How 9th Sikh Guru and 'makhan' shaped this hamlet’s identity in Punjab

Amritsar’s countryside houses many locations rich in sacred Sikh memories.

One such place is the historic Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, located at Makhanwindi village on the Amritsar-Mehta road.

The site is revered as the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, once stayed here. The brief halt has shaped the identity of the village itself.

According to local lore, Guru Tegh Bahadur once travelled from Amritsar to the Valla Sahib area. From there, he continued his journey, stopping near what is today known as the village of Makhanwindi.

At that time, the settlement had no proper name.

During the division of agricultural land here, each portion of land was commonly called a ‘chak’ — so, the region, too, was known by that name.

When the elderly women of the village heard that Guru Tegh Bahadur had arrived, overjoyed, they went out of their way to serve the revered Guru, bringing him bowls full of fresh homemade ‘makhan’ (butter), which were offered to the Guru as a gesture of devotion and respect.

Pleased with their affection, the Guru, it is believed, asked the women what the village was called.

They replied that the place had no formal name, and people only referred to it as ‘chak’.

Impressed by the heartfelt service and the butter offered to him, the Guru blessed the village with its current name.

He proclaimed that, from that day onwards, the village would be known as Makhanwindi. (The word ‘makhan’ means butter, while ‘windi’ refers a small village).

Over time, the name Makhanwindi became the identity of the settlement.

The exact place where Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib stopped and meditated now houses a large gurdwara. The shrine includes a sarovar, langar hall and rooms for accommodation, serving as a place of worship and spiritual reflection for visitors.

The development and upkeep of the historic gurdwara was carried out under the guidance of two revered saints, Sant Baba Hazara Singh and Sant Baba Ajaib Singh, both remembered with deep respect for their dedication to ‘seva’ (service).

Today, Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib at Makhanwindi continues to preserve the spiritual heritage of the Guru’s visit, serving also as testimony to the power of service and gratitude.