Sis Ganj Gurudwara
The Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib is built at the site in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi, where the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded on the orders of the Mughal emperor in 1675 A.D., Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam. Before his body could be quartered and exposed to public view, it was stolen under the cover of darkness by one of his disciples, Lakhi Shah Vanjara, who then burnt his house to cremate the Guru’s body. This place is marked by another Gurdwara, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. The severed head (’Sis’) of Guru Tegh Bahadur was brought to Anandpur Sahib by Bhai Jaita, another disciple of the Guru. It was cremated by the Guru’s son, Gobind Rai, who would later become Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs. The Gurdwara at this place is also called Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib.
To visit the gurdwara, the visitant should leave their shoes outside at the counter and cover their head. Though one can go to the main worship place directly but it would be better if one first visit the ‘Information Office’, which is near the entrance. From there a member of the Gurdwara Management Committee will accompany and show the visitant all-important places within the gurdwara.
The main worship room of the gurdwara, which is very spacious and flood lit has the Sikh Holy Book, the Guru Granth Sahib under a beautifully carved golden canopy. The sacred book is covered with a large red cloth and has piles of garlands of marigolds at its base. At night, the book is ceremonially carried to a special room in the gurdwara that can be seen through the glass. The book is kept there in a special-resting closet. Near the room is also kept the part of the banyan tree under which the ninth guru was killed. There is also an enclosed structure where the guru was held prisoner before beheading.
Throughout the day religious hymns are sung near the golden canopy and devotees that includes both sexes men and women, come and listen it with devotion. After the prayer, the devotees receive karah, a consecrated food cooked of wheat and ghee as blessings from the gurdwara.
An important feature and attraction of all the gurdwaras are their community kitchens (Guru ka langar), which oppose discrimination based on caste and stress the concept of equality. Here people of any background, religion, caste, color and creed eat together. The community kitchen of this gurdwara too feeds around 2000-4000 people everyday and it is advisable not to miss to taste the good food made under good hygienic conditions.
Music and song are considered to be one of the special ways in Sikhism to gain union with God. The singing of ‘gurbani’, holy songs and reading from their holy book marks the festivals of Sikhs. The best time to experience the festivity is during the birthdays of all their 10 gurus (religious teachers) and especially that of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh. Baisakhi and Bandi Chhor Divas (Diwali) are other festivals when the celebration is at its peak among the community.
Related posts:
- Rakab Ganj Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib is an important historic Gurudwara in Delhi....
- Gurudwara Majnu Ka Tilla The spot called Majnu ka Tilla has no connection with...
- Bangla Sahib Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Gurdwara is situated just a furlong away from...
- Nanak Piao Gurudwara Gurudwara Nanak Piao is associated with the first Guru Sri...
- Religion and Culture of Delhi The cultural diversity and religious unity are the core values...