Gurdwara Bal Lila Maini Sangat

About

Tucked into a narrow lane near Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib in Patna, this gurdwara preserves the memory of a tender chapter from the early life of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. The household belonged to King Fateh Chand Maini, whose childless Queen developed a deep, motherly love for the young Gobind Rai.

Sikh tradition recalls that the child Gobind would come here often and sit in the Queen's lap, bringing her great joy and spiritual consolation. At his asking she would feed him and his playmates boiled and salted gram. In remembrance of those days, boiled and salted gram is still served here as karah parshad, an offering distinctive to this shrine.

Unlike the other historic gurdwaras of Patna Sahib, Bal Lila Maini Sangat is served by Nirmala Sikhs, the scholarly ascetic order long associated with the study and exposition of Sikh and Sanskrit scriptural traditions. A carved wooden inscription on an old front door bears the date 28 August 1668, although the hall housing the sanctum and the surrounding rooms have been rebuilt in recent decades.

Significance

The gurdwara commemorates the bal lila, the childhood pastimes, of Guru Gobind Singh in Patna, a time of grace remembered with great affection by Sikhs. Pilgrims who come to Patna Sahib to honour the Guru's birthplace also visit here, where the simple offering of gram recalls a child's love that crossed the bounds of household and kingdom.