Gurdwara Baba Bakala Amritsar
Gurdwara Baba Bakala Sahib; is a prominent Sikh Gurdwara in Baba Bakala, Punjab, India and it is known for its association with the 9th Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, Mata Ganga and Baba Makhan Shah Lubana.
The main complex contains 4 Gurdwaras. The Gurdwara’s Sarovar is located on the left hand-side of the bazaar leading up to the main Gurdwara complex. Opposite that there are also lodging facilities available for pilgrims.
History
The town of Baba Bakala was originally known as Bakkan-Wala (meaning ‘Town of the Deer’ in Persian) however over time this was shortened to Bakala. The town was originally a mound, where deer were found grazing.
In 1664, before passing away in Delhi, the Guru at the time, Guru Har Krishan uttered “Baba Bakale” (hence the modern name of the town: Baba Bakala) which the Sikhs at the time interpreted as meaning that the Guru’s successor was to be found at the town of Bakala, close to Amritsar. The Sikhs now had to find the true Guru in Bakala.
The Guru was then found by a trader from Jhelum named Makhan Shah Lubana. As a trader, he was on a ship carrying his goods while it became caught up in a furious storm. As he was in danger, he began to pray to God and Guru Nanak for safety. He then vowed that he would donate 500 dinars to the Guru. Unaware of the news that Guru Har Krishan had passed away, Lubana reached Delhi to fulfill his vow. He was then told by the Sikhs that were present there that the Guru proclaimed his successor to be in the town of Bakala.
Eager to carry out his promise as soon as possible, Makhan Shah then reached Bakala but was shocked to see many people pretending to be the true Guru. He then came up with a plan to donate 2 dinars to each of the self-proclaimed Gurus, as he knew that the true Guru would demand the full amount that he had promised. None of the imposters demanded the full amount and so Makhan Shah was unable to find the Guru. He then asked around and he heard of a solitarian in the area, who was called Tegh Bahadur, and was the son of Guru Hargobind.
Upon placing 2 dinars before this man, the man replied “God bless you, my man, however why only two Dinars after pledging five hundred? The Guru is never in need of any thing but a Sikh is expected to keep his pledge to the Guru”. Lubana thus discovered the true Guru and told him that he would reveal his identity to the World, however the Guru discouraged Lubana to do so as he was hoping to meditate in solitude for longer by saying that his face would be blackened (implying that he will be dishonoured). Makhan Shah took this as a challenge, so he threw ash on his face and climbed the rooftop, announcing that he had found the true Guru by shouting “Guru Ladho Rae” (“The Guru has been found” in Lubanki). Up until they were found, Guru Tegh Bahadur meditated in solitude for 26 years, 9 months and 13 days, however they were not a recluse and they still attended to family affairs and he also visited the 8th Guru in Delhi whilst he was there.
Location
Baka Bakala Sahib is located in the town of Baba Bakala which is in the Amritsar district of Punjab, India. The Gurdwara is on Gurdaspur Road and is 42km away from Amritsar, 46km from Jalandhar and 193km from the state’s capital of Chandigarh. It is instantly recognisable by the tall 9-storey Bhora Sahib beside the main Darbar Sahib.
