Gurudwara Paonta Sahib is situated in the city of the same name Paonta Sahib. It is part of the Sirmour District in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Gurudwara is a revered shrine of the Sikh religion. This sacred shrine not only renders spiritual comfort but also offers us an insight into how Sikhism has been sustained.
Gurudwara Paonta Sahib has great historic significance as it was built in memory of the Tenth Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Paonta Sahib is location is marks spot where 16-year-old Guru Gobind Singh first set foot in Sirmour’s Kingdom after dismounting his horse. Raja Nandini Prakash, the King of Sirmour had extended an invitation to the guru to come and see his real realm. the Raja had high hopes of forging close ties with the influential Sikh Guru. To greet his guest and his big party of Sikhs, the Sangat (congregation), and soldiers as well, the Raja, members of his court, and the most prominent businessmen in his city had left the safety of his palace in Nahan, the capital of the Kingdom, as a particular act of respect.
Also Read: Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: Raja Jai Singh Bungalow To Shrine
The Raja of Srinagar, Garhwal Phatshah, had lately seized some villages (part of his Kingdom), and there were also roving bands of Mughal soldiers to be concerned about, making it safer in such perilous times. While waiting for visitors to arrive in one's palace or fort would have been simpler, the particular greeting was intended to make the Guru and his Sikhs feel especially welcomed. Guru Gobind Singh spent the following four years at Poanta and left a written report in which he described his time at Poanta Sahib as the happiest years of his life, thus it appears that the gracious reception had the desired impact.
In these beautiful surroundings, the Guru engaged himself not only in hunting and training his warrior Sikhs in the martial arts, but he also spent a great deal of his time in literary activities, composing many works of religious, as well as heroic poetry including :
Jap Sahib,
Sawayyas Patshahi Dasvin &
Chandi-di-Var.
It was the place where the Guru wrote the major portion of the Dassam Granth.
The eldest Son of guru sahib Sahibzasa Baba Ajit Singh Ji was born at Paonta Sahib.
He invited up to 52 of India's most outstanding poets and writers to his Darbar (court), many of whom were from the historic city of Benares. He assigned the majority of them to the task of translating the ancient works of Indian literature from the Sanskrit of the Khatris and Priests into the then-common languages of Braj or Punjabi, the people's native tongues. The Guru also made a lot of efforts to improve Paonta. Kalpi Rishi memorial is also situated.
Also Read: Gurudwara Takht Sri Harmandir Patna Sahib
The Guru and his Sikh army routed a few of the nearby Hill Chiefs who, in his own words, "attacked him for no cause" before departing the region. The Battle of Bhangani, often known as the Guru's first conflict, saw the first of his wins. In the Battle of Nadaun, when his Sikhs assisted in routing the Mughal force of Alif Khan, who had been sent to collect money "owed" to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, later on, he aided some of the same hill leaders.
The famous Kavi Darbars held by the Guru once took place at the location of Gurdwara Sri Kavi Darbar, where the poets had once been disturbed by the surrounding Yamuna River's loudness. With the blessing of Guru Gobind Singh Ji that once roaring Yamuna fell silent as it passed the Gurudwar Sahib.
Before leaving for Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Ji had given all the responsibilities to Bhai Bishan Singh to look at the fortress-like complex and the Gurudwara within it.
The Paonta Sahib Museum displays the pen and Shastra (weapons) which was used by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Pir Buddha Shah, a revered Muslim saint who lived in Sadhaura close to Paonta Sahib, also visited Guru Sahib after a long discourse between them Muslim Holy man became a devotee of the Guru Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Also Read: Hemkund Sahib: Highest Gurudwara In World