Gurdwara Ghai Ghat, Patna

Gurudwara Ghai Ghat - Patna

In 1666, the ninth Master, Guru Tegh Bahadur blessed Bhai Jaitamal. The guru, along with his family stayed in Patna for four months and made the place popular among the followers of Guru Nanak. The gurudwara preserves many sacred relics such as the bed, a grindstone of Mata Gujri, the musical instrument, Rebeck of Bhai Mardana, the window of the house of Bhai Jaitamal and Thara Sahib where Guru Tegh Bahadur sat. Devotees offer chola or clothes at Tham Sahib, the wooden pillars. It is believed that an unequal pair of wood was brought for the construction, which was later corrected by the Guru Tegh Bahudar. Since then, devotees pay obeisance to the pillars. "If someone finds it difficult to marry or secure a job, his wishes are fulfilled. An offering of Chola (a piece of cloth) is made to the Tham Sahib. Hindus, Muslims and people of all religions come here and each has his wish fulfilled," said a devotee. Sprawled on the southern banks of the River Ganges, Patna offers visitors a fascinating tale of history. The ancient land of the Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist religion, it is also the birthplace of Sri Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Sikh guru.  Gurdwara Ghai Ghat, was Bhagat Jaitamal's house. Situated in Alamganj Mohalla. It was sanctified first by Guru Nanak in 1509 A.D. and later by Guru Tegh Bahadur along with his family in 1666 AD.  Bhagat Jaitamal, a devotee of Guru Nanak was fortunate to get the blessings of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Guru Tegh Bahadur stayed for about four months here and made this place very popular among the followers of Guru Nanak's faith. Ghanshyam, the great grand son of Adhrakha, the fourth successor of Salis Rai Johri's Sangat (now the birth place of Guru Gobind Singh ji) was also fortunate to get blessings from the ninth successor of Guru Nanak, as it was assured by Guru Nanak during his visit to this place.  It is about 4 kilometers from Harimandir Saheb, on the Ashok Raj Path. The following things are preserved here.  1.Rabeck of Bhai Mardana 2.Grind stone (Chakki) of Mata Gujri 3.Tree, where Guru Tegh Bahadur tied his horse. 4.Thara Saheb, a place where Guru Tegh Bahadur used to sit. Gurdwara Pahila Bara - commonly known as Gurdwara Ghai Ghat, is dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev, who during his visit to Patna stayed here with Bhai Jaita, a pious man, confectioner by trade, who became the Guru's follower and later converted his house into a dharmsal. The congregation that gathered here came to be called Bari Sangat or Gae Ghat Sangat. Later Salas Rai, a wealthy jeweler, became a convert and took the Guru to his own place where, too, a small community of Sikh believers was formed into what was known as Chhoti Sangat. A new building comprising a spacious square hall with the sanctum in the middle was constructed during the 1980s. Two relics are preserved here - a rebeck claimed to be once Bhai Mardana' and a stone called Mata Gujari's grindstone.