goindval

ALLAYAR, a wealthy Muslim horse dealer of Delhi, who turned a preacher of Sikhism, first came to Guru Amar Das at Goindval escorted by Bhai Paro, a prominent Sikh of Dalla, a village in present day Kapurthala district of the Punjab. It is said that returning from Kabul once with 500 newly purchased horses, he was held up near Goindval owing to the River Beas being in spate. He had not been there long before he saw someone tearing across the swollen river on horseback from the opposite bank. This was Bhai Paro coming to make his daily obeisance to Guru Amar Das.

Discover the significance of Baba Mohan Pothian in Sikh tradition, containing works from the first three Gurus, now preserved by descendants of Guru Amar Das.

AMAR DAS, GURU (1479-1574), the third of the ten Gurus of the Sikh faith, was born into a Bhalla Khatri family on Baisakh sudi 14, 1536 Bk, corresponding to 5 May 1479, at Basarke, a village in present day Amritsar district of the Punjab. His father\'s name was Tej Bhan and mother\'s Bakht Kaur; the latter has also been called by chroniclers variously as Lachchhami, Bhup Kaur and Rup Kaur. He was married on 11 Magh 1559 Bk to Mansa Devi, daughter of Devi Chand, a Bahil Khatri, of the village of Sankhatra, in Sialkot district, and had four children two sons, Mohri and Mohan, and two daughters. Dani and Bhani. Amar Das had a deeply religious bent of mind.

Discover Savan Mall, nephew of Guru Amar Das, who procured timber for Goindval's expansion and spread Sikh teachings in the hills. Learn more about his journey.

ANAND, BABA, was the second son of Baba Mohri and a grandson of Guru Amar Das. He received his name from the Guru himself who also uttered a long hymn in Ramkali measure calling it Anandu. The hymn has since formed an important part of Sikh liturgy. Baba Anand lived up to the time of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind (1595-1644), who held him in high esteem. He once sent messengers, with a palanquin, to escort Baba Anand to Kiratpur. The Guru himself came out to receive him as he arrived.

Discover how Bhai Ballu, the barber turned Sikh, played a pivotal role in Guru Amar Das's life, from rituals at Goindval to founding Amritsar with Emperor Akbar.

BHANI, BIBI (1535-1598), daughter of Guru Amar Das, consort of Guru Ram Das and mother of Guru Arjan Dev, was born to Mata Mansa Devi on 21 Magh 1591 Bk/19 January 1535 at Basarke Gillan, a village near Amritsar. She was married on 18 February 1554 to Bhai Jetha (later Guru Ram Das), a Sodhi Khatri belonging to Lahore, then in Goindval rendering voluntary service in the construction of the Baoli Sahib. After marriage, the couple remained in Goindval serving the Guru. From Goindval Bhai Jetha was deputed by the Guru to go and establish a habitation (present day Amritsar) on a piece of land gifted, according to one version, by Emperor Akbar to Bibi Bhani at the time of his visit to Guru Amar Das.

DASU, BABA (b. 1524), eldest son of Guru Arigad and Mata Khivi, was born on 9 Bhadon 1581 Bk / 7 August 1524 at Khadur Sahib in present day Amritsar district of the Punjab. He was ambitious to succeed his father in the spiritual line, but the latter, as records Kesar Singh Chhibbar, Bansavalinama, spoke: "He [Amar Das] is my brother and to him I am entrusting the responsibility .... Him I have reckoned as capable of bearing the burden." Dasu kept quiet at the time, but, after the passing away of Guru Angad, as his duly anointed successor, Guru Amar Das shifted to Goindval, he proclaimed himself Guru at Khadur even against the remonstrances of his mother. Later he recanted and apologized to his mother who took him to Goindval. He made obeisance to Guru Amar Das whose true disciple he remained thereafter.

Discover the inspiring journey of Bhai Garhia, a devout Sikh who spread Guru Hargobind's teachings in Kashmir and inspired Shah Daula with his devotion.

GIRDHARI, BHAI, a wealthy but childless shopkeeper from southern districts, who hearing of how a certain goldsmith had got offspring as a result of Guru Amar Das`s blessing, made a pilgrimage to Goindval to see the Guru. The Guru uttered a sloka (couplet) as he saw him: "None can erase what is writ on the forehead. What is written happeneth. He who hath spiritual insight understandeth this" (GG. Ml 3).He advised Girdhari to rejoice in God`s will, repeat the Name and do good deeds. Girdhari withdrew from the Guru`s presence crestfallen.