KOṬHĀ GURŪ, famous old village of the Punjab, announces its antiquity through the existence on its outskirts of a deserted ancient mound. This bulbous mountain of sand dominates the entire skyline of the village concealing within its folds many a layer of distant history. Once upon a time this sprawling old mound was the seat of the Māns, still called in those parts by their old name of "Manhās."

         The modern period of the village begins with the acquisition of the village site from the Mughal emperor Jahāṅgīr by Bābā Prithī Chand of the line of the Soḍhīs. The earlier name of Koṭhe Prithī Chand Ke was changed to Koṭha Gurū by Gurū Gobind Siṅgh.

         The story is also current about the Mughal official Sulhī Khān who met with a painful death in a burning fire. He had allowed his horse to run loose over the half-burnt bricks of a kiln. The fact is attested by a line in the Gurū Granth Sāhib itself (GG, 825) .

         In the time of Bābā Prithī Chand's, son Miharbān, the place became a centre of learning and many weighty manuscripts emanated from here. Among them were the Goṣṭs of the Bhagats and Bhagat Bāṇī Paramārtha and Pothī Such Khaṇḍ which is a Janam Sākhī or life-story of Gurū Nānak. Miharbān's son and his younger brother wrote commentaries on the sacred texts.

         Soḍhī Ahhay Siṅgh who lived in Koṭhā Gurū wrote his monumental Harjas Granth. Soḍhī Faujdār Siṅgh was another charismatic character. He had been allowed by the Mahārājā of Paṭiālā to keep with him as a special privilege a body of 100 horsemen. In the Siṅgh Sabhā days, Paṇḍit Indar Siṅgh of Koṭhā Gurū became famous for his learned commentary on an old Sanskrit text "Aushnash Simrti."