Punjab: The village where the light of Guru Hargobind spread
Punjab: 430 years ago, on June 19, 1595, an important event took place in the village of Nattan Di Wadali, located in the present Amritsar district. It was here that Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, was born to Guru Arjan Dev (the fifth Sikh Guru) and Mata Ganga. This historically and spiritually significant village was later renamed Guru Ki Wadali in honour of the Guru’s birth.
A Sacred Blessing Fulfilled
The story of Guru Hargobind’s birth is deeply intertwined with divine will, spiritual devotion and the trials faced by his parents. Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, faced jealousy and hostility from his elder brother Prithi Chand and his wife Bibi Karmo after being given the Guruship by his father, Guru Ram Das. Due to daily harassment by Prithi Chand, Guru Arjan Dev left the Guru’s palace and accepted the request of Bhai Dhol and started living in Nattan Di Wadali. Troubled by taunts and accused of being childless, Mata Ganga sought blessings from her husband for a child. Guru Arjan Dev, always humble and devoted, directed her to seek the blessings of Baba Budhha, a revered and spiritually enlightened person of Sikhism, who lived in a secluded forest near Jhabbal, known as Bebe Di Birah.
Following the Guru’s words, Mata Ganga set out barefoot with a few servants, singing Gurbani while carrying prasad like ‘missi roti, lassi, onions and jaggery’ on her head (a tradition that is still alive). On their arrival, Baba Budhha Ji accepted the simple prasad offered by Mata devoutly. While eating the missi roti he struck an onion with his fist and prophesied: Tumre Ghar Pragatega Jodha, Jaanko Bal Gun Kinnu Na Sodha. Rupe Chhake So Jaise Marore, Turk Si Taise Bahut Tore, which means, “A great warrior will be born in your house. No one will be able to match his strength and qualities. His charming form will shine like the Sun and he will crush the heads of many Turks,” – these verses are recorded in Guru Bilas Patshahi 6. According to this prophecy, Guru Hargobind Sahib was born shortly after, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Sikh history. After this divine event, Baba Budha changed the name of the village from Nattan Di Wadali to Guru Ki Wadali, which was once inhabited by Jats of the Nat clan.
The Village Changed by History
In memory of the divine birth of his son, Guru Arjan Dev initiated several development works in the village. He commissioned the digging of five wells in the village, known as Do Harta, Teen Harta, Char Harta, Panch Harta and Che Harta, to support the local community. These efforts were overseen by Baba Sahari, a devout Sikh and a spiritual descendant of Baba Budhha. Guru Arjan Dev lived with his family at Guru Ki Wadali for about three years. During this time, the young Hargobind displayed many miraculous acts and divine qualities. These included incidents involving a greedy snake charmer and a nurse named Sobhi Dai, both of whom were spiritually transformed by the child’s divine play. The sacred land of Guru Ki Wadali remains a symbol of Sikh history, spirituality and heritage. It is not only the birthplace of Guru Hargobind Sahib, but also a testimony to the unwavering faith and humility of Mata Ganga and the divine wisdom of Baba Budhha.
