Sultanpur Lodhi to Makhdoom Pur Pahoran: 313km

The name Sajjan means “The Noble One.” In the town of Tulamba, a lively crossroads now known as Makhdoom Pur Pahoran in Pakistan, lived a man who seemed to embody that title. He ran a guest house where travellers found shelter, free meals, and warm hospitality, complete with both a temple and a mosque for prayer.

However, Sajjan’s name belied a sinister reality that he kept hidden, the facade only revealing itself when guests retired to sleep. An insatiable desire for wealth and ego drove Sajjan to steal valuables from guests, and he had no hesitation to kill if it served his needs. Noble in name but Thug in deeds.

Sajjan Thug’s life changed with the arrival of Guru Nanak and his companion Bhai Mardana. Having failed to convince his guests to retire early for the evening, Sajjan Thug instead found himself seated whilst Guru Nanak prepared to sing; unaware that the deception behind his pious veneer was already known to the Guru.  As Mardana’s rabab filled the air with haunting melodies, each verse sung by Guru Nanak effortlessly peeled away layers of corruption that had stained Sajjan Thug’s soul.

The ethereal words of Guru Nanak’s Shabad awoke within Sajjan Thug a desire to embody the true meaning of his name. The change in Sajjan was miraculous and serves as a reminder that no soul is beyond redemption. Inner consciousness, when awakened through divine grace, can transform even the most corrupt heart into a beacon of virtue and service.