Gurudwara Baba Atal – Amritsar
The Gurudwara of Baba Atal was built in memory of the nine year old son of Sri Guru Hargobind ji. The divine soul in this child’s body once emitted a dazzling spark, others called it a miracle. Baba Atal the young dutiful son had to leave earthy form in answer to his father’s remonstration. Atal Rai was born at Amritsar on December 22, 1619. He was beloved son of Guru Hargobind and Mata Nanaki. The Guru often told his son that he had been blessed by God with much power and he should not fritter it away by showing miracles. But when Atal Rai brought to life his playmate Mohan, the great Guru demonstrated his divinely gifted son and ordained, "None should intervene in the will of God!"
Atal Rai listened to the admonition with downcast eyes. He bowed his head before his father in reverence and left for the sacred pool called Kaulsar which was his favorite resort. Here he sat in samadhi, his soul departed from the earthy body and he became a part of eternal light.
Guru Hargobind soon learnt about the death of Baba Atal. He bore the loss of his beloved son cheerfully, saying, "what pleases the Lord Almighty is good."
Atal’s body was cremated on the bank of Kaulsar tank. A small shrine was raised over the spot. The construction of the present nine-storied Gurudwara is reminiscent of the nine years of his earthly existence. The Gurudwara is known as Baba Atal Sahib. A special feature of the shrine, is free food i.e. langar served round the clock to all visitors irrespective of caste, creed or color.
Gurdwara Baba Atal has been raised in the revered memory of Guru Hargobind’s 9 year old Sahibzada Baba Atal Rai. It is situated in Amritsar. The child was the personification of something wondrous. Through a miracle Baba Atal Rai once revived a dead child. Guru Hargobind was convinced that Sikh religion did not believe in any kind of miracle and that it was an uncalled for interference in the ways of god and the cosmic system. The Guru, therefore, felt annoyed with his son. To atone for the intervention in the divine ways, the child left for his heavenly abode. It is at the point of the terrestrial exist of Baba Atal Rai that a nine storeys Gurdwara symbolic of his 9 years of exisatence was constructed. It is known as Baba Atal