run langar near the Golden Temple. A major tourist attraction, several classic frescos are painted on its walls. At present, Damodar Das is the mahant of the akhara.
  5. 1 2 Nayak, Debashish; Kochhar, Surinder; Kalha, Geetika; Dave, Nilesh. Amritsar Heritage Walk (PDF). Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board.
  6. ↑ Rana, Yudhvir (2013-02-17). "Govt to preserve facades of private buildings enroute". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
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