Gurudwara Bhandara Sahib, NanakMata

Gurdwara Bhandara Sahib is associated with the first Guru, Guru Nanak Dev ji who came here during his Third Udasi or travel in 1514 A.D. The yogis who inhabited this place demanded a variety of foods from Guru ji. On the instructions of Guru Sahib, Bhai Mardana climbed up a banyan tree and vigorously shook its branches. To the amazement of the yogis, a variety of foods fell down from the branches of the tree and satisfied the hunger of the yogis and Bhai Mardana. Since the gurdwara is located very close to the main Gurdwara NanakMata Sahib, it has limited resources of its own. Gurudwara Bhandara Sahib is situated in NanakMata, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. It is situated on the left side of Gurudwara NanakMata Sahib (If we are facing Gurudwara Sahib). When Guru Nanak Dev ji gave preachings of "KIRAT KARO-NAM JAPO-WAND CHHAKO" Yogis gave Guru Sahib a sesame seed and asked them to serve everyone and fullfill his preaching of "WAND SHAKO". Guru Sahib understood there game and asked Bhai Mardana ji to grind it and mix in milk and serve everyone. After everyone (Yogis) had drank milk Guru Sahib asked them that who had not got the sesame seed please let me know. Yogis got shamed on this. The yogis who inhabited this place demanded a variety of foods from Guru Nanak Dev ji . On the instructions of Guru Nanak Dev ji, Bhai Mardana ji climbed up a banyan tree and shook its branches. To the amazement of the yogis, a variety of foods fell down from the branches of the tree and satisfied the hunger of the yogis. The yogis did not want the local people to become educated enough to challenge their superiority. By using fake mystical powers, they successfully exploited the poor people and took advantage of their good nature and ignorance. Guru Nanak encouraged the yogis to share. However, the yogis decide to test Guru Nanak. They gave Guru Nanak a seasame seed and asked him to share it with everyone present. Guru Nanak asked Bhai Mardana to grind the seasame seed into some milk and gave the milk to everyone to drink. Then, Guru Nanak asked if everyone had received their share. The yogis were speechless. The yogis demanded a variety of foods from Guru Ji. On the instructions of Guru Sahib, Bhai Mardana climbed up a banyan tree and vigorously shook its branches. To the amazement of the yogis, a variety of foods fell down from the branches of the tree and satisfied the hunger of the yogis and Bhai Mardana. The yogis at first behaved contemptuously towards the Guru and tried to overawe him with their occult powers. But as he remained undaunted and unaffected by their rudeness and miracle-making they agreed to talk to him. Guru Nanak impressed upon them the impropriety and unrighteousness of their path of renunciation, and exhorted them to live a pious yet active life of a God-oriented man of the world. Bhandara - meaning free food for all those who come to the place and demand it. Location
Gurdwara Bhandara Sahib is located in the town of Nanak Mata, district Udham Singh Nagar near Gurdwara Nanak Mata Sahib