Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Visit to Assam
During his third Udasi (1514–1518 CE), Guru Nanak Dev ji traveled to Dhubri, a significant cultural and spiritual center. Here, he is believed to have met Srimanta Sankardeva, the pioneer of Assam’s Neo-Vaishnavite movement. Their meeting marked a confluence of two great spiritual traditions—Sikhism and Neo-Vaishnavism—emphasizing devotion to one formless God, social equality, and the rejection of rituals.
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Both saints shared a deep commitment to Bhakti (devotion), using music and poetry as mediums of spiritual expression. Sankardeva’s Borgeets (devotional songs) and Ankiya Naat (one-act plays) parallel Guru Nanak Dev ji’s use of hymns (Shabads) in spreading divine wisdom. Their discourse likely addressed social reforms, caste discrimination, and the importance of community service.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji's Arrival
After assuming the Guruship in 1664, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji embarked on a journey, retracing Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s path to the East. Leaving his family in Patna, he traveled through Kaithal, Dacca (Dhaka), and Chittagong, reviving Sikh congregations. In early 1669, amid rising tensions between the Mughal and Ahom forces, Raja Ram Singh of Amber, who was commissioned by Aurangzeb to recapture Guwahati, met Guru Sahib in Patna and invited him to Assam to mediate peace.
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Guru Ji reached Dhubri in February 1669, where he camped at a site previously visited by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Meanwhile, Raja Ram Singh advanced with his forces towards Rangamati Fort, a Mughal outpost. The Ahoms, employed guerrilla tactics, using their knowledge of the terrain to resist the massive Mughal army.
The Stone and
the Pipal
Fearing the Mughal forces, Ahom magicians attempted to use tantric rituals against Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji’s camp. When their efforts proved ineffective, they resorted to physical attacks, with a dhoban (washer woman) witch launching a massive stone and a pipal tree towards Guru Ji’s encampment—both of which miraculously caused no harm. The stone struck the ground with such force that nearly half of its length became embedded in the earth, where it remains to this day. The pipal tree, halted by Guru Ji’s presence, still stands within the premises of Gurudwara Dhubri Sahib, elevated 32 feet above the ground. Recognizing the futility of their actions, the magicians sought Guru Ji’s forgiveness, and he reassured them of his commitment to mediating peace between the Mughals and the Ahoms.
Building The
Mound Of Peace
As promised, Guru Ji mediated peace talks between the warring sides, advocating for mutual respect and co-existence. Ultimately, a treaty was established, ensuring that pre-war territorial boundaries remained intact and averting further bloodshed.
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To honor Guru Ji’s peace efforts, soldiers from both armies collaborated to construct the "Mound of Peace" using red earth carried in their shields, at the very site where Guru Nanak Dev Ji had once rested with his disciples. In recognition of his role as a peacemaker, the Ahom king honored Guru Ji at the Kamakhya Temple before his departure for Bengal. Though the peace was temporary, as future conflicts between the Ahoms and Mughals continued, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s presence in Assam remains a defining moment in history, reinforcing Sikh influence in the region and symbolizing the power of dialogue over war.
Historic Milestones
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