Gurudwara Kirpan Bhenta Sahib – Machiwara

This Gurdwara is situated at a distance of 2 Km from Gurdwara Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan in town Machhiwara.

When Tenth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was moving out of town Machhiwara in the guise of ‘Uchch Da Pir’ with Bhai Ghani Khan, Bhai Nabi Khan and three Sikhs, the Mughal forces stopped their Palaquin at this place. Dilawar Khan, the commander of Mughal forces wanted to check the identity of the ‘Uchch Da Pir’. They were given food to eat which they took after offering it to the Holy Kirpan (a small sword) while reciting ‘Tav Parsad Abarm Ka Nas’.

As Gani Khan, Nabi Khan, Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh and Bhai Mani Singh carried Guru Gobind Singh out of Machhiwara, after about 2 km, they were stopped by the mughal army at the location of Gurdwara Sri Kirpan Bhenta Sahib.

Dilavar Khan, the mughal general, was suspicious and asked the party to stop and share food with him as a simple test. Gani Khan excused the Guru by saying Uch Da Peer was on a fast. Not wanting to draw suspicion the Guru provided a small kirpan to his Sikhs to turn the mughal food into parshad (holy food). As Uch Da Peer, Guru Ji unearthed a natural spring of water which is now marked by a well at this site. Dilavar Khan was so impressed he gifted 500 mohars and an expensive shawl to Guru Ji. In turn, Guru Sahib awarded the money to Gani Khan and Nabi Khan.

It was here that the tradition of dipping the kirpan upon doing the Ardas was started by Guru Gobind Singh. Under the difficult situation while under the concerted efforts of the mughals to hunt down the Guru by any means it became impossible for the Sikhs to have the luxury of preparing langar in the traditional manner. Normally much time could be spent and the Guru would bless the food first before the congregation. Hence, to make the process quicker and easier, before the meal was consumed, the ardas was done in the normal way to thank the Almighty. Towards the end of the ardas, the kirpan was dipped into the food as a symbol of offering to the Lord before the whole of the congregation consumed the meal.