Goindwal Sahib, known as ‘Sikhi da Dhura’ meaning there by as the starting
point of Sikhi, is situated in the present Taran Taran District, about 23 kilometers
from Taran Taaran Sahib. This city was developed by Guru Amardas Ji at the
behest of Guru Angad Dev Ji on the land belonging to a devotee of the Guru named
Govinda. The location of the town that time was on the highway made by Sher
Shah Suri the Afghan ruler of north India (1540-45). This ferry site became an important transit point. This
led one Goinda or Gonda, a Marvaha 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
perverted anybody to settle there, Goinda went to Khadur to seek Guru Angad’s 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. As Guru’s sons did not obey, this task was given to the third Guru.
He focused on the development of this town and gradually the same became the most important place for the
devotees of the Guru. Guru Ji got dug a Baoli that is a well with steps descending down to the water level.
This Baoli attracted a large number of Sikhs from far and near firstly for doing labour to complete it, and
afterwards for the spiritual importance it gained with the passage of
time. Since then it is believed that if someone recites Japuji Sahib on
each of the 84 steps and takes a bath in the Baoli after each recitation,
he will be redeemed of the circle of life and death of 84 lakh lives (as
was believed by Hindus at that time). In fact Guru ji wanted that the
devotees should not go to far off places for holy bath. Goindwal also
became in the time of Guru Amar Das the centre of an annual fair
on the occasion of Vaisakhi festival which Guru Amar Das started in
Goindval. Guru Amar Das also made Langar an integral activity of
the Sikh community and he insisted that anyone who wanted to see
him had to first partake of food at the Langar creating the proverb
‘Pehlay Pangat tay Picchhay Sangat’- First sit in the ‘Community
of feet’, and then join the ‘Company of Singers’. When Emperor Akbar came to see Guru Ji at this place,
he was also asked to partake Langar before meeting the Guru. Guru Amar Das developed the new system
of propagating the new faith in far off places known as the Manji System, stopped the practice of Sati and
wrote the Anand Sahib Bani at Goindwal. Bhai Gurdas, a prominent Sikh poet, was born in Goindwal in
1551. Guru Arjan came to Goindwal to get the first 4 Guru’s hymns from Baba Mohan to compile into the
Adi Granth.
