(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

When the 10th Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Rai Sahib Ji (Guru Gobind Singh Ji) was returning to the city of Sri Anandpur Sahib after winning the battle of Bhangani (near Paunta Sahib), he reached Raipur.

Raja Fateh Singh was the ruler of Raipur. Frightened Raja closed down doors of his fort. When Guru Ji came to know this, he advanced towards village ‘Manak Tabra’ and stayed there.

Later, when the Rani (Queen) of Raipur (wife of Raja Fateh Singh) came to know that his husband did not allow Guru Ji to stay there in Raipur, she went towards Manak Tabra. The Rani (Queen) met with Guru Ji and put her head on his holy feet. She requested him to visit Raipur. She said she wanted her son to be blessed by the Guru.

When Guru Ji saw her devotion, he along with his Sikhs visited Raipur. Guru Ji and Sikhs stayed in Queen’s garden. (Now that garden does not exist). Rani (Queen) made every arrangement to serve the Guru, women in Guru’s family and Sikhs.

Next day, she requested Guru Gobind Rai Sahib Ji to visit the fort. Guru Ji along with Bhai Dya Ram Purohit Ji, Bhai Mahari Chand Ji, Bhai Ganga Ram Ji, Bhai Gulab Chand Ji, Bhai Nand Chand Ji and a few other Sikhs reached the fort. Rani (Queen) received Guru Ji on the main door of. She touched his son’s head to Guru Ji’s feet.

Guru Ji entered the fort. Rani (Queen) placed a sandal ‘Chowki’ under a tree and Guru Ji sat on this sandal chowki. She served the Guru with tasty food etc.

According to ‘Twareekh Guru Khalsa’ written by Giani Gian Singh, the Rani (Queen) wished that if Guru Ji was really the son of Akal Purakh, he would emerge as Lord Vishnu. Guru Ji appeared as Lord Vishnu and thus Queen’s wish was fulfilled by the inner-knower Guru.

Rani (Queen) gave a horse and lots of cash as her offering to Guru Ji. She gave clothes and dresses to women of Guru’s house. The kindhearted Guru Ji gave a sword and a shield to her son and a ‘Pothi’ (book) of Gurbani to Rani (Queen). Guru Ji asked them to pay respect to the ‘Pothi’ and Guru’s weapons.

By Guru Ji’s words, Raipur became famous as ‘Rani Ka Raipur’ or ‘Raipur Rani’ (Raipur of Queen).

Rani (Queen) constructed a platform where Guru Ji sat on a sandal chowki under a tree. The historic tree and the platform still exist. A small room is constructed on this holy platform.

I visited the historic fort of Raipur Rani for many times. (On different occasions, my students and team members Gurpreet Singh Sandy, Gurpreet Singh Raju, Yadwinder Singh, Jatinder Singh JD, Sarjit Singh, Harpreet Singh and Bhupinder Singh etc joined me). I feel delighted and blessed when I touch my sinful head to the holy platform, the very place, where my beloved Guru once sat and fulfilled wishes of the lucky Rani (Queen) (though we do not know her name). A small room of this fort is now a Gurdwara. The main room is still unchanged, though a small verandah is constructed recently.

The original fort of Raipur Rani still exists. No modifications have been made. The historic tree is still standing there, reciting the name of my Guru. I touch this tree and feel blessed, because my Guru once sat under it. The platform (where Queen placed the sandal chowki and where my Guru sat and accepted food offered by the lucky Queen) is able to make us cry in ‘Vismaad’.

The decedents of Rani (Queen) and Raja Fateh Singh live in Chandigarh. They still own the fort, thus the holy place where Guru Ji sat is their personal property. There is no restrictions and everyone can visit and pay respect to Guru Ji.

AmritWorld.com and its members are sentimentally very much attached with this Guru’s place. We very humbly make appeal to everyone to visit this place at least once. The major part of fort, Gurdwara Sahib, platform and the historic tree are still unchanged and exist as they were during my Guru’s visit. Who knows what will happen if this place is given to any ‘Kar Seva’ people???

Raipur Rani is situated on Chandigarh-Nahan Road (Ramgarh-Narayangarh Road) in Haryana state in India.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Guru Gobind Rai Ji (old name of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, also Guru Gobind Das) won the battle of Bhangani in 1688. When he, along with many Sikhs was returning to the city of Sri Anandpur Sahib Ji, he reached near a small village of Toka.

Gurdwara Toka Sahib Ji

The majority of residents of village Toka were ‘Rangharhs’. They were thieves. They got a chance and entered the camp of Guru Gobind Rai Ji’s army. They managed to take two camels with them.

When the Sikh soldiers did not find two camels, they informed Guru Gobind Rai Ji. Guru Ji called ‘Rangharhs’ of the village and enquired about camels. ‘Rangharhs’ said they did not take any camel. They said, “Other thieves must have stolen your camels. We have not seen your camels”.

They then went back to their village.

There was/is another village, named ‘Laaha’ at some distance. Majority of its residents were poor people. Guru Ji called them to his camp and asked to go to Rangharhs’ village as beggars.

A resident of village ‘Laaha’ went to village ‘Toka’ as if he was a beggar. He found both of camels of Guru Ji there in the village. He came back to Guru Ji and informed that camels were tied there in the village of ‘Toka’.

Now, Guru Ji called ‘Rangharhs’ of village ‘Toka’ again. ‘Rangharhs’ were now frightened because their crime was highlighted and proved. They apologized to Guru Ji.

Guru Ji said, “The residents of village ‘Laaha’ will always get ‘Laaha’ (profit) and residents of ‘Toka’ will face ‘Tota’ (loss)”.

Guru Ji planted a few trees there. A tree of mango still exists and reminds the holy Guru, who once visited here and purified this land.

The Historic Mango Tree

A beautiful Gurdwara is built there in the holy memory of Guru Gobind Rai Sahib Ji. The Gurdwara Sahib is known as ‘Gurdwara Toka Sahib’. Another Gurdwara is built where Guru Ji used to meditate in a solitary and peaceful place near the main Gurdwara Sahib.

Two Sikh soldiers who were wounded in the battle of Bhangani, died here. A small building of a Gurdwara is built as their memorial on the bank of ‘Sarovar’ (pond).

I had the chance to visit Gurdwara Toka Sahib twice along with my team. First I visited with my team members S. Surjit Singh, Gurpreet Singh ‘Sandy’and Yadwinder Singh. During my second visit, Gurpreet Singh ‘Raju’, Gurpreet Singh ‘Sandy’, Harpreet Singh, Jatinder Singh ‘JD’, Rachhpal Singh and Monu accompanied me.

There is no population near Gurdwara Sahib, so this place is very peaceful. The village of ‘Toka’ still exists. Because the Gurdwara is built on village Toka’s land, it is named as ‘Gurdwara Toka Sahib’.

The ‘Guru Ka Langar’ (community kitchen) is available.

Another Gurdwara is built where Guru Sahib used to meditate. It is situated on a peak of nearby small hill.

The historic Mango tree planted by Guru Ji is still there. When we visited there, it was the season of mangoes. We felt blessed when we tasted the ‘Achaari Amb’ (mangoes used to make pickle).

The Gurdwara Toka Sahib is situated in present Himachal Pradesh state of India. It is situated on the border of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. A road connects Toka Sahib with the city of Narayangarh (Haryana).

We also visited the village ‘Laaha’. It is situated on Narayangarh-Raipur Rani road. A Gurdwara (Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha) is built there in the village. Local residents believe that Guru Gobind Rai Sahib visited the village. They say that horses of the Guru’s army were given water from the village’s well. The well still exists. Sikh families are in good number in the village. Many of its residents are settled abroad. One must visit this village of ‘Laaha’ to see how the word of Guru Sahib is proven true.

Manak Tabra is a village near old town of Raipur Rani in the state of Haryana, India.

Guru Gobind Rai Ji (old name of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, also Guru Gobind Das) won the battle of Bhangani in 1688. When he, along with many Sikhs was returning to the city of Sri Anandpur Sahib Ji, he reached Manak Tabra via Laharhgarh and Toka Sahib. In those days, village Manak Tabra was a part of a small state of Ramgarh.

When the local ruler learnt that Guru Gobind Rai Ji had come in Manak Tabra, he visited the Guru and presented a horse, a sword and lots of cash. The pleased Guru gave his ‘Pesh-Kabaz’ (a weapon) to the local ruler and said that his descendents would rule until they keep the ‘Pesh-Kabaz’ with a respectful manner.

In Manak Tabra, Guru Gobind Singh stayed for two nights, where people of nearby villages served and got blessed by the holy Guru. From here, Guru Ji left for Raipur of Rani (Queen’s Raipur).

A Gurdwara is built in the holy memory of the holy Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Presently this Gurdwara is known as ‘Gurdwara Manak Tabra Sahib, Patshaahi 10’. Previously it was known as ‘Gurdwara Sri Guruaana Sahib’. A local management committee takes care of Gurdwara’s affairs. Arrangements for ‘Guru Ka Langar’ (community kitchen) are made.

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• Gurdwara Patshahi 10, Quila of Raipur Rani
• Gurdwara Sri Manak Tabra Sahib
• Gurdwara Sri Toka Sahib