Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji came to the village Bodal from Kartarpur spreading the message of Sikhi.

There was a dense forest of Garna (Capparis horrida) trees at the time. When Guru Hargobind was crossing the forest some dried garna caught in Guru Ji's clothes.

Guru Hargobind asked his accompanying Sikhs to bury the garna and blessed it. Guru Hargobind said that just as the garna had stopped him, it would stop the problems of others in future. Guru Hargobind continued towards the village of Mukerian.

When Guru Hargobind returned to Bodal during a second trip there was a fully grown Garna tree. Guru Hargobind sat and rested under the tree. Bhai Chuhar, a muslim bard of the village, entertained Guru Hargobind by playing on his rebeck. Guru Hargobind encouraged him to learn and perform kirtan and gave him a rabab. Afterwards, Guru Hargobind continued on his journey.

Bodal was a village of muslims whose ancestors where hindus. The owner of the surrounding land ordered the forest to be cut down. The historic Garna tree was also cut but on the following day the Garna tree stood as tall as it was the day before.

The muslim ordered the tree to be cut again however on the following day the Garna tree still stood tall. When, on the third day, he asked for it to be cut again there was akash bani that the tree will remain for centuries and nothing would stop it from surviving. The muslim was distraught, he left the village and moved elsewhere.

Gurdwara Sri Garna Sahib Bodal was first established during the time of Sardar Jodh Singh (d. 1816), leader of the Ramgarhia misi, in whose territory the village of Bodal was in. Later, Bhai Ishar Singh Ramgarhia of Takipur, a village 6 km northeast of Bodal, constructed the present marble floored octagonal domed room with the sanctum in the middle and a covered passage around it for circumambulation. The old garna tree still stands close to it.

Further additions to the building have been made during recent times. An imposing three storeyed gateway came up in 1972; a spacious mosaic floored diwan hall was constructed in 1980; and a new dining hall was added to Guru ka Langar in 1984. The Gurdwara is administered by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee through a local committee. Besides the daily services and celebration of major Sikh anniversaries, a religious fair is held on the occasion of Vaisakhi (mid April) every year.