Simonaa: started some pg w/ infobox

2026-03-14T06:34:52Z

started some pg w/ infobox

New page

{{Short description|Sikh temple in Kiratpur, Punjab}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib
| religious_affiliation = [[Sikhism]]
| image = Gurdwara Patalpuri, in Kiratpur, Punjab, India.jpg
| location = Kiratpur, Punjab, India
| rite = Ash-dispersal
}}
'''Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib''' is a [[Sikhs|Sikh]] [[gurdwara]] located in [[Kiratpur Sahib|Kiratpur]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]] that is a popular place for [[Cremation|dispersing ashes]] for Sikhs as part of the ''[[Antam Sanskar]]'' funerary rites of [[Sikhism]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Mandair |first=Arvind-Pal S. |title=The Routledge Companion to Death and Dying |date=18 May 2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781317528876 |editor-last=Moreman |editor-first=Christopher |chapter=10: Sikh afterlife beliefs and funerary practices}}</ref> The site is renowned for being the cremation-grounds of two Sikh gurus, [[Guru Hargobind]], [[Guru Har Rai]], and the ashes of [[Guru Har Krishan]] were dispersed at this location.

== Location ==
The gurdwara is situated on the left-bank of the Sutlej river at Kiratpur.<ref name=":32" /> It is located around a quarter of a mile from the settlement of Kiratpur in the southerly-direction of the Sutlej river.<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=21–22 |chapter=Patal Puri Sahib}}</ref>

== Architecture ==
The gurdwara is located on a tall-plinth and consists of a large hall.<ref name=":32" /> One of the end of the hall leads to the river, where the Guru Granth Sahib has been installed, known as ''prakash asthan''.<ref name=":32" /> Two-stories are located above the sanctum of the structure, with a dome on-top.<ref name=":32" /> The specific location within the site where the ashes are dispersed into the river from is known as the ''asth ghat''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 May 2023 |title=Parkash Singh Badal's ashes immersed in Sutlej at Kiratpur Sahib |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/badals-ashes-immersed-in-sutlej-at-kiratpur-sahib-504480/ |access-date=16 June 2025 |work=The Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=24 August 2018 |title=Ex-PM’s ashes immersed at Kiratpur Sahib |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/ex-pm-s-ashes-immersed-at-kiratpur-sahib-641906/ |access-date=16 June 2025 |work=The Tribune}}</ref>

== Purpose ==
[[File:Water coming from Satluj river at Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib.jpg|thumb|The [[Sutlej]] river flowing at Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib, Kiratpur Sahib, Punjab]]
After the completion of the sehaj pāth portion of a Sikh funeral, it is customary for the family to then disperse the ashes of the dead into a flowing body of water.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Sandhu |first=Gian Singh |title=Who Are the Sikhs?: An Exploration of the Beliefs, Practices, & Traditions of the Sikh People |date=Mar 28, 2023 |publisher=Archway Publishing |isbn=9781665739535 |chapter=172. What happens at a Sikh funeral?}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Gurmukh |title=The Encyclopedia Of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University |year=2011 |isbn=8173802041 |editor-last=Singh |editor-first=Harbans |edition=3rd |volume=II: E-L |location=Patiala |pages=511–512 |chapter=Kiratpur Sahib: Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib}}</ref> In modern Sikhism, the most popular place to do-so is at Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib into the Sutlej river.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |title=Punjab District Gazetteers: Fatehgarh Sahib |publisher=Controller of Printing and Stationery, Government of Punjab, India |pages=85}}</ref><ref name=":32" />

== History ==
As per Sikh lore, Guru Hargobind, sensing his end, commanded that a hut be constructed on the bank of the Sutlej at Kiratpur, with the hut being named ''Patalpuri''.<ref name=":32" /> A Muslim ''[[Pir (Sufism)|pir]]'', named Pir Kaivan, visited Guru Hargobind here one week prior to the guru's passing.<ref name=":3" /> Guru Hargobind died on 3 March 1644 at Kiratpur Sahib on the bank of the Sutlej, and was cremated on the banks of the river, where now stands Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Fauja |title=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University |year=2011 |editor-last=Singh |editor-first=Harbans |edition=3rd |volume=II: E-L |location=Patiala |pages=232–235}}</ref><ref name=":32" /> The 17th century Persian text ''[[Dabestan-e Mazaheb|Dabistani Mazahib]]'' also mentions this location as being the cremation ground of Guru Hargobind.<ref name=":3" /> Another tale connected to the cremation of the sixth guru is that a Rajput raja and his followers leapt into the funeral pyre.<ref name=":3" /> Guru Har Krishan died and was cremated in Delhi on 30 March 1664 but as per the ''[[Bhat Vahis|Bhatt Vahis]]'', his ashes were brought to his site to be dispersed into the Sutlej on 22 August 1664.<ref name=":32" /> Furthermore, Guru Har Rai was cremated at the site on 6 October 1661.<ref name=":32" /> An autographed manuscript of the Guru Granth Sahib, signed by Guru Har Krishan under the command of his father, Guru Har Rai, is said to mention this location.<ref name=":3" /> There were formerly three separate shrines at the location to memorize each of the three Sikh gurus connected to the site, alongside separate monuments and structures dedicated to other members of the gurus' family, but these shrines were eventually demolished coalesced into a single structure through renovations.<ref name=":32" />
[[File:Photograph of Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib in Kiratpur Sahib, by Dhanna Singh Chahal 'Patialvi', circa May 1934.png|thumb|Photograph of Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib in Kiratpur Sahib, by Dhanna Singh Chahal 'Patialvi', circa May 1934. This photograph was taken whilst Dhanna Singh Chahal was visiting Hoshiarpur district.]]
Historically, many Sikhs traditionally used to disperse the ashes of the deceased at [[Haridwar]], where [[Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar|genealogical records]] were maintained, however going to this specific site fell out of favour with many Sikhs, as Sikhism does not encourage or emphasize any particular place.<ref name=":0" /> Instead, many Sikhs, especially those living near Kiratpur and the diaspora in Western countries, now disperse of ashes at Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /> Other Sikhs opt to disperse the ashes of their deceased into any nearby stream or river, usually the Sutlej.<ref name=":1" /> Some diasporic Sikhs choose to disperse the ashes of their deceased into a water-body found in their country of residence.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Kalsi |first=Sewa Singh |url=https://crp.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2015/09/kalsi1992.pdf |title=The Evolution of a Sikh Community in Britain: Religious and Social Change Among the Sikhs of Leeds and Bradford |publisher=Community Religions Project Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Leeds |year=1992 |isbn=9781871363036 |pages=145 |chapter=6. Caste and the Ravidasi Sikhs in Bradford}}</ref> Some Sikh communities, such as Chamars, still disperse ashes at Haridwar in a ceremony known as ''asth-pauna''.<ref name=":12" />

== References ==
<references />

{{Sikhism}}

{{coord|31.1781|76.5633|type:landmark_region:IN|display=title}}

[[Category:Gurdwaras in Punjab, India]]

Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib - Revision history

Simonaa: started some pg w/ infobox