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Gurdwara Nanak Piao is associated with the first Guru Sri
Nanak Dev. The great Guru visited Delhi in June 1505 or
thereabout. He camped on the outskirts of Delhi in a garden now situated
on the Grand Trunk Road outside old Subzimandi. Exact location of this
garden is on Rana Pratap Road beyond Gurmandi, adjoining State Bank
colony. A grand building of the gurudwara to commemorate the visit of the
holy Guru who graced this place about 500 years ago in the reign of Sultan
Sikander Shah Lodhi, now stands over here.
People of Delhi used to flock in large numbers to pay homage to the great
prophet who delivered sermons in music and poetry. They not only began to
worship Guru Nanak and brought precious offerings for him but also
bestowed countless gifts to his bard Mardana. The Guru distributed all the
offerings, he received, among the poor and needy. Here the Guru served
water to the thirsty and food to hungry. The well, from which he served
water is still well maintained and fully protected.
According to Sikh traditions any and every place visited by the Guru
becomes a hallowed place. Consequently, Gurdwara Nanak Piao attained a
status of holy shrine. Guru, was an apostle of peace, brotherhood,
non-violence and amity and his sermons created very healthy impact on the
people who bowed before him for his spiritual attainments. In fact, the
garden became a place of pilgrimage for the people from where they got the
message of deliverance. Legend Of Gurudwara Nanak Piao
A story goes that during his stay in Delhi Guru Nanak by his grace
revived a dead elephant, Emperor Sikander Shah Lodhi came to know that a
holy man had won the admiration of all the Hindu and Muslim divines of
Delhi and had brought a dead elephant to life. It is said that when one of
the royal elephants died he sent for the Guru and requested him to revive
his elephant too. But the Guru refused to oblige him.
Consequently, the Guru was immediately imprisoned. In the prison his deep
compassion for the suffering of prisoners had a great moral and spiritual
influence on the prison officials. They informed the Emperor that Guru
Nanak was not an idolator and that as a saint he was greatly respected
both by Hindus and Muslims.
A strange thing happened during the imprisonment of Guru Nanak. A great
earthquake shook the capital on July 3, 1505. According to a chronicler "the
mountains were overturned and lofty edifices were dashed to the ground.
The living thought the day of judgement had come and for dead the day of
resurrection".
Many thought that the new Faqir Nanak who had been imprisoned by the
Emperor had cursed the King and the empire. This or some other equally
strong influence like the intervention of the Chisti Sufi saints changed
the mind of Emperor and he ordered the release of the Guru Nanak and at
his request many other prisoners.