THE WITNESS OF SUHAVA SAHIB

SAHVA, a village in Churu district of Rajasthan, 40 km southwest of Bhadra (29010N, 75"15`E), is referred to as Suheva in SIKH chronicles and is popularly called “SUHAVA SAHIB”. GURU GOBIND SINGH JI, while traveling from the Punjab to the South in October November 1706 arrived here from Nohar via Surpur along the old cartroad which still exists, established his camp near the eastern bank of a pond. Param Singh and Dharam Singh, sons of Bhai Rup Chand, used to make the Guru`s bed at every stage of the journey. Not finding a suitable cot here, they improvised a bedstead with tree branches and wild grass. They were blessed by the Guru for their service and devotion. Near the Guru`s camp there stood an old “jand” tree through which had sprouted a “pipal”. Guru Sahib remarked THAT AS THE THIS PIPAL TREE OVERGREW THE ROUGH, THORNY JAND, THE KHALSA WOULD PROSPER AND COME TO RULE THE WORLD. At present only the old pipal tree stands, only a little spot of jand is left out. A platform was constructed on the spot consecrated by the Guru`s stay, and was looked after by a local devotee, Daulat Ram, and his descendants till 1873 when a Sikh, Ram Singh, settled here as a permanent Granthi. The Maharaja of Patiala sanctioned a jagir in 1882, which continued till 1951. The cornerstone for the present building was laid on the 1st of Baisakh 1942 Bk/ 11 April 1885. In 1966 Baba Baghel Singh, a karsevavale activist acquired it from Mahant Harnam Singh (d.7 May 1976).