Gurdwara Chaubara Sahib Goindwal, Tarn Taran, Punjab

Goindwal Sahib is beautiful town located in Punjab at a distance of 23 km from Taran Taran.

The town of Goindwal Sahib has immense significance in Sikhi and has been an important center for Sikhs since the 16th century during the Guruship of the Guru Amar Das. The town is situated on banks of River Beas.

History:

Guru Amar Das Ji (third Guru or the third Nanak) stayed in Goindwal for 33 years where he established a new centre for preaching Sikhism.

Guru Amar Das also developed a new system of propagating the Sikh faith in far off places known as the Manji System, for Sikhs he stopped the practice of Sati (ceremony of burning a hindu widow with the body of her late husband, which hindus still follow), wrote the Anand Sahib Gurbani at Goindwal and made many other contributions to Sikhi.

Goindwal is where Guru Amar Das met Bhai Jetha (Guru Ram Das – 4th Guru), the next Guru. Guru Arjan Dev Sahib – 5th Guru Ji was also born there on 15 April 1563. It is called axis of Sikhism as it was the first main center of Sikhi. Today the Goindwal Sahib is visited as a prime tourist destination and the massive langar or the community kitchen provides food to a large number of visitors every day.

Gurdwara Chaubara Sahib Goindwal:

Name:	Gurdwara Chaubara Sahib Goindwal
Location:	Goindwal Sahib, Tarn Taran, Punjab 143422 India [48 Kms from Amritsar / 25 km from Tarn Taran]
Associated with:	Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjan Sahib
Affiliation:	–
Festivals:	Vaisakhi
Architecture:	Sikh architecture

Origin Of The Name – Goindwal:

The location of the town was an ancient eastwest highway that crossed the river Beas connecting Delhi and Lahore and the head of the most important ferries on the river Beas. With the renovation of the highway by Sher Shall Sur, the Afghan ruler of north India (1540 – 45), this ferry site became an important transit point.

This led one Goinda or Gonda, a Marwaha Khatri trader, to plan establishing an habitation at the western end of the ferry. Thwarted in his endeavour by natural calamities which Goinda attributed to evil spirits which nobody settled there, Goinda went to Khadoor to seek Guru Angad’s (2nd Guru) blessing and asked if anyone of the two Guru’s sons of the Guru starts living there, the superstition of the people regarding the evil spirits will vanish and the village will be inhabited.

The Guru agreed to help Goinda but none of the Guru’s sons agreed to this proposal so the Guru asked his devoted disciple, (Guru) Amar Das, to help Goinda. Bhai Amar Das, who knew that tract very well as he had been carrying river water from this place to Khadoor daily for his Master’s ablutions, laid the foundation of Goinda’s village which then was named after Goinda, Goindwal. The trader Goinda had a special place built in Goindwal to honor Guru Angad Sahib Ji.

Gurdwara Chaubara Sahib Goindwal:

Gurdwara Chaubara Sahib Goindwal was the home of Guru Amar Das and his family. The Guru Granth Sahib within the Gurdwara is seated in the front room on a silver palaki. This room has doors covered with silver. The interior is decorated with stucco work inset with reflecting glass pieces and intricate designs in many colours.

The following events occurred at Gurdwara Sri Chaubara Sahib Goindwal:

• The sakhi of Guru Amar Das and Bibi Bhani Ji, where after Bibi Bhani made a request Guru Amar Das warned that many sacrifices would have to be made by Bibi Bhani and her family if the Guruship stayed with them.
• This was the location of the Kili Sahib that Guru Amar Das used to hold to stand in his old age.
• Guru Amar Das blessed Guru Ram Das with succession of Guruship at this location in 1574.
• This was the location where Guru Amar Das in 1574 and Guru Ram Das in 1581 became Joti Jot (rejoined) with God.
• This was the location where Guru Arjan Sahib Ji was born in 1563.

• The Tham Sahib at this location was where Guru Arjan Sahib used to play as a child. Bibi Bhani Ji used to prepare Langar here.
• Palki Sahib of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. In this Palki Sahib, Guru Arjan carried the Gurbani of the first four Gurus to Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar
• This is where the sacred hair and Chola Sahib of Guru Amar Das Ji is kept.
• This is where Guru Arjan Sahib Ji came here to collect Sanchiaa Sahibs from Baba Mohan Das.
• Khuh Guru Ram Das, the khuh sunk by Guru Ram Das is still preserved.