Gurudwara Shri Kirpan Bhet Sahib
The Gurudwara Sri Kirpan Bhet Sahib is located in Machhiwara, Ludhiana. After the martyrdom of his two sons and thirty-five Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji left the fort of Chamkaur Sahib and instructed his Sikhs to meet him in the forests of Machhiwara, following the North Star. Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, and Bhai Maan Singh arrived as per Guru Ji’s orders and met him at the spot where the Gurudwara Charan Kanwal now stands. A gardener who saw them informed the landowners, Bhai Gulaba and Bhai Punjaba, who then took Guru Ji to their home (now Gurudwara Chubara Sahib) and served him with great devotion.
Bhai Gani Khan and Bhai Nabi Khan, two traders of horses who were true devotees of Guru Ji, also hailed from this village. Bhai Nabi Khan and Bhai Gani Khan took Guru Ji from Bhai Gulaba and Bhai Punjaba’s house to their own home (where the present-day Gurudwara Sri Gani Khan Nabi Khan Sahib is located) and made a request that Guru Ji should wear blue clothes, so that it would be easier to serve him, as the area was full of Mughal spies.
In the morning, when the Mughal army discovered that Guru Ji was not at the Chamkaur Sahib fort, units of troops were sent in search of him. The army of Dilawar Khan surrounded the area of Machhiwara Sahib. While traveling towards Delhi, Dilawar Khan had prayed, ‘May Allah protect my troops from any battle with Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In return, I will offer 500 gold coins to the ‘Uch De Peer’ (High Saint).’ The plan to escape the siege was to disguise Guru Ji as the ‘Uch De Peer,’ because even today, all Sufi fakirs in Bahawalpur (Pakistan) wear blue clothes and maintain long hair.
Guru Ji was dressed in blue clothes and seated on a bed, served by Bhai Gani Khan, Bhai Nabi Khan, Bhai Dharam Singh, and Bhai Maan Singh, who carried the bed for about one and a half kilometers before being stopped by the Mughal troops. Dilawar Khan asked, “Who are these people? Where are they going?” Bhai Nabi Khan replied, “This is our ‘Uch De Peer,’ and they are going to visit sacred places.”
It was early in the morning when Dilawar Khan said, “You cannot go further without confirming the identity of your ‘Uch De Peer.’ Come, eat with us.” Bhai Nabi Khan replied, “Our Peer is fasting, but we will eat with him.” Bhai Daya Singh then asked Guru Ji what should be done, to which Guru Ji responded by handing him a small kirpan (sword) from his and told them to swipe it in the food before eating and not to worry about anything.
When the food was prepared and served, Bhai Daya Singh took the kirpan and did as Guru Ji had instructed. Dilawar Khan, the general, asked, “What are you doing?” Bhai Nabi Khan replied, “The message has come from Makkah that before eating, one must offer a sword as a token of respect.”
To verify the identity, a qazi named Noor Muhammad was called from the nearby village of Noorpur. Upon his arrival, Qazi Noor Muhammad recognized the divine presence of Guru Ji and said to Dilawar Khan, “You should be grateful that no curse has been cast by the ‘Uch De Peer’ for stopping them. He is the Peer of all Peers.”
Dilawar Khan immediately apologized and, out of respect, allowed Guru Ji and his Sikhs to proceed. Guru Ji then told Dilawar Khan, “You had promised 500 gold coins to the ‘Uch De Peer,’ and now you must fulfill that promise.” With great humility, Dilawar Khan brought 500 gold coins and valuable shawls, placing them at Guru Ji’s feet in repentance. Guru Ji then gave the offerings to Bhai Nabi Khan and Bhai Gani Khan.
Thus, the tradition of offering a kirpan in the food and distributing langar (community kitchen food) at Gurudwara Kirpaan Bhent Sahib was established — a practice that continues to this day.
To reach Gurudwara Shri Kirpan Bhet Sahib, you can use different modes of transportation depending on your location and preferences. Here are several options:
1. By Car or Taxi: If you have access to a car or prefer a taxi, you can drive to Gurudwara Shri Kirpan Bhet Sahib. You can use a GPS navigation system or a maps app on your smartphone to guide you to the gurudwara. Simply input the gurudwara’s address into the navigation app for directions.
2. By Train: The nearest railway station to Machiwara Sahib is Ludhiana Railway Station (station code: LDH). You can take a train to Ludhiana Railway Station if there is a convenient connection from your starting location. Once you arrive at Ludhiana Railway Station, you will need to take a bus to Machiwara Sahib. Buses to Machiwara can be boarded from the Ludhiana Bus Stand or Samrala Chowk in Ludhiana.
3. By Bus: You can check for bus services that connect your starting location to Machhiwara. Various state and private bus operators provide services to the area. Once you arrive at the Machhiwara, you can hire a local taxi, auto-rickshaw, or cycle-rickshaw to reach Gurudwara Shri Kirpan Bhet Sahib. The gurudwara is usually a well-known landmark, and locals should be able to provide directions.
4. By Air: The nearest airport is Ludhiana Domestic Airport (IATA: LUH) in Ludhiana, which is approximately 26 kilometers away from Machhiwara Sahib. After arriving at the airport, you can hire a taxi or use a ridesharing service to reach Machhiwara Sahib. The journey by road from there to Machhiwara Sahib takes around 40-45 minutes.
Before traveling, it’s a good idea to check for transportation options and schedules based on your starting location and the current conditions. Additionally, once you arrive in Machhiwara Sahib, you can ask for directions to Gurudwara Shri Kirpan Bhet Sahib from locals or the staff at nearby businesses, as it is a significant religious site in the area and is likely to be well-known.
