Ramdaspur

The City of Amritsar (literally "pool of nectar") was originally called Ramdaspur (Guru Ram Das's city) and Chakk Ramdas, or Chakk Guru, or simply Guru Ka Chakk. The habitation was started by Bhai Jetha (the future Guru Ram Das) when Guru Amar Das asked him to establish a new colony of Sikhs.

Guru Nanak's Visit

At that time there was no habitation nearby Ramdaspur. A few kilometers away were the villages of Sultanwind, Tung, Chattiwind and Khaparkheri. Guru Amar Das knew that Guru Nanak stayed at the bank of the small natural lake and the berry trees. Guru Nanak rested at night and in the early morning throughout the day, sang Gurbani (kirtan).

Guru Nanak sang of his thirst only for the nectar of the God's Name, to be engrossed in devotion to Waheguru. After staying near the pond for sometime, Guru Nanak then travelled towards the west. Bhai Jetha was tasked with finding the location that Guru Nanak had visited. Bhai Jetha searched, and found an open uninhabited tract of country some twenty-five miles from Goindwal, and there he established himself.

Santokhsar Sarovar

Bhai Jetha built a house for his residence and then with Sikhs and a crowd of labourers began to excavate the earth for the construction of a sarovar (tank or pool of water). This first sarovar was not Amritsar, it was Santokhsar. When Bhai Jetha began the work on digging Santokhsar sarovar, he found a yogi, meditating nearby.

After sometime the yogi opened his eyes and told Bhai Jetha that he had been meditating here for a long time, waiting for a Guru to give him salvation. He disclosed his name as Santakha and then breathed his last. The sarovar was then named as Santokhsar however Bhai Jetha was not sure the location of Santokhsar was the correct site that Guru Nanak had visited.

Return To Goindwal

After some time, when a portion of the work was accomplished and several people had built huts for themselves on the new site, Bhai Jetha, suffering from the pain of separation from the Guru, returned to Goindwal to report the extent of the work he had performed.

Guru Amar Das asked Bhai Jetha to return and begin again. This led Bhai Jetha to discovery of the Dukh Bhanjani Beri and the site of Guru Nanak's visit, Santokhsar remained half dug. However, Ramdaspur continued to thrive as more and more Sikhs and settlers arrived.

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  Gurdwara Sri Tahli Sahib Amritsar

  Hall Gate, Amritsar City, Punjab, India.

  Associated with Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, Sri Guru Arjan Sahib Ji.

  Gurdwara Sri Tahli Sahib Amritsar is often called Gurdwara Santokhsar Sahib. However, Santokhsar is the name of the sarovar here.

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