Gurdwara in Kanech, Guru’s blessings & a lesson in morality

Gurdwara Manji Sahib Patshai Dasvi in Kanech village is a place known for divine miracles, blessings of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru, and a lesson in morality imparted ages ago. The gurdwara is believed to be sanctified by the feet and divine words of the tenth Guru.

It is said that the Guru, dressed as ‘Ucch Da Peer’, left the jungles of Machhiwara along with Dya Singh, Dharam Singh, Maan Singh, Gani Khan and Nabi Khan. He crossed Katana Sahib and Rampur to reach Kanech on December 27, 1704. As news of the Guru’s arrival spread, the villagers gathered to seek his blessings and serve him and his companions.

According to the locals’ beliefs, Phatta Chaudhary, a villager, came to offer greetings to the Guru at the time and insisted on being assigned seva of some sort.

The Guru asked him to gift his horse to help the fight against the Mughals. However, Phatta was too attached to his horse and lied that it had been taken away by his son-in-law. In turn, Phatta brought a young colt to offer to the Guru. To test Phatta’s resolve, the Guru said he did not need the colt and asked him to again to get the horse, which Phatta refused. On returning home, Phatta found his horse bitten by a snake. It is believed that the very snake bit Phatta later, leading to his instant demise.

The story is treated as a moral lesson about the consequences of deceit and disrespecting the Guru.

It is believed the villagers had to pay a heavy price for Phatta’s actions, and that as no horse survived for long in the village.

“In 1997, the historic nagar kirtan of Mastuana Sahib arrived in the village and the villagers requested the panj pyaras for help in getting rid of the curse. They asked them to offer a horse at Hazoor Sahib in Nanded, which they did. The Guru heard the prayers our horses now live long. We even hold horse races now,” said a villager.

“A historic well also exists there. The water was bitter till the Guru turned it sweet with his blessings,” the villager added.

“However, it is sad that the gurdwara is visited only by a few. Apart from the efforts by the villagers to popularise this place, it is the duty of the religious bodies and the state government to make the historical and spiritual significance of the place known. The promotion part should be looked into in a way that no soul, who travels from Sahnewal to Doraha or vice versa, should pass without a halt at the village,” said another Kanech resident.