Gurudwara Majnu Ka Tila – Delhi

Gurudwara Majnu Ka Tila – Delhi

Gurdwara Majnu-ka-Tilla is situated on the right bank of river Yamuna, opposite Timarpur Colony beyond Khyber Pass. Every year on Baisakhi Day, the birthday of the Khalsa is celebrated by the Sikhs of Delhi with great enthusiasm. A langar (free kitchen) is arranged on the Qccasion when thousands of people join irrespective of caste, creed and status.

During the reign of Sultan Sikander Shah Lodhi, a Muslim hermit lived here. He used to carry people across the river, in his boat, free of charge. He yearned for glimpse of God. He was so much lost in his thoughts that the people started calling him "Majnu", the Persian lover whose name became symbolic of intense love in mysticism in the Sufi literature. When Guru Nanak visited this place, he blessed the Muslim hermit, who attained enlightenment and became a devout disciple of the great Guru. His hermitage on the bank of the Yamuna on a hillock, came to be known as Majnu-ka-Tilla (the hilllock of Majnu). Many people were attracted by the divine personality of Majnu. Infact, radiant spirit and dedicated love for the Guru, made this shrine as an outstanding missionary centre for centuries to follow. ‘Many Sufi saints of Delhi went to meet Guruji when he was camping atop this hillock and held spiritual discussions with him. Most prominent among those who came to pay homage and were deeply influenced by Guru Nanak Dev was the Sajjada Nashin of the Mosoleum of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia. This hillock was also blessed by the visit of the sixth Guru Sri Hargobind.

He was a dynamic personality who instilled revoluntionary spirit into the Sikhs to make them saviours of dharma and righteousness. He emboldened his followers morally, r mentally, and physically to defeat evil designs of the Mughal rulers to annihilate rich cultural heritage of the country. It was as a religious head,who in the history of the world with two swords of Pin and Miri) spiritual and temporal, a combination of Bhakii and Shakti, created warrior saints, to fight against tyranny and oppression. It is worth mentioning here that the ideology given by Guru Hargo bind, shattered the designs of the rulers and changed the course of our history from slavery to self respect and dignity. It was again in pursuance of his policy of militarising the Sikhs, that Guru Hargobind laid the foundation of the ‘Akal Takht’ just opposite Harmandir Sahib. It is from Akal Takht that all the hukamnamas, i.e. religious decrees are issued to Sikhs. These decrees are binding on all members of Sikh community. It served as a unifying force and a rallying centre for the Sikhs during the turbulent times.

When Guru Hargobind was invited by Emperor Jahangir,he came and stayed at Gurdwara Majnu-Ka-Tilla. The suspicious Emperor got him deported to Gwalior and imprisoned him there. Later he was released. He insisted that all other prisoners also be set free. On his way back to Punjab, Guruji again stayed at Majnu-Ka-Tilla.

When Guru Har Rai the seventh Guru sent his son Ram Rai to explain the tenets of Sikhism to Emperor, Aurangzeb, he also stayed at Majnu-Ka-Tilla. Thus the Gurdwara here acquired historic importance. It is said that when Guru Nanak Dev blessed Majnu with supreme enlightenment and was pleased with his dedication, he said that his name "will be immortalized". So in sacred memory of this Muslim Saint the shrine was named as Gurdwara Majnu-Ka-Tilla. There is a well in the compound of this holy shrine. It is said that Ram Rai showed his miracles to Aurangzeb near this well. It is also said that ‘General Baghel Singh’ who conquered Delhi in 1783 and held it under his away for a few months, also encamped at Majnu­Ka-Tilla. According to records it was General Baghel Singh who raised a small structure at this sacred pla9e to perpetuate the memory of the Sikh Gurus. The tiny, old marble Gurdwara which exists even today,.was constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh who also endowed it with a jagir. The income from this jagir was spent on the maintenance of this historical shrine. In 1950 a big Gurdwara building was constructed by the people of Delhi.

This Majestic Gurdwara is situated on the right bank of the River Yamuna on the Grand Trunk Road (National Highway-1), opposite Timarpur, Delhi.

This gurdwara is associated with the First Guru, Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. A Muslim recluse had his hermitage at this spot on the bank of the river Yamuna. He led a lonely life of penitence and prayer. His fasts made him so thin that people called him Majnu. He met the Guru, who blessed him with enlightenment

Address
The Secretary, Management Committee,
Gurdwara Majnu ka Tila,
Magazine Road,
Civil Lines,
Delhi,
Pin code 110054

Phone Nos. : 91-11-23953218