Gurudwara Sri Mata Sunder Kaur Ji, Bajwara

This Gurdwara is situated at a distance of 4 Km from Hoshiarpur Railway Station in town Bajwara on Hoshiarpur-Garhshankar Road. At this place Mata Sunder Kaur Ji (wife of Tenth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji) was born. Her Mother's name was Mata Shiv Devi Ji. In 1684, Mata Sunder Kaur Ji got married with Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji (the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji) and Guru Gobind Singh Ji also visited this place. Gurdwara Sri Mata Sunder Kaur Bajwara is also known as Gurdwara Janam Asthan Mata Sunder Kaur as this was where Mata Sundri was born. Mata Sunder Kaur, also known as Mata Sundri and as Mata Jito, was Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's wife. Mata Jito, the daughter of Bhai Ram Saran, was married to Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur on 4th April 1684. The father-in-law had desired that the bridegroom should come at the head of a marriage party to Lahore where the ceremony should be performed with due dignity. The fateful events leading to the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur intervened, and in the changed circumstances it was not possible for the young Guru to go to Lahore. Therefore a temporary encampment was raised near the village of Basantgarh, 10 km north of Anandpur, and named Guru Ka Lahore where the nuptials were held on 23 Har 1734 Bikarmi/ 21st June 1684. Mata Jito Ji became Mata Sundri Ji after marriage as was the custom in Punjabi families. On 30th March 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa at Anandpur. He declared that this Khalsa will be both Saints as well as Soldiers. When Gobind Singh was preparing amrit (nectar) for initiating the Khalsa, on this occasion, stirring clean water in an iron bowl with a khanda or double-edged sword, Mata Sundri Ji, as the tradition goes, came with Patasha (sugar crystals). The Patasha were dropped into the vessel at the Guru's bidding. Sweetness was thus added to the alchemy of steel. Mata Sundri Ji was the first Khalsa Woman. Four sons were born to Mata Sundri, Baba Ajit Singh, Baba Jujhar Singh (14 March 1691), Baba Zorawar Singh (17 November 1696) and Baba Fateh Singh (25 February 1699). Mata Sundri Ji raised her four sons on the martyrdom tales of their grandfather Guru Tegh Bahadur and great great grandfather Sri Guru Arjan Sahib Ji. She told them a Sikh never runs from a battle field. Mata Murgai the descendant of Mata Sundri took care of this place. She died after 125 years transferring the property and land to Tarna Dal in 1960. Baba Harbhajan SIngh did parkash of Guru Granth Sahib at this place. Now Baba Nihal Singh has taken responsibility for the Gurdwara Sahib. It is likely that the historic building you see in the pictures will be replaced by a marble and concrete structure.