MALUKA

MALUKA, village in Bathinda district of the Punjab, 18 km east of Jaito (30°-26\’N, 74-53\’E), is sacred to Guru Gobind Singh who stopped here briefly travelling in the country in December 1705. Gurdwara Taruana Sahib Patshahi X is situated one kilometre east of the village marking the site where the Guru is said to have camped. According to Malva Des Ratan di Sakhi Pothi, a sadhu of the Divana order of mendicants came very early in the morning to meet the Guru, and, despite protestation by the Sikh on duty that the Guru was then sitting in meditation and was not to be disturbed, he tried to force his entry into the lent.

The Divana sadhu who had received a sword thrust as the Sikh tried to stop him, humbly requested at day-break for a glimpse of the Guru. Guru Gobind Singh, says the Sakhi Pothi, had him ushered in and blessed him before he succumbed to the injury he had sustained. The present building of the Gurdwara constructed in 1952, comprises a hall, with a square sanctum at the far end and a verandah on three sides. The Gurdwara is administered by a local committee under the auspices of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

References :

1. Malva Des Ratan di Sakhi Pothi. Amritsar, 1950
2. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Gurduarian. Amritsar, n.d.