Goindwal (also spelled Goindval) is the site of a township and well constructed in the 16th century by Guru Amar Das. It is located on the banks of the River Beas. Originally a ferry landing which connected a popular East-West crossroads of the time. Goindwal became a Sikh center and the first Sikh pilgrimage site. Goindwal has more than a dozen spiritual points of interest and continues to be a popular destination of devotees who visit the important Sikh shrines of the Tarn Taran District in Punjab, India.
Founding of the Village Goindwal
Photo © [Jasleen Kaur]
A trader by name of Goinda hoped to establish a post at the ferry landing to take advantage of the traffic of the crossroads. He encountered a great many difficulties launching his venture. Fearing demonic interference, he asked Guru Angad Dev’s blessing on his project. Amar Das, a devoted disciple of Guru Angad, carried water every day from the ferry landing to the nearby village of Khadur where Guru Angad, and his followers resided. Guru Angad asked his faithful follower, Amar Das, to oversee the project. The guru gave Amar Das a staff with instructions that it should be used for the removal of any obstacles. Amar Das successfully helped to lay the foundation of a village became which came to be known as Goindwal after the trader, Goinda.
The Gurus and Goindwal
Photo © [Angel Originals]
Goinda had a special place built in Goindwal to honor Guru Angad Dev. The Guru requested Amar Das to make Goindwal his home. Amar Das slept in Goindwal nights. During the day he resumed his duties and carried water to Khadur for Guru Angad’s morning bath. Along the way Amar Das recited "Japji", the Sikh's morning prayer. He stayed in Khadur to hear the hymn of "Asa Di Var", a composition of Guru Angad, interspersed with hymns of Nanak. He then returned to Goindwal to fetch more water for the guru’s communal kitchen and carried it back to Khadur. Guru Angad Dev selected Amar Das as the most faithful of his Sikhs and appointed him to be his successor. When Amar Das became guru, he moved permanently to Goindwal with his family and followers.
Goindwal Baoli, the Well of Goindwal
Photo © [Jasleen Kaur]
Guru Amar Das had a baoli, or covered well, constructed in Goindwal to serve the needs of Sikhs and other visitors. The well spans about 25 feet or 8 meters. An arched access opens to a domed entrance decorated with frescoes depicting the life of Guru Amar Das. A divided underground staircase with 84 covered steps descends beneath the earth to its sacred waters. One side of the staircase is for the use of women and the other for men. Each step is thought to represent 100,000 life forms of a possible 8.4 million existences. Many devotees visiting Baoli Sahib recite the hymn of "Japji" on each step. They descend to bathe, perform ablution, and return to the next step, performing 84 recitations in hopes of being liberated from transmigration.
