Patna Sahib is a very ancient, eventful historic town of India. Now the capital of Bihar, it can rightly be proud of its glorious past, more so because of the birthplace of Sri Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru of Sikh religion.
According to historians almost two thousand years after Lord Buddha, Guru Nanak visited Patliputra, during his first journey to the East, in the beginning of Sixteenth century. There were 64 gates and 670 towers protected by moat and wooden walls. Guru Nanak entered Patna through the western gate and stayed at Bhagat Jaitamal's House now Gurudwara Gai Ghat.
HISTORY:
It was here at Takhat Patna Sahib, that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh
Guru was born in 1666. He also spent his early years here before moving
to Anandpur. Besides being the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, Patna
was also honored by visits from Guru Nanak as well as Guru Tegh Bahadur.Like many historical Gurdwaras in India and Pakistan, this Gurdwara was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Originally, this is the place where Guru Nanak visited before going to the holy place Gaya. He was a great scholar of history and knew the importance of Pataliputra, which already was almost forgotten by Hindus. He tried to revive the glory of Indian culture. At this place stood the haveli of Salis Rai Jouri, who was a great devotee of Guru Nanak. He was so influenced by the teachings of the Guru that he converted his palatial home into a dharamsala (place where dharam is learned).
When Guru Tegh Bahadur visited Patna, he stayed in this exact site. A magnificent house was built above the dharamsala of Salis Rai. Mullah Ahmed Bukhari, the author of Mirat-ul-Ahwal Jahan Nama, who stayed at Patna for some time at the close of 18th century, has made a reference to Harmandir Sahib. He writes, "Over the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikhs have raised a public edifice, made it a place of power and strength, and call it 'Harmandir'. It is also called 'Sangat' and is held in great esteem and veneration. They have made it a place of pilgrimage. Maharaja Ranjit Singh started the work of reconstructing the Harmandir in 1839 following destruction by fire, but did not survive to see the new structure. Again in 1934, when an earthquake rocked the entire state of Bihar, some portions of the Harmandir fell down. Construction of the present building was taken up on November 19, 1954 and was completed in about three years.
ARTIFACTS AT THE SHRINE:
1.) "Sri Guru Granth Saheb" called Bare Saheb containing signature of Sri Guru Gobind Singhji Maharaj.