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<p class="C1">&#65279PAÑJOKHAR&#256, a village about 10 km from Amb&#257l&#257 city (30º -23'N, 76º- 47'E), is sacred to Gur&#363 Har Krishan. Gurdw&#257r&#257 Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Har Krishan S&#257hib J&#299, about 150 metres east of the village and commonly called Gurdw&#257r&#257 Pañjokhar&#257 S&#257hib, commemorates his stay here in early 1664. Summoned by Emperor Aura&#7749gz&#299b, the Gur&#363 had left K&#299ratpur for Delhi on Basant Pañcham&#299 (the fifth day of the light half of the lunar month of M&#257gh ) of Samvat 1720 Bikram&#299, corresponding to 22 January 1664. A large number of Sikhs accompanied the Gur&#363 and many more joined them on the way. They all wished to travel with him to Delhi. As they reached Pañjokhar&#257 on the third day, Gur&#363 Har Krishan raised with his own hands a small flag on a sandy mound and asked his Sikhs not to follow him beyond the line of the flag. The Sikhs obeyed and stayed back with a heavy heart.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	A learned but self-conceited Br&#257hma&#7751 of Pa&#7749jokhar&#257, L&#257l Chand alias L&#257lj&#299 Pa&#7751&#7693it, came to see the Gur&#363 and spoke with derision : "It is said that you sit on the <i>gadd&#299</i> of Gur&#363 N&#257nak. But what do you know of the old religious books?" Chhajj&#363, the illiterate, dark skinned village water carrier, happened to pass by at that moment. Gur&#363 Har Krishan had him called in. As Chhajj&#363 came, the Gur&#363 asked him to explain to the Pa&#7751&#7693it the gist of the <i>Bhagavad-gita</i>. The illiterate villager astonished everyone by his cogent commentary on the sacred book. L&#257lj&#299 was humbled and he fell at the Master's feet.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	A small memorial was established to mark the site where the Gur&#363 had stayed. It was later replaced by a <i>gurdw&#257r&#257</i>. The present sanctum is a square double storeyed domed structure with circumambulation galleries at both floors. The sacred pool within an enclosure, is on the left of the main building, and the complex containing Gur&#363 k&#257 La&#7749gar and rooms for pilgrims is on the right side of it. The large refectory adjoining the La&#7749gar was added in 1977. The Gurdw&#257r&#257 is managed by the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak  Committee through a local committee. A large number of devotees from Amb&#257l&#257 and the neighbouring villages attend Sunday morning <i>d&#299v&#257ns</i> and partake of the community meal. An annual fair is held on M&#257gh  <i>sud&#299</i> 7, 8, and 9 (January-February) to mark the days on which Gur&#363 Har Krishan was in Pañjokhar&#257 during his visit in 1664.</p>
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BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Gi&#257n Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Tw&#257r&#299<u>kh</u> Gurdu&#257ri&#257&#7749</i>. Amritsar, n.d.<BR>
<li class="C1"> Narotam, T&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh, <i>Sr&#299 Gur&#363 T&#299rath Sa&#7749grahi</i>. Kankhal, 1975<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">Major Gurmukh Si&#7749gh (Retd.)<br></p><BR>
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