Information of Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab

Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib is situated to the southern side of the Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib, in the city of Amritsar, in the state of Punjab, in Northwestern India. It is approximately 185 metres from Sarai Guru Ram Das. It is a nine-storey octagonal tower that is perfectly standing 40 metres high. It is regarded as the tallest building in Amritsar. Actually, it is a cenotaph or a Samadhi, enshrining the remains of Atal Rai who was a son of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs religion. With the passage of time, it was transformed into a gurudwara.

Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib Religious Significance

The Young Atal Rai is honored with the title of Baba or a grand old man by the Sikh religion after his sudden death. The Sikh community people visit this Gurudwara with wishes to be fulfilled in their personal and professional life. Once their wish is satisfactorily fulfilled, they visit this place again for thanks giving with much dedication and commitment. Most of the visitors to the Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib never miss to pay a visit to Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib. It is gaining religious significance among the devotees to a great extent.

Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib Historical Significance

According to the local legends, the young Atal Rai, at the age of nine years, magically restored his close friend named Mohan who was a son of a widow, to life immediately after his sudden demise. In this situation and circumstance, Guru Hargobind regarded his son's strange act as being completely against the Sikh religious tradition plus wholeheartedly rebuked him for performing any type of feat involving a miracle plus strictly warned him that one's spiritual power shouldn't be displayed. It is largely mentioned that young Atal Rai cited to his beloved father that he would directly lay down his own life immediately for unknowingly breaking the law of nature by just reviving his best friend from the dead. Therefore, he went into a deep meditative act plus soon breathed his last. It is to be remembered that on the bank of Kaulsar, His pyre was lit. Later on, a monument was raised in his memory.

Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib Architectural Significance

The present nine-storey building of Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib represents the nine years of Baba Atal's life. It is an octagonal shaped high raised tower that stands tall in the southern side of the Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib. There is no clarity regarding the date of erection of this huge building structure. It is strongly believed to be raised in the last quarter of the eighteenth century. On this building structure, different types of repairs and renovations were carried out from time to time. It is well designed in order to have a double octagonal building structure, one rising directly exteriorly and the other perfectly from interiorly. There are six floor large storeys and two small size storeys plus gilded dome. There are steps or staircase to reach each floor till the dome area. On the ground floor, there are broad four doors with elegantly embossed designs made of brass and silver. With murals, the wall of the first floor's interior is well-designed. There are good number of painting that reflects the tales and stories related to Sikh religion. The flooring and ceiling of this building structure is a real wonder to be witnessed personally.

Festivals at Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib

At Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib, All the major and minor festivals as per the Sikh religious calendar are marked with special prayer meeting that is participated by large number of adherent devotees.