Gurdwara Baoli Sahib,Village Nanakmata/GURUDWARA SHRI BAOLI SAHIB
GURUDWARA SHRI BAOLI SAHIB is situated in Nanakmata, Distt Udham Singh Nagar, Uttrakhand. GURUDWARA SHRI BAOLI SAHIB is situated on the back side of GURUDWARA SHRI NANAKMATA SAHIB. When sidhs dried up the rivers and well’s of the area and there was no water available there. SHRI GURU NANAK DEV JI They then challenged GURU SAHIB to bring water here. SHRI GURU NANAK DEV JI instructed Bhai Mardana to pick up a spade and go to the nearby river. He told Bhai Mardana to drag the river behind him with the spade GURU SAHIB also instructed Bhai Mardana ji not to look back weather river is coming or not. Bhai Mardana did as instructed and the river started to follow him as he dragged his spade over the ground. When he reached this place, Bhai Mardana looked back to see if the river was really coming behind him. Immediately, the river stopped following him and stopped at this place. When Bhai Mardan ji reached GURU SAHIB, GURU SAHIB asked Bhai Sahib where is the River, Bhai Mardana ji replied, GURU SAHIB, i doubted that was River really coming behind him, so i looked back, and river stopped there. Then GURU SAHIB asked the yogis to use their occult powers and move the river further. However much they tried, the yogis could not do so. They realized their fault and fell at the feet of the GURU SAHIB, accepting their defeat. A baoli was constructed here thereafter.
Nanakmatta is a historic town in the state of Uttarakhand named after Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji after his visit here in 1514. Previously, it was known as Gorakhmata as the followers of Gorakhnath were staying here.
Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji also visited Nanakmatta.
There are 8 Historic Sikh Gurdwaras at Nanakmatta.
Gurdwara Sri Nanak Matta Sahib
When Guru Nanak first arrived, the yogis received him with great courtesy and invited Guru Nanak to adopt their cult, wear their garb and join them as a yogi.
Guru Nanak explained to them that a life of seclusion, which does not help their fellow beings, was worthless.
Guru Nanak sat near the present location of the Gurdwara meditating under a Pipal tree (sacred fig or Ficus religiosa tree). The yogis were surprised to see him there as this place was quite inaccessible, especially during the winter months. The weather being cold, Bhai Mardana asked the yogis for help creating a fire. However, they refused to help Bhai Mardana. The yogis, instead, taunted him and told him that he should go and ask his Guru.
At this, Guru Nanak looked at a pile of firewood nearby and it instantly ignited. Bhai Mardana was thus able to keep warm and enjoy the fire. Suddenly, the weather changed for the worse and it began to rain. As a result, the fires lit by the yogis were extinguished but the one lit by Guru Ji was not affected at all.
The yogis realized their mistake and fell at the feet of the Guru. The next morning, they all gathered together and came to Guru Ji for a religious discussion. They again used their occult powers and tried to lift the pipal tree under which Guru Ji was sitting out of the ground. When the tree had risen by a few feet, Guru Ji simply placed his hand on it and it stopped rising.
The same tree can be seen in the Gurdwara compound. Guru Ji explained to the yogis the path of true meditation and salvation. The yogis learnt from the Guru and gained valuable knowledge (‘Matt’). This place then came to be known as ‘Nanak Mata’ and became a major centre of the udasi.
