BARNA,

BARNA, village in Kurukshetra district of Haryana, about 20 km southwest of Kurukshetra (29° 58`N, 76° 50`E), is sacred to Guru Tegh Bahadur who once stopped here while journeying from Kaithal to Kurukshetra. Local tradition recalls the story of a peasant who waited upon him and to survey whose land a revenue official arrived in the village the same day. The Sikh asked the Guru`s permission to go and have his land measured.

The Guru advised him to wait and rely on God. The surveyor measured the land thrice but was puzzled to note that it measured much less than what he had estimated. He therefore sent for the Sikh and asked him how much land he owned. The Sikh answered, “Sir, my land measures 125 bighas.” The officer disclosed that he had measured the land thrice, but found it each time to be no more than twentyfive bighas. The Sikh replied that this must be the Guru`s own miracle.

The officer begged to see the Guru. He became a disciple. Local tradition also describes the Guru`s visit to Barna as having occurred in response to the prayers of a childless lady who wished to present him with a garment she had stitched out of homespun cloth. Arriving in the village the Guru received the garment from her and appreciated her dedication. The woman was later blessed with a child. She and her husband, Bhai Suddha, built a low platform on the spot where Guru Tegh Bahadur had sat in their house. A gurdwara was built over this memorial by Bhai Ude Singh (d. 1843), the ruler ofKaithal.

References :

1. Thakar Singh, Giini, Sn Gurduare Darshan. Amritsar, 1923
2. Tara Singh, Sri Gur Tirath Sangrahi. Amritsar, n.d.
3. Fauja Singh, Guru Teg Bahadur : Yatra Asthan, Pramparavan te Yad Chinn. Patiala, 1976