Gurudwara Sri Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadur Sahib, Gurdas Nangal

This Gurdwara is situated at a distance of 11 Km from Dina Nagar Railway Station and 7 km West of Gurdaspur City on Dinanagar-Narot Jaimal Singh road in Village Gurdas Nangal. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was born in 1670 at Village Rajouri in Poonchh region of Jammu and Kashmir State in the house of Shri Ramdev Bhardwaj. His childhood name was Lachhman Das. When he was 15 Years of age, a pregnant Doe was accidentally killed by an arrow of Baba Ji. He was so moved by that sad incident that he left his house and became a disciple of Bairagi Sadhu, Janki Das. That Sadhu changed his name to Madho Das. He travelled with sadhus at various places and finally reached a place near Nanded (in Maharashtra) on the banks of River Godavari. He made a hut to reside and meditate. He was 38 Years of age at that time and was 4 Years Younger to Tenth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. When Guru Gobind Singh reached Nanded, he blessed Madho Das with Amrit and changed his name to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Guru Ji installed Baba Ji as chief of Khalsa Army and sent him to Punjab in 1708 with 5 Sikhs ( Panj Piyare) Bhai Kahan Singh Ji , Bhai Binod Singh Ji , Bhai Baaz Singh Ji , Bhai Daya Singh Ji , Bhai Rann Singh Ji and few other Sikhs. Guru Ji blessed Baba Ji with five arrows and one Nagara (a drum). When Baba Ji was on his way, Guru Gobind Singh Ji left for his heavenly abode. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur reached near Delhi, he had an army of 40000 with him. The Khalsa Army conquered Sonepat and kaithal. In 1709 he conquered Samana, Mustafabad, Kapoori, Sadhora, Banur and reached near Chappar Chiri to attack Sirhind. Subedar of Sirhind, Wazir Khan, attacked Khalsa Army but was defeated and Sirhind was completely destroyed by the Sikhs. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur established Independent Kingdom and made Mukhlis Garh as his Capital, he named it Lohgarh. He issued coins in the name of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Sikhs conquered most of the areas of Punjab. They conquered Saharanpur, Jalalabad, Naneta and Malerkotla. In 1715, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur conquered Kalanaur and Batala. On 27 April, 1715 Abdul Mohammad Khan with Mughal forces surrounded Baba Ji and Khalsa Army in an old fortress at Gurdas Nangal. This continued for 8 Months. The Sikhs fought bravely but fell short of eatables and other arms and ammunition. At that time Bhai Binod Singh also left fortress with many Sikhs. Finally on December 7, 1715 Mughal army conquered the fortress and captured Baba Ji with 800 Sikhs. They were brought to Lahore and then sent to Delhi in the form of a procession. Many cartloads of heads of Sikhs were sent. Baba Ji was put in iron chains and locked inside an iron cage which was placed on the back of an elephant. This procession reached Delhi on February 17, 1716. On March 5, 1716 the killing of the Sikh prisoners was started. Everyday 100 Sikhs were put to death. This cotinued for 7 Days. Nothing was done for 3 Months after that. On June 9, 1716 Baba Ji with his selected Sikhs was brought at Qutab Minar. He was made to sit on ground and asked to choose among conversion to Islam or death. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur preferred martyrdom. Baba Ji's son, Ajay Singh who was 4 Years old was killed in front of his eyes, his heart was taken out and put into the mouth of Baba Ji. His son was cut into small pieces, a garland was made which was offered to Baba Ji. But Baba Ji did not change his decision. Thereafter, Mughal Emperor Farkhsear ordered to pull out eyes of Baba Ji , then to cut his feet and then to cut his hands. Finally Baba Ji won martyrdom. All other Sikhs who were captured with Baba Ji also won martyrdom. The Gurdwara Theh Garhi Baba Banda Singh Bahadur is also known as Gurdwara Bhai Duni Chand Haveli and is in the memory of all those Sikhs who won martyrdom fighting against the atrocities of Mughals. Gurudwara Sri Banda Singh ji Bahadur Sahib is situated in the Village gurDas nangal teh pathankot of Gurdaspur district. Banda Singh Bahadur was born in a minhas rajput family, at rajouri in the jammu region of jammu and kashmir. His childhood name was lachman Dev. Baba ji used to practise wrestling, horseback riding, and hunting in childhood. Once Baba ji shot a doe and was shocked to watch the mother and her aborted fawn writhing in pain and dying. After this gloomy scene, he had a change of heart. Baba ji left his home and became a disciple of a bairagi Sadhu, janaki Das, who gave him the name, madho Das. In the company of the Sadhu he traveled through northern india and finally arrived at nanded (in present-day maharashtra), situated on the bank of the river godavari, where he built a hut to meditate upon. When Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji came to the deccan along with the mughal emperor, Bahadur shah he came here to madho Das� hut. Madho Das was away. He had learnt tantra and was locally famous for his occult powers. He attempted to conjure his magic to humiliate Guru Sahib, but his magic would not prevail on Guru Sahib. Defeated he fell at the Guru Sahib's feet Guru Sahib asked him "who are you?". Madho Das replied "i am Banda". Guru Sahib asked "whose Banda?". Madho Das replied "your's". Guru Sahib soon gave Banda the title of Bahadur. Banda was baptized and converted into the sikh fold. Guru Sahib gave him five arrows and sent him to Punjab to fight against the mughals. He is popularly known as "Banda bahadhur" Baba Banda Singh ji Bahadur reached Punjab concouring samana, sadhaura, and chapar chidi. Finally Baba Banda Singh ji concoured sirhind. There was sikh raj established after that. After six years Baba ji and his army was sorrounded by mughal army at gurDas-nangal garhi. Baba ji and soldiers were sorrounded for about 8 months, all the eatables and other necessary aminities were finished. Baba ji and all his men were arrested here and taken to Delhi..