Sikh pilgrimages
Patna is one of the holiest cities in Sikhism, as the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, was born here in 1666 and spent his early years before moving to Anandpur. Patna was also honoured by visits from Guru Nanak in 1509 as well as Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1666.
- Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb is one of the Five Takhts of Sikhism. The Gurdwara at Patna Sahib is in remembrance of the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.
- Gurdwara Pahila Bara, commonly known
as Gurdwara Ghai Ghat, is dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev, who during his
visit to Patna stayed here in 1509 A.D. Guru Tegh Bahadur along with his
family visited this place in 1666 A.D.
- Gurdwara Gobind Ghat is where the child Guru Gobind Singh used to play with his playmates on the bank of the Ganges. It is situated on the bank of river Ganges and hardly 200 yards from Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb. It is also known as Gurdwara Kangan Ghat.
- Gurdwara Guru ka Bagh - This Gurdwara is situated 2 miles away from the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh.
- Gurdwara Bal Leela
- This place is just a few meters away from Takhat Patna Sahib. Guru ji
were playing with other children during his childhood. Gurdwara Bal
Leela is also known as Maini Sangat.
- Gurdwara Handi Sahib - This Gurdwara was built in the memory of Guru Teg Bahadur, as he with Mata Gujri and Bala Preetam stayed here in 1728
| Patna Sahib is a
very ancient, eventful historic town of India. Now the capital of Bihar,
it can rightly be proud of its glorious past, more so because of the
birthplace of Sri Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru of Sikh religion. According to historians almost two thousand years after Lord Buddha, Guru Nanak visited Patliputra, during his first journey to the East, in the beginning of Sixteenth century. There were 64 gates and 670 towers protected by moat and wooden walls. Guru Nanak entered Patna through the western gate and stayed at Bhagat Jaitamal's House now Gurudwara Gai Ghat. Salis Rai Johri a middle aged Jeweler of Patna City was influenced by the divine personality of Guru Nanak, through his follower Mardana, requested Guruji to sanctify his home. Salis Rai Johri was also a man of religious and poetical bent of mind. |
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| Due to his true devotion Guru Nanak accepted his request and stayed for about four months at Salis Rai's house. A congregational center was established and people of locality used to attend it daily in the morning and evening. At the time of Guru Nanak's departure, Salis Rai Johri's trustee servant Adhraka by name was appointed as head of this congregational center with the purpose to continue the propagation of Guru Nanak's mission. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru of Sikh religion, along with his family members started a preaching tour to the East. In the beginning of 1666 A.D. he reached Patna and stayed at Jaitamal's house where Guru Nanak had made a center. The fourth successor of Salis Rai Johri's Sangat (Center) namely Ghanshyam the great grandson of Adhraka was also ambitious to get blessing from the ninth successor of Guru Nanak. When he heard of Guru Tegh Bahadur's visit to Patna, he brought Guru's family in a procession from Jaitamal's House to Salis Rai Johri's sangat. (Now the birthplace of Sri Guru Gobind Singh called Takhat Sri Harmandirji). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When Guru Tegh Bahadur arrived at Allahabad, with the will of God, the spirit and light of Guru Gobind Singh had descended and manifested itself in mother's womb. Mata Gujri had conceived this great son of God namely (Guru) Gobind Singh. Guru Tegh Bahadur while leaving his family at Patna proceeded on tour to Assam and Bengal. All types of facilities were provided to Guru's family by the local devotees of Patna. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna Paus Sudi 7, Sambat
1723 corresponding to 23rd December 1666 A.D. (Guru) Gobind Singh also
mentioned the name of Patna in his autobiography (Bachitra Natak). It was there that my light had appeared I was born at Patna city. This holy birthplace Patna is renamed Patna Sahib keeping in view its sanctity. It is the second sacred throne (seat authority) out of five. This holy birthplace is not only unique to the Sikhs but also Bethlehem to the Christian, Mecca to the Muslims, Kashi to the Hindus and Vaishali to the Jains. Gobind Rai spent about six and half years of his childhood here in Patna. According to the chronicles Hindu devotee Pandit Shiv Dutt and Rahim Bux, Nawab of Patna Pir Arifudin and Syed Bhikham Shah became his earliest admirers.
Gurudwara
Patna Sahib is regarded as the centre for propagating Sikhism in the
east. As history would have it, Takht Sri Patna Sahib is the second
accepted and acknowledged Takht of the Sikhs.
It was 'Sher-e-Punjab' Maharaja Ranjit Singh who, first of all, undertook the task of raising a monumental Sikh Temple at this place. As a result of an earthquake, the celestial edifice came to be a heap of dust. With the co-operation of the Sikh masses, the golden fabric, as it stands today, has come into its own.
Some
relics of the tenth Guru are also preserved in
Patna Sahib. Among them is a pangura (cradle) with four stands covered
with Golden plates. Guruji during his childhood used to sleep in this
cradle. Moreover, four iron arrows, sacred sword of the Master and a
pair of his sandals are also preserved. Hukamnamas of Guru Gobind Singh
and Guru Tegh Bahadur contained in a book are also kept in this holy
Gurudwara.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Six Years In Patna.
Guru Tegh Bahadur traveled through Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Delhi, Agra,
Etawah, Kanpur, Allahabad, Banaras, Sasaram, Gaya, and then reached
Patna in the mid of 1666 AD.
He mostly traveled on the lines of Guru Nanak and visited the congregational centers, which had been already established by Guru Nanak. (Founder of Sikh religion) On the departure of Guru Nanak from Patna it was requested by his followers for his next visit. Thereby Guru Nanak predicted to bless the followers as 9th Nanak (Guru Tegh Bahadur). When the 9th successor of Guru Nanak reached Patna the devotees gave them warm welcome and every possible facility was provided to his family. Mother Gujri, the wife of Guru Tegh Bahadur was conceived and was therefore thought proper to choose some convenient place rather to proceed further on tour along with Guru Tegh Bahadur. In accordance with the circumstances the family was given all the facilities and they decided to stay here in Patna. Guru Tegh Bahadur, while leaving his family under the supervision of Bhai Kirpal Chand, his brother-in-law and devotee Sikhs, proceeded alone towards his journey to the East i.e. Assam and Bengal. An old donated house of Salis Rai Johri (A jeweler of Patna Sahib) to Guru Nanak has been converted to congregational center of Sikh religion. Once again the sacred light emerged on 22nd Dec 1666 AD, when (Guru) Gobind Singh (10th guru of Sikh religion) was born. The son of God had taken birth to dispel the darkness of world. This was ordained by the Almighty Supreme Lord. Guru Tegh Bahadur was at Dhubri (Assam) when he received the happy news of the birth of his child at Patna. Great rejoicing took place and donations were given to the poor and needy on large scale. The admirers and devotee Sikhs took their journey towards Patna to see the sacred soul (Gobind Rai). Muslims Sufi saint of Great repute Pir Bihar Shah of Guam bowed his head towards East (Patna). At this his Muslim disciples demurred that being Muslim in true sense he should not make such respectful gesture except towards Kawa in the west. Pir Bihar Shah could feel the presence of a newborn child (Gobind Rai). He had not paid any homage to the mortal or man-made God (statue). It was homage to the great soul. After few days' hard journey on foot, Pir Bihar Shah reached Patna to seek the blessings of new child Prophet. Pir was also in a confused state of mind whether the new child prophet would protect the Hindus or the Muslims. The child Gobind Rai was too little to be placed, outside the house in the hands of some outside visitor or devotee. After two days hunger strike and resistance Pir Bihar Shah was allowed to see the child. Pir Bihar Shah put two sweet pots with intention that if the child prophet will put his hand on right, he would mean to protect the Hindus and if he will put his hand on the left, he would mean to protect the Muslims. Pir Bihar Shah was surprised to know Gobind Rai placed his both hands on both the sweet pots to justify that he will protect both Hindus and Muslims. He took Birth to establish the righteousness to protect the meek and punish the evildoers. From the very child hood the saint and warrior activities of Gobind Rai had become the object of wonder and adoration for many admirers in Patna. Gobind Rai's favorite toys were bows, arrows, swords etc. The most daily game for Gobind Rai was to make artificial fortification and the art of war. The defensive party was to take protection in the fort. Under the directions of Commander Gobind Rai the instructions were given how to attack and the methods to make it successful on the defensive side. The winner party was awarded and all the playmates were served with delicious food at the end of day's play and fighting. Gobind Rai's great pleasure consisted of leading his companions through mock maneuvers. Both mother Mata Gujri and Grand Mother Mata Nankijee was greatly delighted to see and serve the companions of Gobind Rai. The both prayed daily to the Almighty God for the protection of the child. There was a small well of sweet water in the courtyard of Mata Gujri's house. Ladies of the locality had great choice to take water from the sweet well daily. Another play trick of Gobind Rai was to pierce the earthen pitchers with earthen golies. The ladies did not enjoy this fun and mother also resented. She pacified them and replaced the broken pitchers. When Gobind Rai was asked not to break the pitchers, he replied that he did not damage the pitchers rather killed the snake in it, otherwise the poisonous water would harm the family. When the pitcher was checked the snake was found pierced by the arrow of Gobind Rai. All were astonished on the farsighted activity and divine teaching of Gobind Rai. At the innocent face of Gobind Rai, the admirers read the sign of eternity. An old Brahman of Patna City, Pandit Shiv Dutt was deeply impressed by the divine personality of child Gobind Rai. His long outstanding spiritual quest was quenched when he saw the image of child prophet in his contemplation. To whom Pandit Shiv Dutt was worshipping for the long past had appeared personally before him. Before this Pandit Shiv Dutt believed in idols worship for his mental peace and practiced many rituals and ceremonies and austerities. He was popular among his society members but inspite of this his religious performance could not satisfy his inner thirst and he was feeling emptiness in his heart and duality in his mind. One day during the contemplation mood on the bank of river Ganga Pandit Shiv Dutt realized the divine image of Gobind Rai in his sub-consciousness. The light of the sacred soul and his very presence fulfilled the long desire of Pandit Shiv Dutt. The lovely divine face of child prophet now was the focus of meditation.
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