Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna
Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna, also known as Patna Sahib is one of the five takhts in Sikhism. This gurdwara is in Patna, Bihar, India and has a great importance as the birthplace of tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It is significant from the point of view of the history and culture of the Sikh community and spirituality and attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists from different parts of the world.
Suggested Tour: Hemkund Sahib Tour
Historical Significance (Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna)
Birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji: Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna is considered as the place of birth of Guru Gobind Singh Ji who is the tenth and the last human Guru of the Sikh. Guru Gobind Singh Ji who was one of the significant personalities of the Sikh history was born on December 22, 1666 in Patna.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji was a warrior, poet and philosopher and the tenth Guru of the Sikhs; he established the order of the Khalsa, a brotherhood of soldiers who would fight for the rights of the Sikh’s and would preach justice and equality. Its present day name being Patna Sahib, is revered by the Sikh’s community as Guru’s birth place who come to pay obeisance.
Historical Events and Legacy: The gurdwara relates to many of the early incidents of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s life. It was in Patna that the young Gobind Rai (as he was known before he assumed the title of Guru) passed through childhood and youth. His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Sikh Guru, had traveled a lot in his lifetime and preached Sikhism throughout the country.
While in Patna, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji left his family under the protection of a local devotee called Raja Fateh Chand Maini and the palace that he stayed in has evolved into the present day gurdwara.
Architectural Features
Grand Structure: Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna is a masterpiece of architecture, in this building Sikh architecture with an influence of local architecture has been used. The gurdwara is a five story building with a golden dome that gives it an appearance that glimmers in the sky. It has beautifully carved designs and marbles showing their devotion and hard work in building the facade.
Sanctum Sanctorum: The original building and the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji is on the first floor in the main shrine of the gurdwara. This shrine is well painted with scenes from the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and other Sikh Gurus on the walls. On the walls and ceiling of the rooms there are pictures which depict flowers and other artistic designs as seen from the culture of the place.
Holy Relics: On this gurdwara, some of the items believed to have been belonging to Guru Gobind Singh Ji are kept such as the cradle where he was placed, some small weapons and other articles. These relics are preserved in a glass showcase inside the shrine and the followers pay their respects visiting the gurdwara. The availability of such symbols increases the spiritual appeal of the place, as it helps the visitors to be in touch with the heritage of the Guru.
Suggested Tour: Panj Takht Sahib Tour
Religious Importance (Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna)
One of the Five Takhts: Sikhism recognizes the five Takhts as the supreme bodies, which regulate the spiritual and political aspects of the Sikhs. One of these five Takhts is Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna and their importance lies in their connection with Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
The other four Takhts are Akal Takht Sahib situated in Amritsar, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib located at Anandpur Sahib , Takht Sri Damdama Sahib located at Talwandi Sabo and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib located at Nanded. Patna Sahib is different from these because it is the birthplace of a Guru and therefore has very significant importance in Sikhism.
Festivals and Celebrations: Patna Sahib is well known for its religious importance especially during the festival season of Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday or Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is also celebrated with equal enthusiasm. People from all over the world come to the gurdwara to celebrate the event by listening to Gurbani, kirtan and having langar.
Another important festival is Vaisakhi which celebrates the birth of Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh Ji and is also celebrated with much zeal and vigor at Patna Sahib.
Visiting Information
Location and Accessibility: Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna is located in Patna City area which is in Bihar of India known as Patna Sahib. Being a famous religious place, the gurdwara is easily accessible by roadways, railway and airways.
About 10 kilometers away from the gurdwara, there is one of the largest railway stations in India – Patna Junction. The nearest airport is Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport which is about 15 kilometers away and gets connected to many other cities in India.
Accommodation and Facilities: And the gurdwara complexes also have arrangements for the stay of the pilgrims and other visitors also. They include several rooms and dormitories depending on the need and the financial capacity of the clients.
The place where food is cooked and distributed to all the people without any discrimination of color, caste or religion is called the langar hall and is one of the main attractions of the Sikh philosophy of service. Some of the other amenities provided by the gurdwara include a museum, a library as well as stores where devotees can purchase religious souvenirs and books.
Cultural and Educational Activities (Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna)
Museum and Library: This gurdwara also has a museum and a library that exhibit the different aspects of history and tradition of the Sikhs. Some of the collections are manuscripts, books as well as other items belonging to the historical times of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and other Sikh Gurus. The library came as a blessing to the scholars and the devotees as the library has a vast collection of religious books, literature, history of sikhs, books in punjabi, Hindi, and English languages.
Community Services: Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna is engaged in a number of social welfare projects. Such activities include provision of education, health facilities and other social services that impact on the society. The gurdwara operates schools and colleges which offer proper education to children irrespective of the color of their skin.
Annual health camps, blood donation camps and disaster management camps are also conducted frequently as per the Sikh saying ‘Sarbat da Bhala’ which means welfare of all.
Nearby Attractions
Guru ka Bagh: Adjacent to Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna is Guru ka Bagh which is believed to be a place where Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji used to meditate. There is always a quiet feeling that permeates this garden and thus makes it one of the most frequented pilgrimage sites.
Gurdwara Handi Sahib: The other important place of visit in the vicinity is Gurdwara Handi Sahib which has a local tale connected with the childhood of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In the old days there is the story of a poor woman who gave boiled lentils (handi) to the young Gobind Rai and blessed her with wealth. This event is commemorated by this gurdwara where the devotees come for gaining blessings.
Conclusion
Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna is one among the sacred, historical and cultural landmarks of India. It holds significance in Sikhism as a religious shrine and also as a historical monument in honor of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. For people who want to find out more about Sikhism, Indian history or just practice spiritual tourism, the visit to Patna Sahib is an unforgettable trip, which will give the feeling of direct connection to the origins of one of the most significant religions in the world.
For the pilgrims, history lovers, or the tourist who wants to understand Indian culture, Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Patna is an essential place which gives an insight into the Sikhism’s core doctrine and its impact.
