The town of Kiratpur Sahib was established in 1627 by Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji.
The land of Kiratpur Sahib was bought from Raja Tara Chand of Kehloor through Baba Gurditta, the eldest son of Guru Hargobind.
Kiratpur Sahib is situated on the bank of the Sutlej about 10 km south of Anandpur Sahib, about 30 km north of Ropar and 90 km from Chandigarh.
Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji originally visited this place when it was little more than a wilderness.
Guru Hargobind, spent the last few years of his life here. Both Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji and Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji were born at Kiratpur and they received the Gurgadi (Guruship) at this place.
There are many Historic Sikh Gurdwaras around Kiratpur. We have listed the following historic Gurdwaras alphabetically, limited to those within Kiratpur Sahib;
At Kiratpur there lived a Faqir named Baba Budhan Shah who was born into an Arab (Sufi muslim) family who named him Shams-ud-din (son of the faith). Baba Budhan Shah lived in the area of today's Kiratpur Sahib, long before the township was established.
Many myths have been written about him and two cities have shrines that claim to hold his remains. In Jammu City on each Thursday, his grave near the city's airport becomes the site of a huge Langar as people bring pots of Biryani, to the tomb of the Baba who was a vegetarian his whole life. An old record mentions that on a black hill on Kehloor Mountain, there lived Peer Budhan Shah, who had some goats.
It is said that Baba Budhan Shah also kept a lion, that helped him keep the goats safe. The lion was also living off the milk of the goats. Baba Budhan Shah's mausoleum is located here. He died after the Guru Hargobind established Kiratpur.
The Gurdwara lies at a distance of about 400 metres east of Gurdwara Baba Gurditta. Baba Buddan Shah was held in great reverence by Baba Gurditta. Visitors believe that a visit to the tomb has the power to heal skin diseases. People offer salt, mustard oil, jharu (broom) at the tomb of the Saint. A fair is held there in the month of October every year.
Baba Gurditta (15th November 1613 - 15th March 1638), was the eldest son of the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and Mata Damodari. Born at Daroli Bhai in Punjab he was also an elder brother of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Sikh Guru.
Baba Gurditta and his wife Mata Nihal Kaur were the parents of Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji and Dhir Mall. He had his training in religious lore and martial arts under the supervision of his father, the son of Guru Arjan Sahib Ji. Baba Gurditta founded, under his father's instructions, a habitation which was the present Kiratpur Sahib. Baba Sri Chand, the aged son of Guru Nanak, appointed Baba Gurditta to succeed him as head of the Udasi sect he had founded.
Baba Gurditta died at Kiratpur on Chet sudi 10, 1695 Bk, (15th March 1638). As the legend goes, he had resurrected earlier on that day a cow which he had inadvertently killed while out hunting. Guru Hargobind, it is said, admonished him for thus displaying a miracle. Baba Gurditta, overtaken by remorse for causing annoyance to his father, quietly retired and betook himself to a lonely place outside Kiratpur where, at the age of 24, he simply quit his earthly frame. A dehrd or mausoleum now stands on the spot. Baba Gurditta's eldest son Har Rai, donned the spiritual mantle of his grandfather, becoming Guru Har Rai, Nanak VII, in 1644. The second of Baba Gurditta's two sons was named Dhir Mal.
We have no detailed information on this historic site, pending further research.
Pandit Kripa Ram Dutt along with about 500 Kashmiri Pandits (on 25th May 1675) begged Guru Tegh Bahadur to save them and their religion (hinduism) in the face of mughal tyranny. As a result Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was put in chains and ordered to be tortured until he would accept Islam.
When Guru Tegh Bahadur could not be persuaded to abandon his faith to save himself from persecution, he was asked to perform miracles to prove his divinity. Refusing to do so, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in public at Chandni Chowk on 24th November 1675. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is known as 'Hind Di Chadar' ie. 'The Shield of India', as he gave up his life to protect the religious freedom of non-muslims in mughal India.
Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, has been built over the area where Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded. Gurdwara Sri Rakab Ganj Sahib, also in Delhi, is built on the site of the residence of Lakhi Shah Vanjara, a Sikh of the Guru, who burnt his house in order to cremate the Guru's body. The severed head of Guru Tegh Bahadur, executed in Delhi, was brought to Kiratpur by Bhai Jaita (later Bhai Jivan Singh).
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji came from Anandpur Sahib, to Kiratpur Sahib, to receive the head of his father, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Gurdwara Sri Bibangarh Sahib Kiratpur marks the spot where the sacred head was received and placed on a biban to be carried for cremation to Anandpur (at Gurdwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib Anandpur) in a procession singing the sacred hymns from Gurbani.
Gurdwara Sri Charan Kamal Sahib Kiratpur commemorates the spot where Peer Baba Budhan Shah met Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. Baba Budhan Shah told Guru Nanak that he was worried his lion might attack him. Guru Nanak is said to have replied, 'If your lion does not eat you, why would he bother me?'. The Guru was not bothered and to the utter surprise of the Peer, as the lion came near, it bowed to the Guru and touched his feet.
Baba Budhan Shah offered Guru Ji a bowl of goat's milk. Guru Nanak Sahib Ji took half and said he would take half the milk in his 6th roop (form) more than 60 years later. Another version of this story mentions that the future visitor being a Sikh by the name of Gurditta. Baba Budhan Shah became a Sikh of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji and got Charan Amrit and Naam. Baba Budhan Shah waited for Guru Ji to come in his 6th roop (form). He was confident about meeting Guru Ji.
Guru Nanak also said that he would establish a town at the site one day. Years and years passed in waiting. The Peer grew very old. One day Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji with Baba Gurditta (Guru Hargobind's eldest son and Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji's father) went to see Baba Budhan Shah, when there Guru Ji said 'Baba, please give us the milk which Guru Nanak Sahib promised to take in this 6th roop'. Baba Budhan Shah at once became alert and saw them with great curiosity.
Baba Ji said: 'The light of God is the same but countenance and embodiment is different. If you show me the same divine face of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji then I would be very pleased to offer you the milk.' Then Guru Ji asked Baba Gurditta to go home, take a bath and put on robes similar to Guru Nanak Sahib Ji's. When he returned Baba Budhan Shah saw him in the roop of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. Baba Ji then showed Baba Gurditta great reverence and requested him to sit down. Baba Ji then brought two bowls of milk and offered them to Guru Ji and Baba Gurditta.
Baba Budhan Shah's doubts were all cleared and whenever he asked Baba Gurditta a question he gave the true answer. At last the desire of Baba Budhan Shah was fulfilled (giving milk to Guru Ji in his sixth roop). Baba Budhan Shah felt very happy and asked Guru Ji to establish a town at that very site. The town was developed and was named as 'Kirat Pur'. Baba Ji then left this world and went to Sach Khand.
Gurdwara Sri Damdama Sahib Kiratpur is within the Gurdwara Sri Sheesh Mehal Sahib compound. Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji would regularly preach to Sikh's and provide divine Sikh knowledge to visiting Sangats here.
Guru Hargobind created a lovely herbal and flower garden called Nau Lakha Bagh at this site. Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji met with Dara Shikoh, the brother of Aurangzeb, at this Gurdwara and cured him of a poisonious illness inflicted by his brother. The original Gurdwara is located in the Bhora Sahib underneath the main Gurdwara.
Gurdwara Sri Kot Sahib is very near Gurdwara Sri Sheesh Mehal Sahib and Gurdwara Sri Harmandir Sahib Kiratpur. Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji and Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji were proclaimed Gurus at this spot according to Sikh tradition.
Bibi Rup Kaur was the daughter of Guru Har Rai. Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib was Bibi Rup Kaur's residence. A sacred book containing divine hymns (Pothi), a cot, a hand fan and a scarf (gifted to her by her father) and the holy cap of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji can be seen here.
This Gurdwara, on the banks of the Sutlej, is where many Sikhs take the ashes of their family to be immersed in the river. Guru Hargobind in 1644 as well as Guru Har Rai in 1661 were cremated here. The ashes of Guru Harkrishan were brought from Delhi and immersed here in 1664.
Gurdwara Sri Patal Puri Sahib was constructed by Bhai Darbara Singh of Lopon. When Bhai Darbara had returned to India from England, many english folk were intrigued by his discourse on Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and had decided to come with him and witness the sacred Gurdwaras. Upon reaching Kiratpur Sahib the englishmen were told of the significance of Kiratpur of how ashes of the deceased are poured into the river, but the english were astonished at the fact that a holy place had not been constructed and why it was amidst a jungle and forest.
After hearing the disappointment in their voices Bhai Darbara witnessed the parthak darshan of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. Understanding this vision as a sign to commence construction of the Gurdwara, Bhai Darbara announced the plans to construct Gurdwara Patal Puri to the Sangat in Ludhiana on 18th May 1976. The Jathedar of the SGPC at that time was Mohan Singh Turh, who was called to Lopon to pass the regulatory provisions in order to begin construction. The Gurdwara was constructed and was given to the sangat and SGPC upon completion.
Gurdwara Sri Sheesh Mehal Sahib was the home of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, Baba Gurditta Ji, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji and their families. Gurdwara Sri Sheesh Mehal Sahib was first built as the home of Baba Gurditta. Guru Hargobind later established his residence here. Gurdwara Sri Sheesh Mehal Sahib is also known as Gurdwara Sri Takhat Sahib.
The Gurdwara is the birth place of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji (Baba Gurditta was the father and Mata Nihal was the mother) and Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji (Guru Har Rai was the father and Mata Krishna was the mother). The other children of Guru Har Rai Ji, Ram Rai and his daughter Bibi Rup Kaur were also born here.
From Gurdwara Sri Teer Sahib, Guru Hargobind revealed the location of Gurdwara Sri Patal Puri Sahib by shooting an arrow.
Back to Historic Sikh Gurdwaras list
Discover Sikhs
Gurmat Gyan (Knowledge)
Larivaar
Other Gurbani Contributors
MORE
Gallery
Sikh News
ABOUT