https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ganga_Ram_ViakarniGanga Ram Viakarni - Revision history2026-08-18T11:13:44ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ganga_Ram_Viakarni&diff=405458&oldid=prevAjay Kumar: Creating a new article2023-08-12T09:37:41Z<p>Creating a new article</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Infobox religious biography<br />
| religion = [[Sikhism]]<br />
| sect = [[Udasi]]<br />
| name = Ganga Ram Viakarni<br />
| honorific prefix = Mahant<br />
| image = Fresco from the Udasi Chitta Akhara in Amritsar 02.jpg<br />
| caption = 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)<br />
| known_for = Founder of the Chitta Akhara<br />
}}<br />
{{Udasi}}<br />
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'''Ganga Ram Viakarni''' ([[Floruit|fl.]] 18th century), also known as '''Ganga Das Viakarni,<ref name=":3" />''' 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]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Proceedings - Punjab History Conference (Thirty Ninth Session) - March 2007 |publisher=Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University |year=2007 |isbn=9788130201467 |pages=282}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Fauja |title=The City of Amritsar: An Introduction |publisher=Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University |year=1977 |quote=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.}}</ref><br />
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== Biography ==<br />
Ganga Ram was an expert of [[Sanskrit]] and [[Gurmukhi]] syntax.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Teja |first=Charanjit Singh |last2=Kumar |first2=Sunil |date=16 January 2021 |title=Dens of belief: Akharas of Amritsar |work=The Tribune |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/dens-of-belief-akharas-of-amritsar-198715 |access-date=10 August 2023 |quote=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.<br><br>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.}}</ref> The ''misldars'' (chieftains) of the [[Misl|Sikh Confederacy]] in his time granted him permission to operate a ''[[Langar (Sikhism)|langar]]'' kitchen near the [[Golden Temple|Harmandir Sahib]] complex.<ref name=":1" /> He founded the Chitta Akhara in the year 1789.<ref name=":0" /> Another source states he founded the akhara earlier in 1781.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Nayak |first=Debashish |url=https://bhuvan-app1.nrsc.gov.in/tourism/documents/HeritageWalk_Booklet.pdf |title=Amritsar Heritage Walk |last2=Kochhar |first2=Surinder |last3=Kalha |first3=Geetika |last4=Dave |first4=Nilesh |publisher=Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board |format=PDF}}</ref><br />
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== Legacy ==<br />
His akhara still functions to this day, it contains historical fresco artwork depicting Sikh themes.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=22 October 2005 |title=Frescoes whitewashed |work=The Tribune |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051023/punjab1.htm#4 |access-date=10 August 2023}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The akhara also contains ancient tombs.<ref name=":2" /> His akhara is part of the route of the ''Amritsar Heritage Walk'' tour.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rana |first=Yudhvir |date=2013-02-17 |title=Govt to preserve facades of private buildings enroute |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/govt-to-preserve-facades-of-private-buildings-enroute/articleshow/18536800.cms |access-date=2023-08-10 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><br />
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=== Successive mahants ===<br />
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* Lachhman Das (circa 1923)<ref name=":0" /><br />
* Sohan Das<ref name=":0" /><br />
* Bachan Das<ref name=":0" /><br />
* Damodar Das<ref name=":1" /><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{Sikhism}}<br />
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[[Category:Sikhism]]</div>Ajay Kumar