Mata Ganga | |
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_from_Takht_Hazur_Sahib,_Nanded,_circa_19th_century.jpg) Mural depicting Mata Ganga, wife of Guru Arjan, seeking blessings from Baba Buddha at a Birh (literally a reserved forest used for cattle grazing) from Takht Hazur Sahib, Nanded, circa 19th century | |
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Mata Ganga (died 14 May 1621) was the wife of the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan.[1][2]
Early life[edit | edit source]
Ganga was born to a father named Krishan Chand whom was a local of the village of Mau, which was located around ten kilometres west from Phillaur.[2]
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Her wedding to Arjan occurred on 19 June 1589 at her native village.[2]
According to Sikh lore, Mata Ganga met with Baba Buddha to seek his blessings as the couple wished to have a child.[3][4] The couple would give birth to a son named Hargobind at Vadali (located close by to Amritsar) on 19 June 1595.[2]
Death[edit | edit source]
She died on 14 May 1621 at Bakala (which was later renamed 'Baba Bakala').[2] Her remains were placed in the Beas River as she wished rather than being cremated.[2] The reason she wished for her remains to be placed in running water was that her husband, Arjan, had disappeared in a river during his incarceration by the Mughal Empire.[2] An emblematic cremation took place at a samadh located in Bakala.[2]
Legacy[edit | edit source]
The samadh where her symbolic cremation took place at Bakala was replaced by Gurdwara Mata Ganga to commemorate her life.[2]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Singh, Jaspal; Gill, M.K. (1992). "9. Mata Ganga". The Guru Consorts. Radha Publications. pp. 89–118. ISBN 9788185484112.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Singh, Harbans. The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol. 2: E-L. Punjabi University, Patiala. p. 50.
- ↑ Singh, Prithi Pal (2006). The History of Sikh Gurus. Lotus Press. pp. 67–69. ISBN 9788183820752.
- ↑ Jain, Harish (2003). The Making of Punjab. Unistar Books. p. 275.