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Gurudwara Bala Sahib




  • Entry Fee: - no entry fee
  • Timings: - All days of the week

Gurudwara Bala Sahib is among the most significant Gurudwaras in New Delhi. The place is visited by several Sikhs and Hindus every day. The Gurudwara is linked to Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh as this is the site where he was cremated. It is also associated with the wives of Guru Gobind Singh, Mata Sahib Kaur and Mata Sundri as they were also cremated here. The Gurudwara is located on Outer Ring Road near the Bhagwan Nagar Ashram. The Gurudwara is visited by people from all across Delhi and from different faiths and communities.

The Gurudwara has a majestic structure and is made from white marble. The premise is well-maintained and is an excellent place to visit and experience the serenity and calm. The Gurudwara consists of two buildings, the new and the old building. Both the buildings are located adjacent to each other. The main hall of the Gurudwara was built between 1957 and 1958. The Gurudwara features a huge hall and is open on all seven days throughout the year. It can be visited at any time of the day and people can be seen praying and meditating in the premise.

The Gurudwara conducts all the regular rituals and celebrates all important festivals. The Gurudwara has a huge langar hall which conducts langars for the community. The complex also includes staff quarters and a main prayer hall where all the rituals are conducted. There is also a school and small community hospital in the premises. The shrine of Mata Sahib Kaur is located in a small room in the main room of the building. The shrine of Mata Sundri is located outside the premises of the new building of the Gurudwara. After the demise of Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh, his last rites were performed at the site of the Gurudwara and his remains were taken to Kiratpur Sahib.

History

The Gurudwara Bala Sahib is built on the site where the late rites of Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh were performed. The Gurudwara also holds importance as this is also the site where the last rites of Mata Sahib Kaur and Mata Sundri were conducted. There are shrines built in the memory of them in the Gurudwara premises.

During the time when Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh visited and stayed in Delhi, his following increased. His appearance and presence appealed a lot of people. He was known for his healing abilities. He helped cure several people who were suffering from smallpox and cholera. For the followers of Sikhism, the presence of Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh itself was a divine feeling. For his followers, the guru was the mode of salvation. However, the happiness of his followers was short lived as the guru soon left for his heavenly abode.

Till the time the guru stayed in Delhi he stayed at the bungalow of Raja Jai Singh but later he shifted to stay along the banks of the River Yamuna. Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh had the miracle of healing sick people and in giving comfort to the less privileged. His honorable deeds made him more popular among the locals and people from different faiths were also impressed and attracted by his simplicity and nature. In 1684, he fell under the severe attack of smallpox and when he fell sick he asked his followers to take him to a place at a distance from the city. The Sikhs set up a large tent on the sides of the River Yamuna. But soon he succumbed to the disease.

To his followers it seemed as he had taken the burden and pain of his followers. The Muslims remembered Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh as Bala Pir and the Hindus remembered him as Balmukund. In the ardas written by Guru Gobind Singh there is a special mention of Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh and his divinity.

Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh was summoned to lead the Sikhs at a very important time in history. In 1661, he was chosen as the successor of Guru Sri Har Rai. Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh was chosen over elder brother of Guru Sri Har Rai. When the guru was about to expire, his followers requested him to name his descendant and he spoke the words Baba Bakala. The Sikhs left for the Bakala village, which is located in the Amritsar District close to River Beas. This is the place where younger brother of the grandfather of Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh lived named Tegh Bahadur. The Sikhs recognized Tegh Bahadur as the successor of Guru Sri Harkrishan Singh.

How to Reach Gurudwara Bala Sahib

Gurudwara Bala Sahib can be reached easily. Buses, taxis, auto rickshaws are easily available as public transport options for reaching the Gurudwara. Metros can also be availed to reach the Gurudwara. The nearest metro station is the Pitampura metro station from where visitors can easily take auto rickshaws or taxis to reach the Gurudwara.

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