>Jonesey95 at 02:07, 27 April 2021

2021-04-27T02:07:42Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Goindwal Sahib
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| nickname =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Punjab
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|31|22|N|75|9|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = Tarn Taran
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = [[Majha]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 7772
| population_as_of = 2010
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_metro =
| population_metro_footnotes =
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 143422
| area_code_type = STD code
| area_code = 01859
| registration_plate =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:Gurudwara Goindwal Sahib.jpg|thumbnail|The Baoli Sahib]]

'''Goindwal''' ({{lang-pa|ਗੋਇੰਦਵਾਲ}}), also known as Goindwal Sahib, is located in [[Taran Taran district]] in the [[Majha]] region of the state of [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] in [[India]] about 23 km from [[Tarn Taran Sahib]]. In the 16th century it became an important center for the Sikh religion during the Guruship of the [[Guru Amar Das Ji]]. Goindwal is on the banks of the river [[Beas]] and is one of the focal points of small scale industries of [[Tarn Taran district]].

[[Guru Amar Das Ji]] (the third Guru or the third Nanak) stayed in Goindwal for 33 years where he established a new centre for preaching Sikhism. A ''Baoli'' ([[stepwell]]), paved with 84 steps was constructed there. Sikh’s believe that by reciting [[Japji Sahib]], the divine ''Word'' revealed to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, at each of the 84 steps after taking a bath in the Baoli provides [[Moksha]], liberation from 84,00,000 [[Saṃsāra|cycles]] of life of this world and unity with God (mukhti). Goindval is where Guru Amar Das Ji met Guru Ram Das Ji, the next Guru. [[Guru Arjan Dev Ji]] was also born there on 15 April 1563. It is called axis of Sikhism as it was the first center of Sikhism.

Today the [[Gurdwara]] and Goindwal Baoli 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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Prithi Pal|title=The History of Sikh Gurus|year=2006|publisher=Lotus Press|isbn=9788183820752|page=185}}</ref>

== History ==

=== The origin of the Goindwal name ===
The location of the town was an ancient eastwest highway that crossed the river [[Beas]] connecting Delhi and Lahore<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Surinderjit|title=The Masters & The Word Divine|year=1999|publisher=B. Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh|location=Amritsar|isbn=8176013129|page=73}}</ref> and the head of the most important ferries on the river Beas.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Trilochan|title=Guru Tegh Bahadur, prophet and martyr: a biography|year=1967|publisher=Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee|page=107}}</ref> With the renovation of the highway by Sher Shah Suri, the Afghan ruler of north India (1540–45), this ferry site became an important transit point.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bloom|first=Jonathan|title=The Grove encyclopedia of Islamic art and architecture, Volume 2|year=2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780195309911|page=258}}</ref>

This led one Goinda or Gonda, a Marvaha Khatri trader,<ref>{{cite book|last=Agnihotri|first=Harbans|title=The Liberated Soul: The Life and Bani of Guru Angad Dev|year=2002|publisher=Gopal Prakashan|isbn=9788187436058|page=65}}</ref> to plan establishing an habitation at the western end of the ferry.<ref>{{cite book|title=Census of India, 1991: Punjab, Volume 1|year=1992|publisher=Controller of Publications|location=the University of Michigan|page=28}}</ref> Thwarted in his endeavour by natural calamities which Goinda attributed to evil spirits which nobody settled there, Goinda went to Khadur to seek [[Guru Angad Dev Ji]]'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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Journal of Sikh Studies, Volume 9|year=1982|publisher=Department of Guru Nanak Studies|location=the University of California|page=93}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Surinderjit|title=The Masters & The Word Divine|year=1999|publisher=B. Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh|location=Amritsar|isbn=8176013129|page=72}}</ref>

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) [[Guru Amar Das|Amar Das]], to help Goinda. Bhai Amar Das Ji, who knew that tract very well as he had been carrying river water from this place to Khadur daily for his Master`s ablutions,<ref>{{cite book|last=Agnihotri|first=Harbans|title=The Liberated Soul: The Life and Bani of Guru Angad Dev|year=2002|publisher=Gopal Prakashan|isbn=9788187436058|page=65}}</ref> 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 Dev Ji.

=== Bhai Amar Das Ji's daily seva of bringing water for Guru Angad Dev Ji ===

The Guru Ji requested Bhai Amar Das Ji to make Goindwal his home. During the night Bhai Amar Das Ji slept in Goindwal and during the day he resumed his duties and carried water from the river Beas to Khadur for Guru Angad Dev Ji’s morning bath.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hansra|first=Harkirat|title=Liberty at Stake|year=2007|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=9780595875634|page=21}}</ref> Along the way Bhai Amar Das Ji recited "[[Japji Sahib]]", the Sikh's morning prayer. <small>Gurdwara Damdama Sahib was built in commemoration of the place where Guru Amar Das Ji took rest under a tree about one and a half miles from Goindwal, the historic tree which is also still preserved today.</small> Guru Amardas Ji stayed in Khadur to hear the hymn of "[[Asa di Var]]", a composition of Guru Angad Dev Ji, interspersed with hymns of Nanak. He then returned to Goindwal to fetch more water for the Guru’s communal kitchen and carried it back to Khadur where Guru Angad Dev Ji, and his followers resided.

=== Sikh Development in Goindwal ===

Guru Angad Dev Ji asked his faithful follower, Bhai Amar Das Ji, to oversee the project of building Goindwal. The Guru gave Bhai Amar Das Ji a staff<ref>{{cite book|title=Calcutta Review, Volumes 32-33|year=1859|publisher=University of Calcutta|page=98|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RqkbAQAAIAAJ}}</ref> with instructions that it should be used for the removal of any obstacles. Guru Angad Dev Ji selected Bhai Amar Das Ji as the most faithful of his Sikhs and appointed him to be his successor. Guru Amar Das Ji shifted from Khadur to Goindwal with his family and followers after his anointment as Guru in 1552 at the age of 73.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jawandha|first=Nahar|title=Glimpses of Sikhism|year=2010|publisher=Sanbun Publishers|location=New Delhi|isbn=9789380213255|page=25}}</ref> That year Guru Amar Das Ji commenced the digging in Goindwal of a Baoli, i.e. a well with steps descending down to water level which, when completed, attracted pilgrims from far and near.<ref>{{cite book|last=H. S. Singha|title=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism|year=2000|publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=9788170103011|page=81}}</ref>

Goindwal also became in the time of Guru Amar Das Ji the centre of an annual fair on the occasion of [[Vaisakhi]] festival which Guru Amar Das started in Goindval.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Fauja|title=Guru Amar Das, life and teachings|year=1979|publisher=Sterling|page=120}}</ref> Guru Amar Das Ji also made [[Langar (Sikhism)|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'<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Surjit|title=A Historian's Approach to Guru Gobind Singh|year=2004|publisher=Singh Bros.|isbn=9788172053062|page=27}}</ref> - First sit in the 'Community of Feet', and then join the 'Company of Singers'. Guru Amar Das Ji developed the new system of propagating the new faith in far off places known as the Manji System,<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Devendra|title=Beyond Boundaries : A Search for Unlimited Powers of Mind Along the Path of Guru Nanak|year=2009|publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=9788170103813|page=83}}</ref> stopped the practice of [[Sati (practice)|Sati]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Prasoon|first=Shrikant|title=Knowing Guru Nanak|year=2007|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=9788122309805}}</ref> and wrote the [[Anand Sahib]] [[Gurbani|bani]] at Goindwal. [[Bhai Gurdas]], a prominent Sikh poet, was born in Goindwal in 1551.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Pritam|title=Bhai Gurdas|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=9788172012182|page=16}}</ref> [[Guru Arjan]] came to Goindwal to get the first 4 Guru's hymns from Baba Mohan to compile into the [[Adi Granth]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Cole|first=William|title=The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices|year=1995|publisher=Sussex Academic Press|isbn=9781898723134|page=46}}</ref>

=== Guru Amar Das Ji leaves Goindwal ===

After Gurgaddi of Guru Amar Das Ji people visited in large crowds for a spiritual glimpse of the third Guru. This angered the jealous Dattu, the younger son of Guru Angad Dev Ji. Dattu come to Goindwal and found the Guru who was surrounded by his disples.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jawandha|first=Nahar|title=Glimpses of Sikhism|year=2010|publisher=Sanbun Publishers|location=New Delhi|isbn=9789380213255|page=26}}</ref> In rage he kicked the Guru; the Guru immediately touched his foot and feeling sorry said his foot might have been hurt by his aged bones.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Surjit|title=History Of Sikh Gurus Retold 1469-1606 C.e. Vol# 1|year=2007|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors|isbn=9788126908578|page=249}}</ref> This event and the overall dislike that Dattu had for Guru Amar Das was the cause for Guru Amar Das to decide to briefly leave Goindwal.<ref>{{cite book|last=H. S. Singha|title=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism|year=2000|publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=9788170103011|page=55}}</ref> Guru Amar Das Ji shifted himself to his native village Basarke and closeted himself in a secluded place. The guru had written on the outside door that whosoever opens the door will not be his Sikh and he will not be his Guru.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Prithi Pal|title=The History of Sikh Gurus|year=2006|publisher=Lotus Press|isbn=9788183820752|page=43}}</ref> However, when the devotees became impatient to have a glimpse of the Guru, [[Baba Budha Ji|Baba Budha]], instead of opening the front door, broke open the back wall and enabled the devotees to reach the Guru.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Prithi Pal|title=The History of Sikh Gurus|year=2006|publisher=Lotus Press|isbn=9788183820752|page=43}}</ref> The devotees led by Baba Budha requested the Guru come back to Goindwal and then took him there. Gurdwara Sann Sahib commemorates this incident.

=== Emperor Akbar's visit ===

According to the historians, Emperor [[Akbar]] once visited the Guru in Goindwal in 1598<ref>{{cite book|last=Dhillon|first=Dalbir|title=Sikhism Origin and Development|year=1988|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors|page=106}}</ref> and took lunch in the Langar while he was going from Delhi to Lahore. Akbar was highly impressed by the tradition of Langer<ref>{{cite book|last=Pruthi|first=Raj|title=Sikhism And Indian Civilization|year=2004|publisher=Discovery Publishing House|isbn=9788171418794|page=64}}</ref> that he granted land in the name of Bibi Bhani, the daughter of the Guru. The Guru directed his son in law, [[Guru Ram Das]] to found [[Amritsar]] upon that newly granted land.<ref>{{cite book|last=Johar|first=Surinder|title=Holy Sikh Shrines|year=1998|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=9788175330733|page=21}}</ref>

=== Bhai Jetha (Guru Ram Das) at Goindwal ===
[[Guru Ram Das]], whose original name before becoming the Guru was Bhai Jetha, arrived at Goindwal to remain in contact with Guru Amar Das who he had seen previously at Khadur. Bhai Jetha started earning his bread by selling cooked beans<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Surinderjit|title=The Masters & The Word Divine|year=1999|publisher=B. Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh|location=Amritsar|isbn=8176013129|page=65}}</ref> however he spent most of his time in the service for the construction of the [[Baoli]] and in the [[Langar (Sikhism)|community kitchen]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Surinderjit|title=The Masters & The Word Divine|year=1999|publisher=B. Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh|location=Amritsar|isbn=8176013129|page=73}}</ref> Guru Amar Das and his wife Mata Mansa Devi recognized Bhai Jetha's upright character and steadfast service and decided to get their daughter, Bibi Bhani married to him, they married on 1 February 1554.<ref>{{cite book|last=Harjeet|first=Singh|title=Faith and Philosophy of Sikhism|year=2009|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=9788178357218|page=162}}</ref> The couple stayed in Goindwal to remain in the service of the Guru. They had three sons, Bhai Prithi Chand, Bhai Mahadev, and Bhai Arjun Dev (later known as [[Guru Arjan Dev]]). After Guru Amar Das`s successor. Guru Ram Das, had built up Amritsar and made it his permanent seat but devotees still continued to visit Goindval to have a dip in the sacred Baoli and pay homage at other local shrines.

=== Guru Hargobind and Guru Tegh Bahadur's visit ===
[[Guru Hargobind]] with his family travelled from Jhabal to Goindwal. As they reached Goindwal, Guru Hargobind, his family, and his Sikhs made ablutions in the Goindwal Baoli built by Guru Amar Das. Bhai Tegh Bahadur, then barely two, was bathed with the holy water. Ablutions were repeated the following morning before Guru Hargobind left for [[Kartarpur, Pakistan|Kartarpur]]. The family were left in Goindwal on the persuasion of Baba Sundar, great-grandson of Guru Amar Das. Upon his return to Amritsar, Guru Hargobind recalled the family from Goindwal. Guru Tegh Bahadur also visited Goindwal again in 1664 after first halt during this journey was at Amritsar, followed by halts at Tarn Taran, and Khadur Sahib.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Surjit|title=History Of Sikh Gurus Retold 1606-1708 C.e. Vol# 2|year=2007|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors|isbn=9788126908585|page=556}}</ref>

=== Guru Har Rai's visit ===
When the Mughal emperor [[Shah Jahan]]'s eldest son [[Dara Shikoh]] was seriously ill [[Guru Har Rai]] sent a herbal medicine which cured him.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pruthi|first=Raj|title=Sikhism And Indian Civilization|year=2004|publisher=Discovery Publishing House|isbn=9788171418794|page=83}}</ref> Thus Sikh - Mughals relations remained on a good footing for a short time. There was eventual instability in the Delhi royal court when Shah Jehan fell ill and his second son [[Aurangzeb]] aligned himself with his youngest brother Murad against their eldest brother Dara Shikoh,<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Prithi Pal|title=The History of Sikh Gurus|year=2006|publisher=Lotus Press|isbn=9788183820752|page=105}}</ref> Shah Jehan's approved successor. Aurangzeb imprisoned his father in Agra and his soldiers as well as those of his youngest brother Murad forced Dara Shikoh to flee towards Punjab. Guru Har Rai was visiting Goindwal in June 1558<ref>{{cite book|last=Pruthi|first=Raj|title=Sikhism And Indian Civilization|year=2004|publisher=Discovery Publishing House|isbn=9788171418794|page=84}}</ref> along with 2200 horse riders and here he met Dara Shikoh who had come to receive his blessings.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Teja|title=Highroads of Sikh History, Volumes 1-3|page=33}}</ref> Dara Shikoh remembered that the Guru had been responsible for saving his life when he was sick. Dara Shikoh was both an intellectual and liberally tolerant towards other religions.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pruthi|first=Raj|title=Sikhism And Indian Civilization|year=2004|publisher=Discovery Publishing House|isbn=9788171418794|page=84}}</ref> He was a great admirer of the Muslim [[Sufi]] Saint [[Mian Mir]] who was in turn a great admirer of the Gurus. Guru Har Rai granted Dara Shikoh an audience and received the prince with due courtesy. After some time Dara Shikoh was eventually captured by the forces of Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb had Dara Shikoh executed, then killed his own youngest brother Murad and appointed himself as the emperor.<ref>{{cite book|last=Thackeray|first=Frank|title=Events That Formed the Modern World|year=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781598849011|page=241}}</ref>

== Architecture ==
The entrance of Goindwal is decorated with murals describing significant scenes of the [[Sikh history]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Gurmukh|title=Historical Sikh Shrines|year=1995|publisher=Singh Bros.|isbn=9788172051518|page=109}}</ref> The main gurdwara, standing next to the Baoli, white against the chequerboard of the courtyard. The Gurdwara is an example of typical [[Sikh architecture]] with a large dome tipped with a gold pinnacle - four [[cupola]]s echoing the main dome in shape and the ubiquitous facade of [[turrets]], elliptical cornices and projected windows.

Goindwal Baoli, the well of Goindwal Guru Amar Das had a Baoli, or covered step-well, constructed in Goindwal. The step-well spans about 25 feet or 8 meters. The well has a few resting places between the 84 steps providing the Sikhs a place to get together and have spiritual discussion.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Surinderjit|title=The Masters & The Word Divine|year=1999|publisher=B. Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh|location=Amritsar|isbn=8176013129|page=75}}</ref> An arched access opens to a domed entrance decorated with frescoes depicting the life of Guru Amar Das. A divided underground staircase with 84 covered steps descends beneath the earth to Goindwal's sacred waters. The Baoli is entered through a wide, pointed archway and the structure is surmounted by a large fluted dome. There are projected eaves on all sides, while the front face also has a row of small turrets. The cornice under the dome is multi-coloured with [[floral]] designs.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Gurmukh|title=Historical Sikh Shrines|year=1995|publisher=Singh Bros.|isbn=9788172051518|page=109}}</ref>

<gallery>
Image:GuruNanakFresco-Goindwal.jpg|Fresco of [[Guru Nanak]] in Goindwal Sahib
Image:Amardas-Goindwal.jpg|Fresco of [[Guru Amar Das]] in Goindwal Sahib
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Sikh places]]
[[Category:Amritsar district]]
[[Category:Tarn Taran district]]
[[Category:Gurdwaras in Punjab, India]]

Goindval - Revision history

>Jonesey95 at 02:07, 27 April 2021