Gurdwara Rori Sahib, Eminabad
About Gurdwara Sri Rori Sahib Eminabad
Eminabad, an ancient town in the Gujranwala district of Pakistan, used to be known as Saidpur during the time of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. At that time it was outskirts of Gujranwala but now it has joined with Gujranwala city – Gujranwala is known as city of wrestlers such as Gama Pehlwaan etc. It is also now an industrial hub of Pakistan. Eminabad is rich in Sikh’s history, as it has three Gurdwaras close to each other.
According to the Bhai Bala Janam Sakhi, after leaving Sultanpur and before setting out on his long travels, Guru Nanak, accompanied by Bhai Mardana, first visited Eminabad where Bhai Lalo, a carpenter by profession, became his Sikh. The Gurbani of Guru Nanak in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji suggests that he was in Eminabad when the town was sacked by Babar in 1521. Janam Sakhis also mention that during the attack by the Mughal force, many other locals, the Guru along with Bhai Mardana were held in prison and given a stone mill to ply.
Gurdwara Sri Rori Sahib Eminabad marks the site where Guru Nanak stayed with Bhai Lalo after the destruction of the Saidpur by Babur. Here Guru Nanak had to sit and lie down on a hard bed of pebbles (small stones) (Rori in Punjabi) as alluded to in Bhai Gurdas Varan.When the armies of Babar entered Punjab in 1521, Guru Nanak was present in Saidpur. At the time of capture of Saidpur, many locals were arrested, including Guru Nanak. At the time of the arrest, Guru Nanak was sitting here at Gurdwara Sri Rori Sahib Eminabad on the pebbles and was praying to God. The Gurdwara stands at the place of the pebbles.
An imposing Gurdwara has been built over the place. A large pond and other buildings make it more graceful. A large estate worth Rs.5000 per annum and agricultural land was endowed to the Gurdwara from the era of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Vaisakhi and Kattak Puranmashi festivals used to be held in the past but only Vaisakhi festival is held now where people from Gujranwala and its adjoining areas participate with fanfare.
This was the premier gurdwara of the town. Its central building is a three-storey imposing structure of cut brick work, which is topped with three chhatri-like structures covered with a large central gumbaz (dome) with smaller chhatris (dome-shaped pavilions) on either side. A rectangular hall adjoins it on the left side of the entry. A large sarovar, surrounded with low walls on two of its sides is set askew to the right of the central entry tower. At the rear of the complex there is a room topped with a particularly exquisite ribbed white lotus dome with a circumambulatory verandah. This room covers the pebbled area on which Guru Nanak was arrested.
Before Partition, Eminabad was known for its week-long Vaisakhi fair which included largely attended Sangat gatherings of the Sikhs in Gurdwara Sri Rori Sahib as well as the usual fun and a cattle fair. The multi storey building was set on fire by a mob righ at the time of partition on 15th August 1947. It is again renovated to original shape and Parkash takes place in this Gurdwara.
