The marriage of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Mata Ganga Ji was no ordinary event—it became a legendary moment in history. When the wedding invitation arrived at the Guru’s home, it carried an unusual request: the villagers expected a grand procession fit for kings, with wealthy nobles and powerful leaders in attendance. But Guru Ji had a different vision.
On the day of the wedding, the procession was indeed magnificent—but not in the way the villagers had imagined. There were no lavish garments or extravagant displays. Instead, Guru Ji arrived dressed simply, accompanied by revered saints and Gursikhs like Baba Shri Chand Ji, Baba Buddha Ji, Baba Gurdas Ji, Bhai Behlo Ji, and Bhai Shalo Ji. To the villagers, this spiritual gathering seemed underwhelming, even insulting. “This isn’t a king’s procession,” they scoffed. “It’s just a group of saints!”
Determined to humiliate the Guru, they devised a test: they presented what appeared to be an iron fort—actually a deeply rooted juniper tree carved to look like metal—and declared that no marriage could proceed unless the groom uprooted it. Unshaken, Guru Arjan Dev Ji accepted the challenge. Mounted on his horse, he struck the “fort” with his spear, tearing it from the ground with such force that the tree’s roots came loose—but the impact also took the life of his horse.
With divine authority, Guru Ji proclaimed, “Just as this fort has been uprooted, so too shall the roots of these nine villages be.” The stunned villagers realized their grave mistake. They rushed to seek forgiveness, offering their full support for the marriage.
In time, Guru Ji’s words proved true. The villages faced destruction, forcing the people to abandon their homes. Thus, what began as an attempt to shame the Guru became a testament to his spiritual power—and a wedding ceremony unlike any other. Sat Shri Akal.
