Gurudwara Sis Ganj

Gurudwara Sis Ganj in Delhi

Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, is one of the nine historical gurdwaras in Delhi. First established in 1783 by Baghel Singh to commemorate the martyrdom site the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. Situated in Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, it marks the site Sikh Guru was beheaded on the orders of the Mughal emperor on the 11th of November, 1675, Aurangzeb, for refusing to convert to Islam.

History of Gurudwara Sis Ganj

The site in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi, is where the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded on the orders of the Mughal emperor in 1675 AD, 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, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. The severed head ("Sis" in Hindi or Punjabi) 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 present Gurudwara structure was built in 1930. The trunk of tree under which the Guru was beheaded is also preserved here as is the well from which he took bath while in the prison. Also standing adjoining the Gurdwara is the Kotwali (police station), where Guru was imprisoned and his disciples were tortured.

On 11 March 1783, Sikh military leader Baghel Singh (1730-1802) marched into Delhi along with his army. He occupied the Diwani-Am, the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II made a settlement with them agreeing to allow Baghel Singh to raise gurdwaras on Sikh historical sites in the city and receive six annas in a rupee (37.5%) of all the octroi duties in the capital. Sis Ganj was one of shrines building by him, within the space of eight months, from April to November 1783. However, due to volatile political climate in the coming century, the site alternated between being a mosque and a Gurudwara. The sit became a site for dispute between two communities and litigation followed. Eventually after prolonged ligation the Privy Council during British Raj ruled in the favour of the Sikh litigants and the present structure was added in 1930, gold guild of the domes was added in the coming years. The Kotwali was handed over to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee around 2000.

Architecture of Gurudwara Sis Ganj

If you visit the Gurudwara then you will see that the main structure is a huge open hall. The room is very elaborate and spacious. There is a bronze canopy in the middle if the room. This is exactly where the Guru Granth Sahib is kept. It is covered with a huge red tunic cloth and heaps of garlands. It is said that during nighttime, the book is carried to yet another holy room inside the Gurudwara.

It is kept on a transparent glass chamber that is well lit by bright lights for the people to catch a glimpse of. The book is safely kept in a special resting closet here. If you have a look at it, you will find that it has chunks of a tree trunk. This tree is the same banyan tree where the noble Guru was martyred. You will also find an enclosed structure within the gurudwara where the Guru was kept as a prisoner before he was finally executed.

Event at Gurudwara Sis Ganj

Gurdwara Sis Ganj every year organizes some special event. This is an annual one. Songs and music both are considered to be the sacred ways to achieve union with god as per Sikhism. The eminent festivals here therefore are the singing of the “gurbani” and also reading some of the holy lines from the book. One of the best times that you can be a part of this is when it’s the birthday of all their 10 gurus. The eminent names would be Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Nanak. These would be some of the important facts about Gurdwara Sis Ganj that you might find interesting to note before you visit it.