Lakhi Jungle was a jungle found on the outskirts of the Punjab region, found west of Bathinda, encompassing modern-day Ferozepur, Dipalpur, Bahawalpur and Pakpattan. Later on, the jungle would be used by Sikhs to seek refuge from the Mughals and Durranis, enabling them to use guerrilla tactics to ambush the enemy. During the British era, the jungle was deforested to create farmlands for the locals.
The site of Gurudwara Lakhi Jungle is near the city of Bathinda. The gurudwara said to be visited by four gurus: Guru Nanak, Guru Hargobind, Guru Har Rai and Guru Gobind Singh. According to the gurudwara’s folklore, Guru Nanak recited Japji Sahib lakhs of times here, hence the name ‘Lakhi Jungle'. It is said whoever bathes in the sarovar of the gurudwara on the day of puranmashi (full moon day) and recites Japji Sahib will be blessed.
Guru Hargobind stopped by this gurudwara whilst on the way to Lahore and encountered Chandu Shah, a culprit in the martyrdom of Guru Arjan, and tied him to a tree, which still exists on the premises. Guru Har Rai also visited but not much is known about the visit. In 1705, Guru Gobind Singh visited Bhai Soma and blessed him and set up the third kavi darbar (court of the poets). The shabad, Lakhi Jungle Khalsa, is believed to be composed here by Guru Gobind Singh.
The Lakhi Jungle darbar
Guru Gobind Singh was a large patron of arts and literature, creating three kavi darbars across Northern India: Paonta, Anandpur Sahib and lastly, Lakhi Jungle. Alongside translation of Sanskrit and Persian works, poetry was also being composed by the court poets. According to Piara Singh Padam’s Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji De Darbari Rattan:
ਅਨੰਦਪੁਰ-ਤਿਆਗ ਬਾਦ ਜੇ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਗੁੰਜਾਰਾਂ, ਢਾਡੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਾਰਾਂ ਤੈ ਕਵੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਕਾਵਿ ਫੁਹਾਰਾਂ ਪਈਆਂ ਤਾਂ ਇਹ ਮਾਲਵੇ ਦਾ ਲੱਖੀ ਜੰਗਲ ਸੀ । ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਨੇ ਇਥੇ ਹੀ ਉਚੀ ‘ਸੱਦ’ ਉਚਾਰੀ - ‘ਸੁਣ ਕੈ ਸੱਦੁ ਮਾਹੀ ਦਾ ਮੇਹੀਂ, ਪਾਣੀ ਘਾਹੁ ਮੁਤੋ ਨੇ॥ ਕਿਸੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਨ ਰਲੀਆ ਕਾਈ, ਕੇਹਂ ਸ਼ਊਕ ਪਯੋ ਨੇ॥ ਗਇਆ ਫਿਰਾਕ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਮਿਤ ਮਾਹੀ, ਤਾਂਹੀ ਸ਼ੁਕਰ ਕੀਤੋ ਨੇ’।
After relinquishing Anandpur, if the sound of the kirtan, the ballads of the dhadis and the fountain of the poets were heard, it was found in the Lakhi Jungle of Malwa. Guru Sahib uttered poetry here - [Shabad of Lakhi Jungle Khalsa]
Mughal administration
As per Mughal administration, Lakhi Jungle was a separate district in the subah of Multan. It contained the cities of Ferozepur, Dipalpur, Pakpattan and Fazilka; stretching from the central portion of the Bari Doab to the Jungle Bar. This district Lakhi Jungle was found in the ‘Birun-i-Panjnad’, literally translating to the area outside of Punjab.
Although there are no records of Lakhi Jungle from the time of Akbar, Sujan Rai’s Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh provides a description on the Lakhi Jungle tract, written during the reign of Aurangzeb. Abdul Hamid Lahori’s Badshahnama also records an appointment to the faujdari of Lakhi Jungle, during the reign of Shah Jahan.
It is clear from the revenue records that the deeper parts of Lakhi Jungle, around Pakpattan, were used as imperial Mughal hunting grounds with cheetahs. The areas towards Dipalpur were used for growing wheat and jowar whereas Ferozepur was used for growing sugar.