Guru Nanak is the founder of the Sikh faith and lived from 1469-1539. He made 4 Udayans( Travels) to the known world, which are well documented. He also visited Baghdad and Mecca and latest research poitns out that he may have visited Istanbul as well, as a stupa with his inscription is found there.

The life of Guru Nanak is related by his companion Bhai Bala, who composed the Janam Sakhi's or life of the Guru.Many wonderous miracles are recounted by Bhai Bala, but quite a few of them appear implausable like the Guru travelling in the heavens to the Moon and stars. But some of the tales are factual and borne out by evidence available. One such tale regarding a miracle of the great Guru is  at Hasanbal, about 70 km from Rawalpindi . The place is commomorated by a gurudwara, that has great historical significance. The Pakistan government maintains the gurudwara through the Pakistan Gurudwara  Prabandhak  Committee ( PGPC).

GuruNanak is supposed to have visited this place in early 16th century with his companions Bhai Bala and Mardana. Bhai Bala was a Hindu and Mardana a Muslim. Guru Nanak sat down under a tree close to a small hill that rose up. The hill is still there. It so transpired that Mardana felt thirsty and asked what to do.

The Guru told him to go up the hill and meet the owner a man named Wali Shah  and ask for water, as a small spring flowed there. Mardana went thrice, but each time the Wali refused him water and finally told him that in case his Guru  was so strong he could arrange water himself. A thirsty Mardana came back and related the conversation to the Guru.

Legend tells us that Guru Nanak held up his hand and the the spring which was up the hill began to flow down. Soon the spring up the hill was empty. This infuriated  Wali Shah who hurled a big boulder at Nanak from up the hill. As the boulder hurtled down, Bala and Mardana were worried, but the guru just held his hand and stopped the massive boulder. it was nothing short of a miracle. 

Wali Shah now realized that he was in the company of a great saint. He came down and fell at the feet of the Guru. He looked at the boulder and found that the Guru's hand been imprinted on it. He was in awe and announced that the Guru was god himself.

The boulder and the print of Nanak's hand is still visible as well as the small spring that flows through. A massive gurudwara is also built on the spot and called Panja Sahib. Every year there are 2 big Akhand Paths held there and Sikhs from all over the world come there. All credit to the Pakistan government that maintains this holiest of Sikh shrines.

My father has been to this gurudwara and has confirmed that the boulder with the imprint of Guru Nanak's hand is very much there. It's a wonder and one realizes that Guru Nanak was a great apostle of god. The Gurudwara is maintained by Sikhs and many of them live around it.


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