Mar: नांदेड nāndēḍa
‘Nandi Shore’ [Nanditata, Nandigrama] -City, Maharashtra
From Nandi and Mar: taṭa ‘shore or bank (of the sea or a river); or Skt: grama, ‘village’.
Nanded is on the banks of the Godavari river. Nandi is Shiva’s gatekeeper, vehicle and attendant – usually portrayed as a large bull facing Shiva in Hindu temples. There are plenty of myths to match Nandi with the river.
Nanded is associated has important associations with Sikhism. Guru Nanak passed through here in the 16thC. Guru Gobind Singh came here in 1707 with Bahadur Shah I, the Mughal Emperor, as a mediator in his successioin struggle with his brothers following the death of Aurangzeb. He was assassinated here and a gurdwara was built on the site of his cremation at Hazur Sahib which displays his weapons and physical remains. It is a Panj Takht, one of the five spiritual and temporal centres of Sikhism.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Maharashtra place names.
Gurudwara, Hazur Sahib (Nanded) Jaspal singh
