Paonta Sahib

Paonta Sahib is a town on the right bank of the Yamuna in Sirmur district of Himachal Pradesh, and the site of Gurdwara Sri Paonta Sahib. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism says Guru Gobind Singh founded it in November 1685 on land offered by Raja Medini Prakash of Nahan.

Key moments

• 1685 to 1688: the Encyclopaedia says the Guru stayed about three years, a time of heavy literary work in which he composed poetry of spiritual and martial tenor and the 52 poets and writers he kept produced translations of ancient Indian classics. Gurmit Singh, in History of Sikh Struggles, says he stayed six years and sounded the call to the Sikhs to prepare for struggle against the Mughal rulers (pp. 155 to 156).
• The Battle of Bhangani was fought during his stay. Robes of honour were given to the warriors at the Dastar Asthan, and relics were given to Pir Buddhu Shah of Sadhaura for his service in the battle.
• The Guru's eldest son Ajit Singh was born at Paonta.
• 1688: before leaving for Anandpur, the Guru entrusted the fortified shrine to Bhai Bishan Singh.
• 1823: Baba Kapur Singh rebuilt the shrine with funds from Sahib Singh Sandharivalia. The shrine, with about 120 acres of land, later passed to hereditary mahants who treated it as their personal property.
• 22 May 1964: police fired at the gurdwara while taking it from Nihang Sikhs under a civil court order. The firing has its own page.
• 1970: the Encyclopaedia says management of the gurdwara was entrusted, after a long dispute, to an eleven-member committee of ten life members and the president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee as ex-officio chairman.

What it means today. The Encyclopaedia describes a complex of over three acres. The main gurdwara is a square domed room inside a large hall, and its inner room holds old weapons believed to have been the Guru's own. Other places are the Talab Asthan where pay was given out, the Kavi Darbar Asthan where literary works were recited and discussed, a memorial to Rishi Kalpi, and Gobind Ghat, which leads down to the Yamuna. Guru ka Langar runs daily, larger assemblies are held on full moon days, and a fair is held at Hola Mahalla. The SGPC marks the 1964 firing each year with a Gurmat Samagam in Amritsar, and The Tribune reported in 2022 that the martyrs of the 1964 struggle are remembered as Singhs of the Misl Shaheedan Tarna Dal.