About Takht Sri Patna Sahib
Takht Sri Patna Sahib, also lovingly referred to as Takht Sri Harmandir Ji, Patna Sahib, stands as one of the most revered and spiritually charged pilgrimage sites in Sikhism. Located in the old city of Patna along the banks of the sacred River Ganges, this magnificent shrine is one of the five Takhts (seats of temporal and spiritual authority) in Sikh tradition. It marks the birthplace of the tenth Sikh Master, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, who was born here in December 1666.
As you enter the complex through its grand marble archways, an aura of tranquility and deep devotion envelopes you. The white marble structure, adorned with golden domes and intricate Sikh architectural details, shines brilliantly under the Bihar sun. The serene courtyard leads worshippers to the main sanctum, where holy hymns (Gurbani Kirtan) reverberate softly from early morning till late evening.
Key Highlights & Relics
- Sacred Relics (Asoor/Hukamnams): The shrine houses priceless historical treasures including the personal weapons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, his small wooden cradle (Pangura), sacred swords (Talwar), iron arrows, a wooden pair of sandals (Paduka), and original handwritten Hukamnamas (decrees) bearing the signatures of the Sikh Gurus.
- Guru ka Langar: True to Sikh tradition, the community kitchen serves wholesome, hygienic vegetarian meals 24 hours a day to thousands of visitors without distinction of caste, creed, religion, or background.
- Kharag Singh Museum: A dedicated museum within the complex displays rare paintings, ancient manuscripts, coins, and artifacts associated with the lives of Sikh Gurus and Sikh military history.
Visitors are required to cover their heads with a scarf or bandana, remove their shoes at the designated counters, and wash their hands and feet before entering the inner sanctum. The peaceful vibe, generous hospitality, and profound history make a visit here an unforgettably moving spiritual journey.
History
The land on which Takht Sri Patna Sahib rests has been sacred for centuries. Long before it became the birth site of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, it was sanctified by the visits of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, during his eastern udasis (travels) in 1509 AD, and later by the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, who stayed here with his family in 1666.
While Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji moved onward to Assam on a spiritual mission, his wife Mata Gujri Ji gave birth to young Gobind Rai (who later became Guru Gobind Singh Ji) on December 22, 1666. The young child spent his early formative years here playing games with local boys, mastering archery, and demonstrating spiritual wisdom before moving to Anandpur Sahib in Punjab in 1672.
Construction and Rebuilding
The initial shrine structure built to commemorate Guru Gobind Singh's birth was established by devotees in the late 17th century. However, the grandiose marble gurdwara that stands today owes much of its historical structural genesis to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of the Sikh Empire. In the 1830s, Maharaja Ranjit Singh patronized extensive renovation and expansion of the shrine.
The structure suffered severe damage during a devastating earthquake in 1934. Subsequently, the Sikh community rallied under the leadership of Kar Sewa volunteers and Sikh societies, culminating in the complete reconstruction of the current iconic marble temple starting in 1948 and completed in 1954 under the architectural supervision of legendary Kar Sewa leader Sant Nischal Singh Ji.