GURUSAR PATSHAHI X, GURDWARA

GURUSAR PATSHAHI X, GURDWARA, lending its name to the village that has grown in its neighbourhood, stands near Saravan, a village 10 km south east of Kot Kapura (30°35`N, 74°49`E) in Faridkot district of the Punjab. It marks the site where Guru Gobind Singh put up on his way from Dina to Kot Kapura in December 1705. According to Sdkhl Pothi., residents ofBaihbal and Saravan villages took some of the Sikhs accompaning Guru Gobind Singh to their homes for meals. As they returned to the camp, Guru Gobind Singh asked each one of them what he had been given to eat.

One of them, Mailagar Singh by name, answered, “I have enjoyed the best feast of my life,” but would not say more. The Guru thereupon sent for the host who had entertained Mailagar Singh. He shyly confessed that he was so poor that he could offer to his guest nothing better than some dried ptiu, fruit of van tree (Quercus incana), soaked in warm water. The Guru praised the host who had offered in hospitality all he had and the guest who was content with whatever he had been given.The Gurdwara is an old twostoreyed building on the eastern edge of the village of Gurusar.

The sanctum, 5metre square, is on the ground floor. Here on the walls are painted scenes from Hindu mythology while the walls of the room above are decorated with pictures of the Sikh Gurus and some old mahants or custodians of the shrine. The Gurdwara, endowed with 40 acres of land, is now controlled by Nihangs of the Buddha Dal. Besides the daily prayers, special divans are held on the first of every Bikrami month. Two annual festivals observed are Baisakhi which falls in the middle of April and Maghl which comes off in the middle of January.

References :

1. Malva Desh Ratan di Sakhi Pothi. Amritsar, 1968
2. Tara Singh, Sri Gur Tirath Sangrahi. Amritsar, n.d.
3. Thakar Singh, Giani, Sri Gurdudre Darshan. Amritsar, 1923