Gurdwara Sri Guriaana Sahib

Location - Vallah, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Associated with - Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

Sikh Artifacts - unknown

Sarovar - None

Sarai - unknown

Vallah is a village 7 km east of Amritsar in the Amritsar district of the State of Punjab.

There are 2 Historic Sikh Gurdwaras in and near Vallah.

Gurdwara Sri Guriaana Sahib

When Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji visited Sri Harmandir Sahib after becoming Guru, the masands (caretakers) denied Guru Ji entry.

Hari Ji Sodhi, Prithi Chand's grandson was the caretaker at that time and he had heard what happened with Dhir Mal at Baba Bakala.

Guru Tegh Bahadur sat outside Sri Harmandir Sahib for some time and departed saying, 'The masands of Amritsar are burning with the fire of ambition.'

Rather than take action, Guru Tegh Bahadur, humbly, left and arrived at the site of Gurdwara Sri Guriaana Sahib on the outskirts of Vallah.

Gurdwara Sri Guriaana Sahib marks the site where Guru Tegh Bahadur dismounted his horse and sat under a Pipal tree. The Vallah village Sangat led by a devout old lady, Mai Haro, came to offer their respect. At the Sangats request, Guru Tegh Bahadur stayed at Mai Haro's house in the village.

Back at Amritsar, when Bhai Makhan Shah heard what had happened he confronted the masands and chided and scolded them for their behaviour. Later, Bhai Makhan Shah joined Guru Tegh Bahadur at Vallah.

Gurdwara Sri Kotha Sahib

Gurdwara Sri Kotha Sahib marks the site where Mai Haro lived in a kacha (mud) house and where Guru Tegh Bahadur stayed for 17 days.

When the Sangat of Amritsar heard how the masands had treated Guru Tegh Bahadur, they felt distressed. On behalf of the Sangat, a group of ladies came to Vallah to atone for what the masands had done. Guru Tegh Bahadur blessed them saying, 'Maiari rabb Rajaian' (Upon women may rest God's favour)."

The Sangat from Amritsar pleaded with Guru Ji to go back with them and run Sri Harmandir Sahib. But Guru Tegh Bahadur refused to adopt the behaviour of the masands and turn religion into a business.

The present building was built after the old one was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1905. The Gurdwara comprises of a hall with a square sanctum in the middle of it. There is a domed room above the sanctum and residential accommodation to the right of the central building as one enters. Guru ka Langar is at the back.

Three and half acres of land is named to be the property of the Gurdwara with some property that was acquired by the Punjab Government for the construction of the live-stock market and the Focal Point. The Gurdwara is managed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee through a local committee. A largely attended fair is held on the full moon day of the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February).