In Machhiwara lived Nihala Khatri with his elderly mother, Mata Gurdei. She would often say: “O son Nihala, the Tenth Master, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, will surely fulfil my wish. I am now old and cannot even rise from my bed. That All-Knowing Guru Himself will create a way for me. Before I leave this world, I long deeply for the blessed vision of Maharaj.” Nihala and other family members would try to convince her: “Mother, don’t say such things. Don’t you know that Anandpur Sahib is surrounded by the Hindu hill-kings of the Shivalik and the Mughal armies for seven months? In such conditions, how could Maharaj possibly come for a darshan?” But Mata Gurdei replied with firm faith: “Son Nihala, if the Lord of Miri-Piri, the Sixth Master Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji could go all the way to Kashmir to give darshan to Mata Bhag Bhari, then Maharaj will certainly fulfil the devotion of this poor servant as well.” Time passed. Mata Gurdei, holding firm faith, would spin cotton thread while remembering Guru Sahib and thinking — “I will stitch a robe from this very thread and offer it to Maharaj.” Her nine sons and daughters would mock her — thinking she had lost her senses. On the night of 8 December, year 1704, Sardar Bhai Panja and Bhai Gulaba knocked on Nihala’s door. Nihala was shocked — “To my poor house—what order do you bring?” Bhai Panja Ji said: “Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the Tenth Master, has arrived in Machhiwara — and He is remembering Mata Gurdei.” Hearing this, Nihala’s eyes filled with tears. Crying loudly — “Dhan Guru! Dhan Guru! Blessed is the Guru!” He rushed to his mother, held her feet and asked forgiveness — “Mother, forgive me. Your devotion has become fruitful.” Kalgi-Dhari Paatshah, merciful Guru, truly had arrived in Machhiwara. Though Mata could not even rise from her bed — by the Guru’s divine grace, she suddenly was able to sit and stand and began preparing to go. Bhai Panja Ji added: “Maharaj has commanded that the roll of cloth spun by Mata must be brought.” That very cloth was later dyed blue by Nabi Khan and Gani Khan, and wearing that robe the Guru was seen as the great “Peer of Uchh” — a divine disguise that saved Him. In the sacred biography of the true Guru, countless such miraculous events are found.
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