Baba Gurditta

Baba Gurditta (5 November 1613 – 15 March 1638, Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰਦਿੱਤਾ) was the son of Guru Hargobind (sixth Sikh guru), and the father of Guru Har Rai (seventh Sikh guru) of Sikhism.^{[note 1][1][2]} There is a gurudwara in Kiratpur Sahib, Punjab which is in remembrance of Baba Gurditta.

Baba Gurditta was born on the full moon of the month of Katak in 1613 to Mata Damodari and Guru Hargobind. According to Pashaura Singh, Gurditta was born on the full-moon day (pūrnamā) of the month of Assū in sambat 1665, which corresponds to 13 October 1608 C.E.^[2] Gurditta was born in the forests of Daroli located in the Malwa region of Punjab.^[2]

Guru Hargobind was organizing Sikh youth in Amritsar when he received the news of the birth of Gurditta, with this event being recorded as follows:^[2]

Good news (badhāī) came about Gurdita, son of Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Master, grandson of Guru Arjan, ... who was born on the full moon day (pūrnamā) of Assū in sambat 1665 (13 October 1608 CE) from the womb of Mata Damodari. The birth took place at auspicious moment at Daroli in the forest country. Bhatt Bihārī was recognized at the event and the sacred food of the Guru (gurū kī karāhī) was distributed.

He is said to have resembled Guru Nanak in his youth.^[3] According to Bhai Mani Singh Baba Gurditta got name from the fact that he looked like Guru Nanank (Gur) and from the fact that it seemed like Guru Nanak has given himself a physical form (ditta).^[3] Gurditta got engaged in 1619 in the month of Katak to Ananti known as Netti. He and his wife were both six years old at the time. They got married on 17 April 1621. A big wedding celebration occurred.^[1][3] Guru Hargobind gifts Gurditta a horse that is worth 100,000 rupees.^[4]

Some sources record his birth year as being 1608 rather than 1613.^[5][2]

During the years 1626–1627, he lived in Kartarpur in the Jalandhar district as per directions by his father. He was the founder of Kiratpur near the Shivalik foothills, also according to commands by his father. He took part in the Battle of Kartarpur (1635) against Painde Khan.^[1] In the battle he killed a Mughal general named Asman Khan. Asman Khan and Gurditta were previously childhood friends. Gurditta shot Asman Khan with an arrow. Gurditta rushed by him and cried as Asman Khan died. When asked by his father, Guru Hargobind, why he is crying Gurditta remarked that he was just yesterday playing with Asman and now he is dead.^[6]

When a Sikh, named Nakhora, offered his daughter to be wed to Baba Gurditta, Mata Ananti protested against this idea and complained to Guru Hargobind. Afterwards, the Guru disapproved of the match and the daughter of Nakhora returned home unwed to Gurditta.^[7]

Baba Gurditta died around 1638, while his father was still alive. His brother Guru Tegh Bahadur would later become the ninth Sikh guru when Baba Gurdita's line of succession dried up. After the Battle of Kartarpur, he took rest under a Banyan tree which is still there in Kartarpur near Sukka Talab he tied his horses under the tree. The sacred Banyan tree has great significance for the Sikhs of Kartarpur. The site is maintained by the Toor clan.

Then Baba Gurditta followed the path 5 km north of Kartarpur and conducted the funeral of martyred Nihangs and where now stands a gurdwara called Killi Sahib.

He was appointed by the aged Sri Chand to succeed him as the head of the Udasi sect that he had established.^[8] He is remembered for giving new strength and energy towards the missionary activities of the sect, such as by establishing four Udasi preaching centres known as dhūāṅs.^[1]

According to legend, on the earlier part of the day of 15 March 1638 in Kiratpur, Baba Gurditta performed a miracle reluctantly under duress where he revived a cow which he, or another member of his hunting party, had accidentally shot and killed after mistaking it for a deer while he was out hunting. The owners of the cow complained and demanded that Baba Gurditta resurrect the animal, which he did. Guru Hargobind later admonished him for performing a miracle. Baba Gurditta was deeply affected by this reprimand by his father and silently retired himself to a secluded place outside of Kiratpur, near the shrine of Budhan Shah, where he died later the same day.^[7][9] The Guru searched for him and discovered his dead body, which brought upon much sadness to Hargobind and the Sikh congregation. These events may have had a strong impression on the young Tyag Mal (later Guru Tegh Bahadur), teaching him a lesson on the transience and impermanence of life.^[7] On the spot of his death now stands a dehrā (mausoleum).^[1] Another account of his death states that he died while wearing bride-groom robes after his requested marriage to the daughter of Nakhora was rejected by his father.^[7] He was succeeded as head of the Udasi sect by four of his disciples, them namely being Almast, Balu Hasne, Phul, and Goinde.^[10]

The Gurdwara Baba Gurditta monument located to the south of Kiratpur was erected in his memory, marking the location of his death and cremation. A sacred neem tree associated with Baba Gurditta can be found at this gurdwara. The neem tree supposedly sprouted from a neem twig that Baba Gurditta was holding when he died at the location. The gurudwara is situated at the entrance of the village and about 1.5 km from Garhshankar-Anandpur Sahib link highway. It is around two furlongs sought of Kiratpur and can be reached by climbing 132 steps.^[11] It was built in memory of Baba Gurditta and Baba Kesra Singh Ji.^[11] The site marks the death location of Baba Gurditta.^[11]

The site marks the location where Baba Gurditta is said to have died after being rebuked by his father for resurrecting a cow he had accidentally killed while hunting.^[11] The sixth Sikh guru is said to have cremated Gurditta's remains at the location.^[11] A sacred neem tree is said to be present at the site which supposedly sprouted from a neem twig that Baba Gurditta was holding when he died.^[11]

Gurudwara Baba Gurditta Ji is a historical and holy place for Sikhism. Baba Gurditta Ji visited here with two associates, and their horse, staying one night. This Gurudwara has two Samadhis for two associates, held in main Gurudwara Sahib Ji. Herein Baba Ji traveled on horseback along with two associates, and took rest here. The chain with which they tied their horse is still visible in Gurudwara Sahib.

It is a popular place for pilgrimage, being renowned for its karah parshad.^[11] All events, functions and ceremonies that take place at the Gurudwara have always been started with remembrances to Baba Gurditta Ji. A phrase frequently used there is "Dhan-Dhan Baba Gurditta ji, Deen Dunia Da Tika Ji, Jo Var Mangya, So Var Dita Ji". Another Gurudwara where Baba Gurditta is celebrated is at Kiratpur Sahib. Two annual events are associated with this Gurudwara.

The Nishan Sahib ritual flag is celebrated on the occasion of Sankranti in August. During this event, a new Nishan Sahib is made, lasts for at least two to three days and is begun with Bhog observances centred on Akhand Path recital. Residents of this village engage in Sewa at this time. After Nishan Sahib, a holy kirtan is performed and all the worshippers (sangat) follow, singing the holy shabds.

The second celebration is for the birthday of Baba Gurditta Ji. This function is celebrated on 24 November. During the celebration the Bhog ceremony is made, after which the holy dish 'Karah Parshad' is served to all attendees inside Gurudwara Hall as well as among outside Sewadars. A kirtan is then performed, shabads are sung and donations are given.

After noon, special food, Guru's Langar, is ready to serve. This langar is distributed among the people. An announcement is made to all villagers and visitors to take the holy food. The previous day, a large nagar kirtan procession visits nearby villages and finishes at Gurudwara Sahib Ji.

GURUDAWARA BABA GURDITTA JI AT VILL: CHANDPUR RURKI

‘Bhadon’ is an auspicious month of the year, & ‘Bhadon Sangrand’ is celebrated with a lot of fervour in the village of Chandpur Rurki in District Nawanshahar, Punjab. Not only the residents of the village but ‘sangat’ from all surrounding area throng the Gurudwara Sahib on ‘sangrand’ to pay obeisance at the sacred place. It is believed that during the life span of Baba Gurditta ji, he spent many years here & culminated his ‘tapasaya’ on the auspicious day of ‘bhadon sangrand’. The ‘sangat’ has built a huge gurudwara at the site & each ‘sangrand’ is celebrated with lot of reverence. It is believed that Baba Mangal Singh, who was a devout Sikh belonging to Chak 116, Sahiwal district (now Pakistan) took upon himself the ‘sewa’ to build the gurudwara at the current site in the year 1843-45. He belonged to a well to do agricultural family famously known as ‘Oonthwalas’. (Atwals used to husband camels and hence came to be known as oonthwalas). Baba Mangal Singh served in the Khalsa Durbar army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and after the first Anglo-Sikh war, it seems that on the ‘hukaknama of the ‘Akal Purakh’ he headed to the village of Chandpur Rurki with the purpose to build Gurudwara Baba Gurditta ji. His grandson Sardar Sant Singh, who became a senior government officer, further upgraded the premises. Baba Mangal Singh and his decedents were the first Sikhs to settle in the village, which is located in the Kandi area of Shivalik foothills. Though his descendants have moved to cities in India and overseas, as and when possible they make it a point to visit their ancestral village and the Gurudwara. They have been big donors in the gurudwara sewa, donated land to the village school and also built a community centre in the village. The gurudwara is managed by Sehajdhari Sikhs & during the ‘sangrand’ festivity every household, all men, women & children of the village work with utmost faith in preparing ‘langar’ and manage thousands of devotees. Free medical check-up camps for the sangat are also arranged on the auspicious day.

• Gurdwara Baba Gurditta at Kiratpur in the 19th century
• Present-day Gurdwara Baba Gurditta
• Early 18th century fresco art depicting Baba Gurditta from Dehradun
• Painting of Baba Gurditta Sodhi seated with an attendant, circa late 19th century
• 20th century depiction of Gurditta
• Hukamnama issued by Baba Gurditta, circa 17th century

• Gurudwara Baba Gurditta

• www.babagurdittaji.com Archived 28 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine