As Maneesh Media is releasing its 43^rd publication, Jewels of Punjab – Leading Global Punjabi Personalities: Volume II, to celebrate Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550^th birth anniversary this year, Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib, Bidar, Karnataka, has organised a rally travelling 26,000 km to 250 cities in 19 states in 97 days. Promoting the Guru’s message of sharing with the less privileged, earning without exploitation and meditating, this rally started on 2 June 2019 from Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib in Bidar, Karnataka and ended on 7 September 2019 in Bidar.

Carrying the Holy Guru Granth Sahib, the rally has held langars all through its route. The troop is spreading message of brotherhood irrespective of race or religion. Performing sewa as well, in August this troop helped 32 Kashmiri girls, who had gone to Pune from Kashmir on an education tour, reach back home as they were very scared after losing contacts with their families after the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir. The Sikhs flew them to Srinagar, where army officers helped the girls and provided cars to transport the girls to their homes in different parts of Kashmir.

Jhira Sahib has a strong relevance in Sikh history. It is said that during his second udasi to south India between 1510 to 1514 AD when Guru Nanak and his companion Mardana reached Bidar to meet Peer Jalaluddin and Yakoob Ali. Yes, back then, Muslim fakirs would eagerly listen to the Guru’s sermons. Soon the news of his presence spread out in the entire region and devotees came to listen to him speak, when some pleaded a way out of the water shortage. Whatever water was ever dug out was never portable.

While still chanting Sat Kartar, He moved some stones and rubble with his foot and suggested to dig a well there. Surprisingly, a spring of fresh water flows from there till date. The name Jhira comes from stream (jhir).

Another story tells us that the Guru visited a Sufi saint who lived next to the source of fresh and sweet water, where eventually this Gurudwara was built.

Do you know of any other unheard of Gurudwara, which has a rich story behind it?

How are you planning to celebrate Gurupurab? How do you serve the society? Do let us know and we might in turn share it with all our readers!

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