Gurdwara Shri Chilla Sahib: Sirsa shrine where Guru Nanak meditated blends history & faith
According to local tradition, Guru Nanak Dev spent four months and 13 days in Sirsa and practiced meditation for 40 days
Sirsa, the westernmost district of Haryana bordering Rajasthan and Punjab, is known across India for its strong cultural and religious harmony. The land is often considered sacred, blessed by saints and mystics. Among them was Sikhism’s first Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, who stayed in Sirsa for more than four months during his travels.
According to local tradition, Guru Nanak Dev spent four months and 13 days in Sirsa and undertook intense meditation for 40 days. The place where he meditated is now known as Gurdwara Shri Chilla Sahib, a major religious site on Rania Road that attracts devotees from India and abroad. Every year, large gatherings are held here on Gurpurab, drawing thousands of pilgrims.
Surendra Singh Vaidwala, chairman of the Guru Nanak Public School run on the gurdwara campus, said that Guru Nanak Dev undertook four major spiritual journeys, known as “udasis,” during his lifetime. During the first and second udasis, he visited parts of present-day Haryana. In the first udasi, he travelled through Kurukshetra, Karnal, Jind and Kaithal. During the second, he came from Bathinda to Sirsa and then moved on to Bikaner in Rajasthan.
Vaidwala said Guru Nanak Dev reached Sirsa in Vikram Samvat 1567 during his second udasi. At that time, a gathering of Muslim fakirs was taking place in the area. Guru Nanak’s appearance was unusual: he wore wooden sandals, had a tilak on his forehead, and had a rope tied around his head. Curious fakirs gathered around him. At Guru Nanak’s request, his companion Bhai Mardana played the rabab, drawing further attention.
Two well-known fakirs, Pir Bahawal and Khwaja Abdul Shakur, who claimed to possess healing powers through charms and amulets, came to meet him. As Guru Nanak spoke about remembering God at all times, Pir Bahawal asked whether he was Hindu or Muslim. Guru Nanak replied that he was neither, but a servant of God.
A spiritual challenge followed. The fakirs invited Guru Nanak to meditate with them for 40 days without food, surviving only on a grain of barley and a sip of water each day. The fakirs kept water with them, but Guru Nanak did not. After 40 days, the fakirs emerged weak and unrecognisable, while Guru Nanak appeared radiant. Moved by this, they bowed before him.
Today, Gurdwara Chilla Sahib is not only a place of worship but also a centre of social service. Along with the school, a charitable hospital run by the gurdwara provides healthcare services. On special occasions, devotees organise blood donation camps, tree plantation drives and community meals.
The gurdwara is currently managed by Baba Jagtar Singh of the Kar Sewa. He said that every Sunday, Sukhmani Sahib prayers draw between 5,000 and 10,000 devotees. The large langar hall can serve food to more than 1,00,000 people during annual events. Meals are prepared using traditional methods, with wood-fired stoves and large copper vessels, continuing a long-standing tradition of selfless service inspired by Guru Nanak’s teachings.
