Gurdwara Bal Lila Maini Sangat

About

Tucked into a narrow lane near Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib in Patna, this gurdwara preserves the memory of a tender chapter from the early life of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. The household belonged to King Fateh Chand Maini, whose childless Queen developed a deep, motherly love for the young Gobind Rai.

Sikh tradition recalls that the child Gobind would come here often and sit in the Queen's lap, bringing her great joy and spiritual consolation. At his asking she would feed him and his playmates boiled and salted gram. In remembrance of those days, boiled and salted gram is still served here as karah parshad, an offering distinctive to this shrine.

Unlike the other historic gurdwaras of Patna Sahib, Bal Lila Maini Sangat is served by Nirmala Sikhs, the scholarly ascetic order long associated with the study and exposition of Sikh and Sanskrit scriptural traditions. A carved wooden inscription on an old front door bears the date 28 August 1668, although the hall housing the sanctum and the surrounding rooms have been rebuilt in recent decades.

History

The gurdwara stands on the site of the home of Raja Fateh Chand Maini, a nobleman of Patna. His queen, who had no children of her own, came to love the young Guru Gobind Singh Ji as a mother loves a son, and he would visit often to sit with her. At his asking, she fed him and his playmates boiled and salted gram, a humble dish still served here as prasad in memory of those days. A carved wooden door at the shrine is dated 28 August 1668, though the hall that houses the sanctum today has been rebuilt in recent decades.

Significance

Unlike the other historic gurdwaras of Patna Sahib, Bal Lila Maini Sangat is served by Nirmala Sikhs, the scholarly order long devoted to the study of Sikh and Sanskrit scripture. Pilgrims who come to Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib to honour Guru Gobind Singh Ji's birthplace often continue on to this gurdwara, where the offering of gram still carries the memory of a queen's love for the child who would become the tenth Guru.

Architecture

Simple gurdwara hall; the sanctum and the surrounding rooms have been rebuilt in recent decades, with two pilgrim guesthouses in the compound