Gurudwara Bhai Rupa Bathinda

The story behind the Gurudwara of Bhai Rupa which is about 18 kms north of Rampura Phul of Bhai Rupa village goes like this. Bhai Roop Chand and Bhai Sadhu who were devoted to Sixth Sikh Guru Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and served the Guru with Cold water from a leather bag and thus were subjected to the Guruji's blessings and Guruji laid the foundation of village Bhai Rupa in 1630 named after the devotees. Bhai Roop Chand was also blessed by Tenth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji, and ninth Guru Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur resulting in recital of many relics by the Guru Sahibs like Hukamnamas, A Rabab, Wooden shoes of fifth Sikh Guru Shri Guru Arjun Dev ji, a pair of Khadawan (shoes) of Mata Ganga ji (Guru Arjun Devji's wife), old Chuhlas, utensils and hand written literature some also signed by Guru Gobind Singh ji, a Rath (chariot), used by fourth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Ram Das ji, Guru Arjun Dev ji, and so on.

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The Gurudwara is attached to the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee, and the Bhai Rupa followers, maintain the same and a old Rath or Chariot is guarded, which has the history of having been brought from Dera Ram Raj - Dehra Dun by Bhai Gian Chang, who is the grandson of Bhai Rupa, also the same is said to have descended from Guru Arjan and his followers Guru Hargobind and Guru Har Raj used this. Also there are other versions that Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and Bhai Rupa went to harvest some crops and carried the goat skin water container, and hanged the same to the tree. Finding it to be too cold they offered the same to the Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and then took the water and again while working they became unconscious and Guru travelled through 30 kms to reach the place and both Bhai Rup Chandi and his father fell at his feet, and the Guru Sahib advised to relinquish this job and blessed them with sword and asked to spread Sikhism. Once you start the preaching job people will follow you was his instructions. Thus the Guru Sahib stayed for over 6 months and laid the foundation of the village and saw through the settlement. Bhai Rup Chandji was spreading the information related to Gurbani and his children Bhai Dharam ji and Bhai Param ji also converted as Guru Gobind Singh Ji's followers and till hazoor sahib they stayed with the Guru ji. Guru Sahib's demise news was brought by Dharam Singh and knowing this Bhai Rup Chandji also left for the heavens and the place of his demise is the current Bhai Ki Samadhi.

Bhai Ram Raj as conveyed to him by Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji visited Delhi and met Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb on the Rath Sahib and though he did this, did not bother on Gurbani. On knowing this Guru Sahib, advised Ram Rai ji and rejected him in all ways and Bhai Ram Rai ji went to Dehradun and spent there rest of his life and the Rath also was with him till his end and his wife Mata Punjab Kaur ji declared that whomsoever would take this Rath Sahib, without horse or Ox are allowed to do so and Bhai Dharam Singh ji brought the Rath to Dehradun by pulling the same himself.

There are various Bus Stands called Main Bus Stand, Harpal Khoker bus stand, Jalal Bus Stand and so on, to reach the place and there are frequent buses too to travel to this place which is a famous sacred shrine for Sikh community.

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