SADHAR

SADHAR, village in Ludhiana district, 20 km north of Raikot (30°39`N, 75°37`E), claims a historical shrine, Gurdwara Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Patshahi Chhevin Guru Sar, popularly designated Guru Sar Sadhar. Guru Hargobind made a brief halt here during one of his tours of Malva country. According to local tradition, it was here that RaiJodh of Kangar village met Guru Hargobind, though there are some historical accounts which place this meeting in Bhai Rupa.

RaiJodh was a follower of Sakhi Sarwar, but his wife came of a Sikh family. On her persuasion, he came to call on the Guru. RaiJodh turned a devout Sikh. Likewise, it is believed that at Sadhar a rich horse trader from Kabul, Karori by name, met Guru Hargobind and told him how he had been robbed by the Mughal governor at Lahore of the two horses of excellent merit and beauty he was bringing as an offering for him. Bhai Bidhi Chand later recovered these horses one by one.

The construction of the present building at Guru Sar Sadhar commenced in March 1956 and was completed in June 1962. It is a rectangular hall enclosing within it a square prakash asthan, over which there is a domed room. Inside, the hall has a gallery at midheight. The small sarovar, Guru Sar, adjoining the hall was reconstructed in 1964. The Guru ka Langar and residential suites are across a paved courtyard to the right as one enters. On the left are Khalsa High School and the Khalsa College of Education.

The Gurdwara is managed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee through a local committee. In a private house inside Sadhar village, pieces of a pair of shoes are preserved as a relic. It is said that Guru Hargobind, pleased at the devotion of one Bhai Javanda who went about barefoot, gave him a pair of shoes. Bhai Javanda, however, instead of putting it on placed it reverentially on his head. The gift was preserved by his descendants as a holy relic till someone in the family once used it. The elders, indignant at the sacrilegious act, cut the shoes into pieces so that no other person could use them again.

References :

1. Narotam, Tara Singh, Sri Guru Tirath Sangrahi. Kankhal, 1975
2. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Gurduarian. Amritsar, n.d
3. Thakar Singh, Giani, Sri Gurduare Darshan. Amritsar, 1923