Gurudwara Rakabganj Sahib is a medieval piece of construction that was made by Lakhi Banjara in 1732 AD. The Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib is situated on the Pant Road in Saddi Dilli and the Parliament House and the North Block of Central Secretariat is right in front of it. The Gurudwara was built in 1783, after Sikh military leader Baghel Singh captured Dilli, on 11 March 1783, and his brief stay here, lead to the construction of several Sikh religious shrines within the city.
The Gurudwara Rakabganj Sahib marks the site of cremation of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, post his execution in November, 1675, under orders of Aurangzeb. The Gurudwara built near old Raisina village near Raisina Hill at present Pandit Pant Marg, took 12 years to build. Prior to this, a mosque had been built at the very spot, eventually later Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II gave the permission to build a gurdwara here. The Gurdwara is also home to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.
According to the historical archives, when Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in Chandni Chowk, the lamenting and wailing crowd surged forward to have a closer look at the martyred prophet, a man named Bhai Jaita, rushed out of the crowd, and with lightning flash picked up the head of the Guru and disappeared somewhere into the grief stricken crowd.
Lakhi Shah, a Sikh devotee and government contractor came rushing with a convoy of horse and bullocks driven by his eight sons through the Chandni Chowk under cover of the darkness created by the dark clouds, they carried away the body of Guru Tegh Bahadur to their residence, the present site of Rakab Ganj Gurdwara opposite Parliament building. They reverently placed the body of the Guru as pre-planned on a pile of sandalwood and set fire to the whole house. They put the remains of the Guru in an urn and buried it on the very spot where the body was cremated. The head of the Guru was taken by his disciple Bhai Jaita to Anandpur where Guru Gobind Singh cremated it near the place where the Guru used to meditate in a Cell. That place is also known as Sis Ganj of Anandpur.
The immaculate and spacious architecture and the style and interiors of the Gurudwara are a treat to the eyes. The building is surrounded by beautiful gardens and has an entrance on each of the four sides. The place welcomes people from various religions with an open heart and treats everyone equally.
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