Gurdwara Sri Bher Sahib Sialkot
About Gurdwara Sri Bher Sahib Sialkot
Bher is a tree under which he meditated and that is why it is called Gurdwara Sri Bher Sahib. Hazrat Hamza Ghaus was a well-known Pir in Sialkot. A man named Ganga (local trader) promised him to give their first son to him if he prays for them. This was third child born but the family refused to offer child. Hazrat Hamza Ghaus had flown into a rage and made a vow to meditate for 40 days and at the completion of his meditation the whole city would be doomed.
Hearing this Guru Nanak sat down under a Bher tree close to the place where Hazrat Hamza was meditating and loudly sang his Gurbani. It disturbed the meditation of Hamza Ji, who came to Guru Nanak and angrily asked who he was and why he wanted to save the lying villagers. Guru Ji replied “Hamza, you are not supposed to punish a whole city for the misconduct of a single person.” Hamza Ji was not satisfied.
Guru Ji then explained to him that there were many souls. In the city who understood the purpose of life. Guru Ji replied “Hamza, you are not supposed to punish a whole city for the misconduct of a single person.” Hamza Ji was not satisfied. Guru Ji then explained to him that there were many souls. In the city who understood the purpose of life. Guru Ji gave two paisas to Bhai Mardana to buy “falsehood” and “truth” from the market. Some people ridiculed Mardana Ji but there was a Karar (a hindu) named Maula who took two paisas and wrote two chits. On one chit he wrote, “Life is bitter” while on the other chit he wrote, “Death is truth”. Bhai Mardana presented both the chits to Guru Nanak. Guru Ji handed over the two pieces of paper to Hamza Ghaus Ji who after reading the same, pardoned the residents of Sialkot. At the same time a big hole on his rooftop of meditation occurred that astonished Hamza Ghaus realized that instead of dooming the whole region his own place has been damaged. So the city was saved with the prayers of Guru Nanak.
Maula Karar remained with Guru Nanak for some time during his travels. According to Guru’s biographies, once Guru Ji went to fetch Maula Karar. Maula Karar, at the instance of his wife, hid himself inside the dark portion of his house and his wife told Guru Ji that he was not at home. Guru Ji came back and a little later it was learnt that Maula Karar had died of snake bite in the darkness.
The site where Guru Nanak Ji stayed is still called “Baba Ber”. A beautiful, grand Gurdwara had been built at the site. The Ber tree under which Guru Ji had stayed is still present. A few years back, the grave of a muslim fakir had been constructed under the tree.
Shaheed Natha Singh Ji had built this beautiful Gurdwara with great love and affection. Gian Singh Ji wrote his “History of Khalsa” while staying with the Mahant of this Gurdwara. The Shaheed Ganj of Shaheed Natha Singh is within the boundary of the Gurdwara. A big well was also constructed by him inside this Gurdwara.
A beautiful sarovar was also there. An estate worth Rs 8000 belonging to Natha Singh Ji is now in the name of Gurdwara, which included a garden, a pool and residential rooms. This sacred place is now back to its lost glory. A beautiful Gurdwara has been now renovated and Parkash takes place over here
