The Sixth Guru of the Sikhs Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji fought four religious wars. With the Grace of the Almighty, he was successful in winning all the wars. The fourth and last war was won on 20th Harh, Bikrami Samvat 1691.
The cremation and last rites of the Sikh martyrs of this war was undertaken in the presence of Guru Sahib. The ashes of the martyrs were collected in an urn and the urn was hidden under the ground near a Pipal tree (ficus religiosa) in village Sangranwali, District Jalandhar. At the time of hiding the urn, Guru Sahib said, “The whereabouts of this urn will be revealed to the world by a Holy Hermit.”
The wood of this Pipal tree (Bo tree – Ficus religiosa) was very hard. The souls of the martyrs did not let anyone cut the branches of the tree. If someone came to pluck a leaf the martyrs strictly dealt with the person. The village folk considered the spot as Holy and therefore constructed a small room at the place in 1934 (Samvat 1991) and placed the Holy Book of Sri Guru Granth Sahib inside the room ceremoniously. People paid respects by touching the ground with their foreheads in front of the Holy Book. They prayed for forgiveness in case they had done something wrong.
Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj had many a times alighted from his horse at this place and tied the reins of his horse to the tree. The story about the tree and the incidents that happened with the people continued to travel from mouth to mouth, during the years.
The elders of the village once collected together and decided that a beautiful Gurdwara be constructed at the Holy place. A group of five members, one of whom was Sardar Sadhu Singh, the present President of the Gurdwara, came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan to request Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj for the laying of the foundation stone of the Gurdwara.
When the group requested Sant Baba ji, he replied, “Sardar ji! First of all, you and other people of the village are required to make your foundations strong.”
This meant that the elders of the village who were to be involved in the administrative and construction work of the Gurdwara should have strong foundations of Sikhism by being baptized Sikhs of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib ji.
With the inspiration of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji these persons became seekers of the ambrosial nectar and Sant Baba ji blessed them with the Amrit prepared in an iron bowl with the two edged sword.
On the request of his devotees, Sant Baba ji visited the spot where the Gurdwara was to be built. The Pipal tree’s roots had spread and were firmly established in the ground. Sant Baba ji said, “This Pipal tree be pulled out of the ground with its roots. You will find an invaluable treasure beneath it.”
On hearing these words, some of the villagers collected 30-35 persons from the village and immediately reached the spot to stop Sant Baba ji undertaking the uprooting work. The leader of this group said to Sant Baba ji that he and his group would not let Sant Baba ji or his devotees pull the tree from the ground.
Sant Baba ji said to the leader of this group, “Well! I had come here for the salvation of the Pipal tree. In case you people do not want this to happen, then I will go back.”
On listening to these words of the great Hermit, all of them were so moved that they had to ultimately request Sant Baba Gian Singh ji to carry on with the good work he had started.
At that time Sant Maharaj ji announced to all present, “This Pipal tree is hiding an invaluable treasure. Anyone who helps in cutting down the tree will become free from all kinds of bodily ailments.”
These words of Sant Maharaj ji spread like fire and all those suffering from different diseases came to the spot to participate in the felling of the tree.
In order to remove any doubt from the minds of the villagers, the first chop was made by Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ji Virakat, the senior most disciple of Sant Maharaj ji at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Thereafter the villagers were asked to fell the tree.
Although a month passed after the first chop, yet no one came forward thereafter to continue with the felling of the tree, in the absence of Sant Baba ji. Whatever bark had been chopped by Sant Baba ji remained there on the ground and the same was never removed from the spot.
After a month the sangat of the village visited Nirmal Kutiya Johalan for paying homage to Sant Maharaj ji.
Sant Maharaj ji asked them, “How much of the Pipal tree has been cut down?”
The elders’ informed Sant Baba ji, “No one goes near the tree as they are afraid something terrible might happen. No one is ready to take the responsibility of taking a contract for cutting the tree.”
Sant Maharaj ji advised, “This work has not to be given on contract. Instead the money to be paid to the contractor should be used during the construction of the Gurdwara. The work of the construction has to be undertaken by the sangat.”
Sant Maharaj ji then instructed the elders, “Perform Kirtan in the morning at the spot. After the Kirtan, Ardas be performed while everyone keeps the feet of Sri Guru Hargobind Singh Sahib in mind and seeks the permission for felling the tree. HUKAMNAMA from Sri Guru Granth Sahib should be recited and the work of felling started by baptized Sikhs only.”
Sangat agreed and obeyed the instructions of Sant Maharaj ji. At the time of starting the work, an unknown Sikh appeared at the place. He informed the sangat, “I was resting in the parikrama (Wide path on all four sides of the sanctum sanctorium) of the Gurdwara at Tarn Taran Sahib, when Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib appeared and ordered me to go to village Sangranwali and join the sangat for the work of felling the tree. I request you all to permit me to join you in this Holy work.”
Everyone was astonished to hear him and there was no stopping in his joining the others. The unknown Sikh had brought a saw with him. He cut the branches of the tree with his saw. After completing his work, he vanished. He did not eat or drink anything and left the site without anyone’s knowledge. Only the great Hermit knew about the whereabouts of the unknown Sikh.
Tarsem Singh of village Bhatolian repaired engines at Bhogpur. During those days he was not a baptized Sikh. He came forward on his own and hit the tree with an axe. The moment the axe touched the tree; he was overwhelmed and lost his mental balance.
Afterwards, he came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan but did not come as a seeker of the ambrosial nectar. While at the Kutiya he used to say, “My entire body is burning from within as well as outside.”
He was in this state for twenty years from 1975 to 1995. In 1995, he was baptized and became all right. Tarsem Singh is looking after the Gurdwara at the TAP-ASTHAN of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj at village Fatehpur Bhatolian.
The roots of the Pipal tree were so deep and strong that three tractors were used to dig them up. Below the roots, there were three urns and two Kirpans (small swords). The urns were opened and it was observed that they contained ashes. Sant Maharaj ji informed the devotees, “These ashes are of the Sikhs who attained martyrdom during the battles fought by Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib.”
The sangat bowed before the urns in reverence. Sant Maharaj ji then selected five Sikhs and instructed them to take the urns to Kirtatpur Sahib. The five Sikhs were asked to visit Nirmal Kutiya Johalan on their way back to the village.
As per the instructions of Sant Maharaj ji the urns were taken to Sri Kiratpur Sahib in a NAGAR KIRTAN (Procession). At PATALPURI, where the ashes were to be immersed, a tall well-built Nihang Sikh wearing white clothes received the group. He said to the group, “I have been waiting for these urns for many days. Please give the urns to me so that I may take them to the deep waters and immerse the ashes.”
The urns were handed over to the Nihang Sikh. He was seen by the sangat entering the flow of water but thereafter was not visible. The sangat on their way back narrated the event to Sant Maharaj ji at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
Sant Maharaj ji said, “He who was the owner, has taken control of his things.”
Sant Maharaj ji laid a foundation stone of a Gurdwara, at the site in the year 1975. The Gurdwara was constructed in the memory of the Sikh martyrs. At present people from all walks of life visit the beautiful Gurdwara. They are able to fulfill their wishes by praying at the Gurdwara. Akhand Paths are carried out regularly at the Gurdwara. Now a langar hall has also been constructed and the langar is available at all times of the day.
The Amavasya (moonless day or the new moon day) is celebrated at the Martyrs Gurdwara with great pomp and show when Kirtan and religious discourses are held. Many people throng the place on this day and pray for fulfillment of their wishes and those whose wishes have been fulfilled also join the gathering to pay homage to the Sikh martyrs.
The Gurdwara has now become a sacred place for the Sikhs. Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib made the village of Sagranwali Holy with his presence and it was the kindness of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji who revealed the Holy place to the public and laid the foundation stone of the Gurdwara.