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.[1] There is a gurudwara in Kiratpur Sahib, Punjab which is in remembrance of Baba Gurditta.

Baba

Gurditta

Ji
ਬਾਬਾ ਗੁਰਦਿੱਤਾ
Painting of Baba Gurditta held by the lineage of Ram Rai at Dehradun, ca.1685.
Head of Udasi Sect
Preceded bySri Chand
Succeeded byAlmast, Balu Hasne, Phul, and Goinde
Personal
Born
Gurditta Sodhi

5 November 1613
Daroli Bhai, Firozpur, Punjab, India
Died15 March 1638 (24-years-old)
Outside Kiratpur, Punjab, India
Cause of deathSeclusion
ReligionSikhism
SpouseAnanti (alias: Natti), also known as Nihalo and Mata Bassi, later given the name of Nihal Kaur
ChildrenGuru Har Rai
Dhir Mall (eldest)
Parents
SectUdasi

Biography

During the years of 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] 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.[2]

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.

Head of Udasi sect
See also: Udasi
Mural painting of Guru Hargobind, his children (including Baba Gurditta at the top left in the group) and Sri Chand from the 19th century. It depicts the story of Sri Chand asking for Gurditta so he can become his apprentice

He was appointed by the aged Sri Chand to succeed him as the head of the Udasi sect that he had established.[3] 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]

Death

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. 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.[2] 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.[2] On the spot of his death now stands a dehrā (mausoleum).[1] Another account of his death states that he died while wearing bridge-groom robes after his requested marriage to the daughter of Nakhora was rejected by his father.[2] He was succeeded as head of the Udasi sect by four of his disciples, them namely being Almast, Balu Hasne, Phul, and Goinde.[4]


  • Early 18th century fresco art depicting Baba Gurditta from Dehradun
    Early 18th century fresco art depicting Baba Gurditta from Dehradun
  • Gurdwara Baba Gurditta at Kiratpur in the 19th century
    Gurdwara Baba Gurditta at Kiratpur in the 19th century
  • Present-day Gurdwara Baba Gurditta
    Present-day Gurdwara Baba Gurditta
  • 20th century depiction of Gurditta
    20th century depiction of Gurditta

See also

References
  1. The encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Vol. 2. Harbans Singh. Patiala: Punjabi University. 1992–1998. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0-8364-2883-8. OCLC 29703420.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Johar, Surinder Singh (1975). Guru Tegh Bahadur: A Bibliography. Abhinav Publications. pp. 58–60. ISBN 9788170170303.
  3. "Baba Gurditta - Gateway To Sikhism". 2 September 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  4. Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali (18 February 2021). "Samadhis of Pothohar". The Friday Times - Naya Daur. Retrieved 9 February 2023. After the death of Baba Sri Chand, the guruship of the Udasipanth was transferred to Baba Gurditta and later to his four disciples Almast, Balu Hasne, Phul and Goinde – who preached the thought and ideology of their mentor in the Punjab and Sindh.


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