SADHAURA

SADHAURA, an old town 43 km east of Ambala (30″23`N, 76″47`E) in Haryana, has a place in Sikh piety, being the seat of Sayyid Shah Badr udDin, commonly known as Pir Buddhu Shah, a Muslim saint who became a devotee of Guru Gobind Singh. Pir Buddhu Shah took the part of the Guru in the battle of Bhangani in which two of his sons and several followers laid down their lives. While stopping over at Kapal Mochan on his way back from Paonta to Anandpur in 1688, Guru Gobind Singh visited the Pir at Sadhaura.

The Pir was later executed by the local faujdar, Usman Khan, for his liberal views and for the help given by him to Guru Gobind Singh. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur avenged the Pir`s death when he invested Sadhaura in 1710. The fortress was completely demolished, the faujdar was hanged, and the town was plundered. A shrine, known as Gurdwara Baba Banda Bahadur inside the ruined fort, crumbled down and a new Gurdwara was constructed close to the fort wall.

It retains its old name, although two variations Quila Gurdwara and Gurdwara Qatalgarh are also current. Another gurdwara has recently been constructed at Sadhaura in honour of Pir Buddu Shah. Gurdwara Pir Buddhu Shah is looked after by the local Singh Sabha, whereas Gurdwara Baba Banda Bahadur is managed privately.

References :

1. Kuir Singh, Gurbilas Patshahi 10. Ed. Shamsher Singh Ashok. Patiala, 1968
2. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Kb a Is a [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970
3. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35
4. Suri, V.S. and Gurcharan Singh, Pir Buddhu Shah. Chandigarh, 1971
5. Khushwant Singh, A History of the Sikhs, vol. I. Princeton, 1963