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{{Short description|Son of Guru Hargobind, father of Guru Har Rai (1613–1638)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Cleanup|date=February 2026|reason=After the recent merge of unsourced data}}{{Infobox religious biography
| religion = [[Sikhism]]
| name = Gurditta
| honorific prefix = [[Baba (honorific)|Baba]]
| honorific suffix = [[-ji|Ji]]
| native_name_lang = pa
| native name lang = pa
| image = Painting of Baba Gurditta, the eldest son of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind, and second leader of the Udasi sect succeeding Sri Chand, ca.1685.jpg
| native_name = ਬਾਬਾ ਗੁਰਦਿੱਤਾ
| birth_date = 5 November 1613
| death_date = 15 March 1638 (24-years-old)
| birth_place = Daroli Bhai, Firozpur, Punjab, India
| death_place = Outside Kiratpur, Punjab, India
| death_cause = Seclusion
| spouse = [[Mata Nihal Kaur|Ananti]] (alias: Natti), also known as Nihalo and Mata Bassi, later given the name of Nihal Kaur
| father = [[Guru Hargobind]]
| mother = Mata Damodari
| caption = Painting of Baba Gurditta held by the lineage of Ram Rai at [[Dehradun]], ca.1685.
| office1 = Head of [[Udasi]] Sect
| predecessor1 = [[Sri Chand]]
| children = [[Guru Har Rai]]<br>Dhir Mall (eldest)
| birthname = Gurditta Sodhi
| sect = [[Udasi]]
| successor1 = [[Bhai Almast|Almast]], [[Bhai Balu Hasna|Balu Hasne]], Phul, and Goinde
}}
{{Udasi}}
'''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]].{{Efn|His name is alternatively spelt as 'Gurdita'.|group=note}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=The encyclopaedia of Sikhism |date=1992–1998 |publisher=Punjabi University |others=Harbans Singh |isbn=0-8364-2883-8 |volume=2 |location=Patiala |pages=144–145 |oclc=29703420}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pashaura |title=The Routledge Companion to the Life and Legacy of Guru Hargobind: Sovereignty, Militancy, and Empowerment of the Sikh Panth |date=Aug 9, 2024 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9781040106327 |pages=100}}</ref> There is a gurudwara in Kiratpur Sahib, Punjab which is in remembrance of Baba Gurditta.

== Early life ==
Baba Gurditta was born on the full moon of the month of [[Kattak|Katak]] in 1613 to Mata Damodari and Guru Hargobind. According to [[Pashaura Singh (Sikh scholar)|Pashaura Singh]], Gurditta was born on the full-moon day (''[[Purnima|pūrnamā]]'') of the month of ''[[Assu|Assū]]'' in ''[[Hindu calendar|sambat]]'' 1665, which corresponds to 13 October 1608 C.E.<ref name=":22" /> Gurditta was born in the forests of Daroli located in the [[Malwa (Punjab)|Malwa region]] of Punjab.<ref name=":22" />

Guru Hargobind was organizing Sikh youth in Amritsar when he received the news of the birth of Gurditta, with this event being recorded as follows:<ref name=":22" />

{{Blockquote|text=Good news (''badhāī'') came about Gurdita, son of Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Master, grandson of Guru Arjan, ... who was born on the full moon day (''pūrnamā'') of ''Assū'' in ''sambat'' 1665 (13 October 1608 CE) from the womb of Mata Damodari. The birth took place at auspicious moment at Daroli in the forest country. Bhatt Bihārī was recognized at the event and the sacred food of the Guru (''gurū kī karāhī'') was distributed.|author=Pashaura Singh (translator)|title=The Routledge Companion to the Life and Legacy of Guru Hargobind: Sovereignty, Militancy, and Empowerment of the Sikh Panth (2024)|source=page 100}}

He is said to have resembled Guru Nanak in his youth.<ref name=":2">Gurbilas Patashahi 6 Chapter 9</ref> According to [[Bhai Mani Singh]] Baba Gurditta got name from the fact that he looked like Guru Nanank (Gur) and from the fact that it seemed like Guru Nanak has given himself a physical form (ditta).<ref name=":2" /> Gurditta got engaged in 1619 in the month of Katak to [[Mata Nihal Kaur|Ananti]] known as Netti. He and his wife were both six years old at the time. They got married on 17 April 1621. A big wedding celebration occurred.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Guru Hargobind gifts Gurditta a horse that is worth 100,000 rupees.<ref>Gurbilas Patashahi 6 Chapter 15</ref>

=== Birth year ===
Some sources record his birth year as being 1608 rather than 1613.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Punjab History Conference |publisher=Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University |year=1989 |volume=22 |pages=86}}</ref><ref name=":22" />

== Religious and military career ==
During the years 1626–1627, he lived in [[Kartarpur, India|Kartarpur]] in the [[Jalandhar district]] as per directions by his father. He was the founder of [[Kiratpur Sahib|Kiratpur]] near the [[Sivalik Hills|Shivalik]] foothills, also according to commands by his father. He took part in the [[Battle of Kartarpur|Battle of Kartarpur (1635)]] against Painde Khan.<ref name=":0" /> In the battle he killed a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] general named Asman Khan. Asman Khan and Gurditta were previously childhood friends. Gurditta shot Asman Khan with an arrow. Gurditta rushed by him and cried as Asman Khan died. When asked by his father, Guru Hargobind, why he is crying Gurditta remarked that he was just yesterday playing with Asman and now he is dead.<ref>Gurbilas Patashahi 6 Chapter 20</ref>

When a Sikh, named Nakhora, offered his daughter to be wed to Baba Gurditta, [[Mata Nihal Kaur|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.<ref name=":1" />

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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Then Baba Gurditta followed the path 5 km north of Kartarpur and conducted the funeral of martyred [[Nihang]]s and where now stands a gurdwara called Killi Sahib.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

=== Head of Udasi sect ===
{{See also|Udasi}}
[[File:Mural painting of Guru Hargobind from the 19th century.jpg|thumb|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 [[Sakhi|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|Udasi sect]] that he had established.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-09-02 |title=Baba Gurditta - Gateway To Sikhism |url=https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/biographies/gurus-family-members/baba-gurditta/ |access-date=2022-08-19 |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" />''

== 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. The owners of the cow complained and demanded that Baba Gurditta resurrect the animal, which he did. 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 [[Pir Budhan Shah|Budhan Shah]], where he died later the same day.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last1=Johar |first1=Surinder Singh |title=Guru Tegh Bahadur: A Bibliography |date=1975 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=9788170170303 |pages=58–60}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/sri-anandpur-sahib/ |title=Guide to Sikh Shrines at Sri Anandpur Sahib & Kiratpur Sahib |publisher=Takht Kesgarh Sahib |location=Amritsar |pages=19–20 |chapter=Baba Gurditta's Gurdwara}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1" /> On the spot of his death now stands a ''dehrā'' (mausoleum).''<ref name=":0" />'' Another account of his death states that he died while wearing bride-groom robes after his requested marriage to the daughter of Nakhora was rejected by his father.<ref name=":1" /> He was succeeded as head of the Udasi sect by four of his disciples, them namely being [[Bhai Almast|Almast]], [[Bhai Balu Hasna|Balu Hasne]], Phul, and Goinde.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kalhoro |first=Zulfiqar Ali |date=2021-02-18 |title=Samadhis of Pothohar |url=https://www.thefridaytimes.com/2021/02/19/samadhis-of-pothohar/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=The Friday Times - Naya Daur |language=en-US |quote=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.}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
The Gurdwara Baba Gurditta monument located to the south of Kiratpur was erected in his memory, marking the location of his death and cremation. A [[Sacred trees in Sikhism|sacred neem tree]] associated with Baba Gurditta can be found at this gurdwara. The neem tree supposedly sprouted from a neem twig that Baba Gurditta was holding when he died at the location. The gurudwara is situated at the entrance of the village and about 1.5 km from [[Garhshankar]]-Anandpur Sahib link highway. It is around two furlongs sought of Kiratpur and can be reached by climbing 132 steps.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/sri-anandpur-sahib/|title=Guide to Sikh Shrines at Sri Anandpur Sahib & Kiratpur Sahib|publisher=Takht Kesgarh Sahib|location=Amritsar|pages=19–20|chapter=Baba Gurditta's Gurdwara}}</ref> It was built in memory of [[Baba Gurditta]] and Baba Kesra Singh Ji.<ref name=":3" /> The site marks the death location of Baba Gurditta.<ref name=":3" />

The site marks the location where Baba Gurditta is said to have died after being rebuked by his father for resurrecting a cow he had accidentally killed while hunting.<ref name=":3" /> The sixth Sikh guru is said to have cremated Gurditta's remains at the location.<ref name=":3" /> A sacred neem tree is said to be present at the site which supposedly sprouted from a neem twig that Baba Gurditta was holding when he died.<ref name=":3" />
[[File:A_Sikh_Shrine_at_Keeruthpore,_Punjaub.jpg|thumb|Gurdwara Baba Gurditta at [[Kiratpur Sahib|Kiratpur]] in the 19th century]]
Gurudwara Baba Gurditta Ji is a historical and holy place for [[Sikhism]]. Baba Gurditta Ji visited here with two associates, and their horse, staying one night. This Gurudwara has two [[Samadhi|Samadhis]] for two associates, held in main Gurudwara Sahib Ji. Herein Baba Ji traveled on horseback along with two associates, and took rest here. The chain with which they tied their horse is still visible in Gurudwara Sahib.
[[File:Gurdwara_Baba_Gurditta_Ji1.jpg|right|thumb|240x240px|Gurudwara Baba Gurditta Ji]]
It is a popular place for pilgrimage, being renowned for its [[Karah Parshad|''karah parshad'']].<ref name=":3" /> All events, functions and ceremonies that take place at the Gurudwara have always been started with remembrances to Baba Gurditta Ji. A phrase frequently used there is "Dhan-Dhan Baba Gurditta ji, Deen Dunia Da Tika Ji, Jo Var Mangya, So Var Dita Ji". Another Gurudwara where Baba Gurditta is celebrated is at [[Kiratpur Sahib]]. Two annual events are associated with this Gurudwara.

The [[Nishan Sahib]] ritual flag is celebrated on the occasion of [[Sankranti]] in August. During this event, a new Nishan Sahib is made, lasts for at least two to three days and is begun with [[Bhog]] observances centred on [[Akhand Path]] recital. Residents of this village engage in [[Selfless service|Sewa]] at this time. After Nishan Sahib, a holy ''[[kirtan]]'' is performed and all the worshippers (''[[Sangat (term)|sangat]]'') follow, singing the holy ''[[Shabda#Sikhism|shabds]]''.
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=December 2024|section=yes}}
The second celebration is for the birthday of Baba Gurditta Ji. This function is celebrated on 24 November. During the celebration the [[Bhog]] ceremony is made, after which the holy dish '[[Karah Parshad]]' is served to all attendees inside Gurudwara Hall as well as among outside [[Sewadar|Sewadars]]. A ''kirtan'' is then performed, ''shabads'' are sung and donations are given.

After noon, special food, Guru's ''[[Langar (Sikhism)|Langar]]'', is ready to serve. This ''langar'' is distributed among the people. An announcement is made to all villagers and visitors to take the holy food. The previous day, a large ''nagar kirtan'' procession visits nearby villages and finishes at Gurudwara Sahib Ji.

GURUDAWARA BABA GURDITTA JI AT VILL: CHANDPUR RURKI

‘Bhadon’ is an auspicious month of the year, & ‘Bhadon Sangrand’ is celebrated with a lot of fervour in the village of Chandpur Rurki in District Nawanshahar, Punjab. Not only the residents of the village but ‘sangat’ from all surrounding area throng the Gurudwara Sahib on ‘sangrand’ to pay obeisance at the sacred place. It is believed that during the life span of Baba Gurditta ji, he spent many years here & culminated his ‘tapasaya’ on the auspicious day of ‘bhadon sangrand’. The ‘sangat’ has built a huge gurudwara at the site & each ‘sangrand’ is celebrated with lot of reverence. It is believed that Baba Mangal Singh, who was a devout Sikh belonging to Chak 116, Sahiwal district (now Pakistan) took upon himself the ‘sewa’ to build the gurudwara at the current site in the year 1843-45. He belonged to a well to do agricultural family famously known as ‘Oonthwalas’. (Atwals used to husband camels and hence came to be known as oonthwalas). Baba Mangal Singh served in the Khalsa Durbar army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and after the [[first Anglo-Sikh war]], it seems that on the ‘hukaknama of the ‘Akal Purakh’ he headed to the village of Chandpur Rurki with the purpose to build Gurudwara Baba Gurditta ji. His grandson Sardar Sant Singh, who became a senior government officer, further upgraded the premises. Baba Mangal Singh and his decedents were the first Sikhs to settle in the village, which is located in the Kandi area of Shivalik foothills. Though his descendants have moved to cities in India and overseas, as and when possible they make it a point to visit their ancestral village and the Gurudwara. They have been big donors in the gurudwara sewa, donated land to the village school and also built a community centre in the village. The gurudwara is managed by Sehajdhari Sikhs & during the ‘sangrand’ festivity every household, all men, women & children of the village work with utmost faith in preparing ‘langar’ and manage thousands of devotees. Free medical check-up camps for the sangat are also arranged on the auspicious day.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:A Sikh Shrine at Keeruthpore, Punjaub.jpg|[[Gurdwara Baba Gurditta]] at [[Kiratpur Sahib|Kiratpur]] in the 19th century
File:Gurdwara Baba Gurditta Ji.JPG|Present-day Gurdwara Baba Gurditta
File:Fresco painting of Baba Gurditta, the eldest son of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind, and second leader of the Udasi sect succeeding Sri Chand, circa early 18th century.jpg|Early 18th century fresco art depicting Baba Gurditta from Dehradun
File:Painting of Baba Gurditta Sodhi (eldest son of Guru Hargobind), circa late 19th century.jpg|Painting of Baba Gurditta Sodhi seated with an attendant, circa late 19th century
File:Dhan - Dhan Baba Gurditta Ji 1.jpg|20th century depiction of Gurditta
File:Hukamnama issued by Baba Gurditta, son of Guru Tegh Bahadur and father of Guru Har Rai.jpg|''[[Hukamnama]]'' issued by Baba Gurditta, circa 17th century
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Gurudwara Baba Gurditta]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.babagurdittaji.com www.babagurdittaji.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528120243/http://www.babagurdittaji.com/ |date=28 May 2019 }}

{{Sikhism}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurditta, Baba}}
[[Category:People from Firozpur district]]
[[Category:Family members of the Sikh gurus]]
[[Category:1613 births]]
[[Category:1638 deaths]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian people]]

Baba Gurditta - Revision history

Startupoffices at 02:05, 18 March 2026