CHAUR
Chaur is a bundle, usually of fiber or man-made artificial fiber, placed in a wooden holder.
Chaur is a symbol of royalty and sovereignty. In old times, it was waved over the head of an emperor or a spiritual head of a cult or religion
In Sikhism, whenever Guru Granth Sahib is being read, the reader or someone standing near the reader (or on his back), waves it over the Granth.
It is insulting to call it a flywhisk, as its purpose is not to whisk the flies but its function is only to show veneration.
The most precious Chaur ever made has been preserved in the treasury of Darbar Sahib. Haji Mohammed Maskin Shah prepared it after great labour and travelled from Medina to Amritsar and presented it at Darbar Sahib, on December 31, 1925. Haji Shah had prepared it from 145,000 fibers taken out of 350 kg of sandalwood. It took him 5 year and 7 months to prepare it. The price of 350 kilograms of the sandalwood, in those days, was rupees 122. Haji Shah had made two Chaurs; he had presented the other one at Medina (the Muslim holy place). Haji Shah was presented Siropa (robe of honour) at Darbar Sahib.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)