Gurunanak Matth

Amongst the city bustle of Kathmandu there is a small sign on the side of the road that reads Guru Nank Math. It's an easy to miss sign leading up to a flight of steps to the mystical shrine. The shrine is sacred to Hindus and Sikhs alike, though it's exact history is debated.

A Hindu priest looks after the temple that displays both Sikh and Hindu iconography. Surinder, a prominent Sikh and active member of the Kathamndu Gudwara Sangat, leads us up the winding path to the shrine. Surrounded by lush greenery, the sounds of the city are far removed and Surinder enters into a spiritual state.

He removes his shoes and enters the open building where he sits and prays before entering the garden. When he feels ready, Surinder walks into sacred garden and points out the majestic tree under which Guru Nanak once sat.

Surinder explains what he understands as the history and mystery of what happened under this very tree, mentioning the various details of the story known both in and out of the Sikh community. Guru Nanak sat here for three months in meditation and left his footprints in stone under the tree. Surinder prays and gives thanks under the tree.

The priest who is given a small sum of money by the Nepalese government to keep after the shrine, walks outside to sweep the grounds. The priest explains his version of what happened at the shrine. It is universally known that Guru Nanak did in fact spend time at shrine.

How much time he spent at the shrine and whether those are actually his footsteps in the stone is open for debate. The priest goes onto to explain the controversies over the shrine and that both Sikhs and Hindus at times claim more historical significance.

The Hindu priest continues to maintain the sacred shrine despite the fact that the ongoing debate about its history will continue. For now, it is open to all and a universal spiritual destination.