Baba Gurditta (5 November 1613 – 15 March 1638, Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰਦਿੱਤਾ) was the son of Guru Hargobind (sixth Sikh guru), and the father of Guru Har Rai (seventh Sikh guru) of Sikhism. There is a gurudwara in Kiratpur Sahib, Punjab which is in remembrance of Baba Gurditta.
Early life
Baba Gurditta was born on the full moon of the month of Katak in 1613 to Mata Damodari and Guru Hargobind. According to Pashaura Singh, Gurditta was born on the full-moon day (pūrnamā) of the month of Assū in sambat 1665, which corresponds to 13 October 1608 C.E. According to Bhai Mani Singh Baba Gurditta got name from the fact that he looked like Guru Nanank (Gur) and from the fact that it seemed like Guru Nanak has given himself a physical form (ditta).
Birth year
Some sources record his birth year as being 1608 rather than 1613.
When a Sikh, named Nakhora, offered his daughter to be wed to Baba Gurditta, Mata Ananti protested against this idea and complained to Guru Hargobind. Afterwards, the Guru disapproved of the match and the daughter of Nakhora returned home unwed to Gurditta. He is remembered for giving new strength and energy towards the missionary activities of the sect, such as by establishing four Udasi preaching centres known as dhūāṅs. The Guru searched for him and discovered his dead body, which brought upon much sadness to Hargobind and the Sikh congregation. These events may have had a strong impression on the young Tyag Mal (later Guru Tegh Bahadur), teaching him a lesson on the transience and impermanence of life.
Gurdwara Baba Gurditta
The Gurdwara Baba Gurditta monument located to the south of Kiratpur was erected in his memory, marking the location of his death and cremation. A sacred neem tree associated with Baba Gurditta can be found at this gurdwara. The neem tree supposedly sprouted from a neem twig that Baba Gurditta was holding when he died at the location. The gurudwara is situated at the entrance of the village and about 1.5 km from Garhshankar-Anandpur Sahib link highway. It is around two furlongs sought of Kiratpur and can be reached by climbing 132 steps. It was built in memory of Baba Gurditta and Baba Kesra Singh Ji.