• Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • You Tube icon

    Search  


Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan Guru Amar Das

Location - Baserke Gillan, Amritsar, Punjab, India


Associated with - Sri Guru Angad Sahib Ji, Sri Guru Amar Das Ji


Sikh Artifacts - unknown


Sarovar - None


Sarai - unknown


The village of Baserke Gillan is located in the Amritsar district of the State of Punjab.

Baserke Gillan is located 12 km's from Amritsar city.

There are 2 Historic Sikh Gurdwaras in Baserke Gillan.

Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan Guru Amar Das

Sri Guru Amar Das Ji was the third Sikh Guru, Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan Guru Amar Das marks where Guru Ji was born.

Guru Amar Das was born in 1479, 10 years after Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji.

Guru Amar Das was the eldest son of Sri Tej Bhan Ji a farmer and trader and Mata Lachmi Ji, his devoted mother. Sri Tej Bhan Ji was a shopkeeper and lived in Basarke Gillan.

Guru Amar Das was married to Mata Mansa Devi and they had four children - Two sons named Bhai Mohan and Bhai Mohri and two daughters named Bibi Dani Ji and a younger daughter named Bibi Bhani Ji.

Bibi Bhani later married Bhai Jetha who became the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das.



Gurdwara Sri Sanh Sahib

When Sri Guru Angad Sahib Ji made Sri Guru Amar Das Ji the next Guru, Guru Angad's son, named Datu, became jealous. As a result of Guru Amar Das's commitment to Sikh principles, dedicated service and devotion to the Sikh cause, Guru Angad appointed Guru Amar Das as the third Guru Nanak in March 1552 at the age of 73.

Soon large numbers of Sikhs started flocking to Goindwal to see the new Guru. Meanwhile, going against his father's wishes, Datu proclaimed himself as Guru at Khadoor. Datu was so jealous of Guru Amar Das that he, with a small group of his supporters, proceeded to Goindwal to confront the Guru. Upon seeing Guru Amar Das seated on a Manji surrounded by his followers he said, "You were a mere menial servant of the house until yesterday; how dare you style yourself as the Guru?". At that point, Datu kicked the aged Guru Amar Das Ji so hard that he fell to the floor.

Taking the seat of the Guru he then proclaimed himself Guru to the assembly of Sikhs. The Sangat must have been shocked, as this not only flew against Guru Angad's wishes, but against centuries of respect that the people of India and the Punjab had for their elders, to kick the revered Guru was indeed shocking. Guru Amar Das, however, in utter humility, righted himself and caressed Datu's foot saying, "I am old and my bones have grown very hard, I fear they have hurt your tender foot. " After this Guru Amar Das left Goindwal that evening and returned to his native village of Basarke Gillan.

At Basarke Gillan, at the site of Gurdwara Sri Sanh Sahib, Guru Amar Das shut himself in a small house for solitary meditation. Guru Amar Das had told no one where he was headed, but just in case someone tracked him down he attached a notice on the front door saying, "He who opens this door is no Sikh of mine, nor am I his Guru."

A delegation of faithful Sikhs led by Baba Buddha found the house and seeing the notice on the front door, finally chose to 'go between the Guru's words', cutting a hole through a wall to reach their beloved Guru. Then Baba Buddha said to the Guru, "Guru Sahib, being supreme, we know you care for nothing in the world - neither fame, nor riches nor a following, but we cannot live without your guidance. Guru Angad has tied us to your apron, where should we go now if you do not show us the way?"

At the tearful emtreaty of the Sikhs, Guru Amar Das, overwhelmed by their devotion, returned to Goindwal where Datu, who had been unable to gather any followers of his own, had returned to Khadoor.


The hole in the wall is still preserved today inside Gurdwara Sri Sanh Sahib (Sanh literally means a hole in the wall as made by burglars). The present complex spreading over six acres including a congregation hall with its pinnacled dome over the sanctum, Sarovar. Guru ka Langar, residential accommodation and parks, were constructed by Baba Kharak Singh Sevavale during the 1950's.

The Gurdwara is managed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. An annual fair is held on the fullmoon day of Bhadon (September) to mark the anniversary of Guru Amar Das rejoining with God.

Samadh Bibi Amaro di, near the village pond north of the village, is a memorial to Bibi Amaro, daughter of Guru Angad. Bibi Amaro was married to Guru Amar Das's nephew. It was through Bibi Amaro that Guru Amar Das became a Sikh which led him to the presence of Guru Angad at Khadoor.

Back Back to Historic Sikh Gurdwaras list







Guide To Discover Sikhism |   Guide To Becoming A Pure Sikh|   Guide To Carrying Out Nitnem