THE SOJOURN OF GURU TEGH BAHADUR IN BIHAR By Prabuddha Biswas

The heavy engagements had kept the Sikh Gurus after Guru Nanak busy at home. It was his eighth successor, Guru Tegh Bahadur, who forced by circumstances and under stern necessity had set out on a tour of the distant regions along with his family. He started towards the east, visiting holy places, making personal contact with his devotees, giving them spiritual solace, and by stages, ultimately reached Sasaram.

BATHING IN KARMANASHA RIVER

Before reaching Sasaram, he had to cross the River Karmanasha, so called because it was a common belief among the people that whosoever bathed in it lost the fruit and efficacy of his religious austerities and pilgrimages. The Guru Tegh Bahadur did not pay any heed to this tradition and bathed in the river, saying that no water could mar or undo the merits of good actions.

VISITING THE TOWN OF SASARAM

1.   In the Sikh chronicles, the name of Sasaram is associated with the name of Phaggu, a devout and a sincere follower of the Guru. Phaggu had a long cherished desire that the Guru Tegh Bahadur may enter into his house. Phaggu’s desire was fulfilled when Guru entered his house, while riding on a horse. The house was soon transformed into a SANGAT and is known as CHACHA PHAGGU’S SANGAT or simply CHACHA’S SANGAT. A pair of sandals and a wooden necklace of Phaggu, a small door of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s time and the Plum tree of the 9^th Guru are still preserved there.

2.   Gurdwara Taksal Sangat is very significant. It is said that the place where the Gurdwara is situated, there was tobacco cultivation during the visit of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Guru ji’s horse stopped their and was obstructed. This land belonged to Bhai Achal Ji and Mata Jio Ji. Here Guru Ji asked Sangat to construct Gurdwara and name it Taksal Sangat. In this Gurdwara, there is a steel arrow said to be of Guru Tegh Bahadur along with a rare picture of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and of Mata Jio Jee.

3.   The name of the 9^th Guru is also associated with the PURANI SANGAT of Sasaram. Foundation stone of this Gurdwara is said to be laid by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. It is located in Jaani Bazaar, managed by mixed castes mainly Sonar (who have became clean shaven after 1984 massacre). This Gurdwara is partially non-functional now.

4.   Some of the cases of the District Court of Shahabad and the Patna High Court throw a good deal of light on the activity of Guru Tegh Bahadur. One learns from the Court proceedings that the Guru paid a visit to Sasaram in former times. Adjacent to this town there were jungles and hills, affording seclusion to the faqirs, absorbed in prayer. He came to stay at the place where BAGH GURU JI of Sasaram now stands. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji graciously blessed and ensured the success of the Sangat.

5.   Then he came to the DHARAMSHALA and inspired a great enthusiasm for Bhajan. The Guru took his rest (on a bed) and the SANGAT was thus rewarded with the spiritual satisfaction. The reputation of his perfection spread which attracted to him a large number of Faqirs, both Hindus and Muslims as his followers. The then government authorities granted the place, where Guru Ji was sitting along with the land of 52 bighas, surrounding it, to Guru Tegh Bahadur for the establishment of Sangat. Then, he established a Dharamshala, and planted an orchard and a flower garden for the upkeep of Faqirs, travellers and visitors. He also built a masonry well in the said campus.  Guru made arrangements for defraying the cost of maintaining the DHARAMSHALA, placed his disciple Baba Rajiaji on the Gaddi and left for the west. Hence Guru Tegh Bahadur Had been to Sasaram during his onward journey towards east from Punjab and stayed at Sasaram for about 21 days and also visited Sasaram in his return journey and then left for the west.

6.   Besides there is another interesting document in Persian, which reveals that Guru Tegh Bahadur was granted the Right to Levy Octroi Tax at different rates on various types of goods and merchandise that passed by the road, which was quite adjacent to the Sangat of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The right of levying Octroi duty continued to be enjoyed by succeeding Mahants till 1802 AD.

THE FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES OF THE GURU TEGH BHADUR’S PREACHING ACTIVITIES IN SASARAM

Even today, there is mighty hold of his faith on the AGRAHARIS, who had settled in Sasaram before Guru Tegh Bahadur visited it. According to them, their present prosperity was due to the blessings of the Guru Tegh Bahadur. There are about ten Gurdwaras and Udasi Deras in this town. Most of them are constructed in the memory of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

VISITING GAYA

From Sasaram, Guru Tegh Bahadur arrived at the sacred place of Gaya. The Brahmanas urged upon him to offer barley-rolls for the souls of his ancestors and pressed the Guru to give them some money for going through the rituals. The Guru advised his Sikhs to be always cautious about the deceitful tactics employed by the Brahmans and with a view to instruct the Brahmans, he quoted the hymn in RAG ASA, composed by Guru Nanak at Gaya, the second ASHTAPADI OF SUKHMANI and a hymn of KABIR.

GURDWARA SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR JI - GAYA

Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji near Vishnupad Temple is controlled by Udasi priests. As in Gurdwara Chacha Phaggu Mal at Sasaram, here too three copies of Guru Granth Sahib in Gurmukhi and Devnagri script are seated side by side in a rectangular pavilion on a raised platform.

COMING TO PATNA

From Gaya, the Guru came to Patna where he was accorded a hearty welcome by his followers.

1.   Guru Tegh Bahadur was accommodated for the time being by one JAITA SETH, a confectioner and a true devotee of the Guru, in his spacious building, where now stands the present GURDWARA GAI GHAT.

2.   To commemorate his visit, the followers of the 9^th Guru soon engaged themselves with the construction of a magnificent edifice which came to be known as HARMANDIR and the foundation-stone of which was most probably laid by the Guru Tegh Bahadur himself.

GURU’S PREPARATION BEFORE LEAVING PATNA

Guru Tegh Bahadur, had not been in Patna for long when he had to march towards Assam to help a Rajput general of Emperor Aurangzeb in his expedition against the turbulent Assamese. After entrusting his mother, NANAKI JI and wife, GUJRI JI, who was pregnant, to the care of his brother-in-law, BHAI KRIPAL CHAND, Guru Tegh Bahadur accompanied the said Raja on his eastward journey.

GURU’S MARCH TOWARDS 'FURTHER EAST'

Guru Tegh Bahadur passed through and also stayed at BARH, MUNGER, BHAGALPUR, KAHALGAON, RAJMAHAL and MALDA.

GURDWARA PAKKI SANGAT - MUNGER

Gurdwara Pakki Sangat - Munger, a district town, 170 kilometres east of Patna Sahib by rail, is another place where Guru Tegh Bahadur is known to have stayed during his eastward journey. It was during his stay here that he got the news of the birth of Guru Gobind Singh. The commemorative Shrine Gurdwara Pakki (lit. firm or permanent) Sangat is in Belan Bazar area near the Munger fort. Its old building also damaged badly by the 1934 earthquake was, however, rebuilt within a year. It is a rectangular room with a verandah in front and is served by Brahaman priests. Two relics, a cot and a pillow said to have been used by the Guru during his stay here, are kept in the same room where Guru Granth Sahib is seated.

GURDWARA SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR - BHAGALPUR

Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur - Bhagalpur, another district town on the right bank of the Ganges, 63 kilometres east of Monghyr by rail, had two Sikh Sangats when Guru Tegh Bahadur visited it in 1667. Guru Tegh Bahadur is said to have stayed at Bari Sangat on Burhanath Ghat of which what is left is a stone slab, still considered holy. Over it Sardar Inder Singh Atwal got a room built in 1974. On every amavas, Guru Granth Sahib is brought from Gurdwara Singh Sabha in the interior of the town and a congregation is held here with the holy book placed on the old slab called Chauki Sahib. The place itself is named Gurdwara Bari Sangat Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Chauki Sahib. An old hand-written copy of Guru of Guru Granth Sahib acquired from the former Udasi priest of the Shrine is preserved in Gurdwara Singh Sabha. The other place, Chhoti Sangat, also on the Ghat a little distance away from Bari Sangat has since been converted into a Hindu temple

THE LAST HALT OF GURU TEGH BAHADUR IN THE EASTERN BORDER OF BIHAR

Guru’s last halt in Bihar was at KANTNAGAR, 12 miles east of Kahalgaon. But now that area was engulfed by Ganges and the inhabitants were forced to settle down in a small village of LAKSHIMPORE (near Caragola Railway station), north of Ganges, presently in Katihar district.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s tour of eastern regions extended over a period of about 3 years at the most, and though the province of Bihar could claim approximately half a year or so.

RETURN JOURNEY OF GURU TEGH BAHADUR

Guru Tegh Bahadur travelled back home along with the Raja (whom he accompanied to Assam), through Gaya and Sasaram, leaving out Patna.

VISITING GURU KA BAGH, SOUTH OF PATNA SAHIB

Though Guru Tegh Bahadur didn’t come to Patna in his return journey but the tradition goes that when Guru Tegh Bahadur returned from Assam, he stayed in a dry garden, belonging to Nawab Rahim Bakhsh and Karim Bakhsh of Patna. The Nawab offered the garden to Guru Tegh Bahadur after observing his super-natural powers. A Gurdwara has been constructed there and is known as GURDWARA GURU KA BAGH.

(C) Copyright of Prabuddha Biswas