Guru Nanak and the Boulder (Panja Sahib)

During his travels, Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his companion Bhai Mardana arrived at Hasan Abdal. They camped at the foot of a hill. At the top of the hill lived a Muslim saint named Wali Qandhari, who controlled the only spring of fresh water in the area.

Bhai Mardana was terribly thirsty, so Guru Nanak sent him up the hill to ask Wali Qandhari for some water. Wali Qandhari, arrogant of his status, refused. 'If your master is so great,' he mocked, 'let him produce his own water.'

Mardana returned exhausted and parched. Guru Nanak smiled calmly. He instructed Mardana to lift a small stone nearby. As Mardana moved the stone, a crystal-clear spring of cool water gushed from the earth.

Simultaneously, Wali Qandhari's spring at the top of the hill dried up completely. Enraged and blinded by ego, Wali Qandhari looked down and saw Guru Nanak sitting peacefully by the new spring. Using all his strength, the furious ascetic pushed a massive, building-sized boulder down the steep hill, intending to crush the Guru.

Bhai Mardana screamed in terror as the mountain of rock thundered toward them. Guru Nanak remained perfectly still. As the boulder reached him, the Guru simply raised his right hand.

The massive rock stopped instantly against his palm, leaving a deep impression of his hand (Panja) permanently embedded in the solid stone. Wali Qandhari rushed down, his arrogance shattered, and fell at the Guru's feet, realizing that true power lies in peace, not aggression.