Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib is a Sikh place of worship in Dehradun, India, dedicated to Baba Ram Rai, eldest son of Guru Har Rai, the seventh of the ten Sikh Gurus.[1] Baba Ram Rai settled here with his followers in the mid-17th century, after he was banished by the Sikh orthodoxy for mistranslating scripture in front of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, so as to not cause offence. It is believed the city, Dehradun, gets its name from the religious camp established by him: a “dera”, or camp, in the “doon” valley. The building is historically and architecturally significant, as it derives many of its architectural motifs, like minarets, domes and gardens, from Islamic architecture.[2] While Sikh architecture, in general, drew inspiration from Mughal styles, the Darbar Sahib was unique in that it relied more heavily on elements that give it the appearance of a mosque than a conventional gurudwara. This was unusual in the 17th-18th centuries, as at the time Sikhs were generally in conflict with the Muslim rulers of India. The Islamic influence was the result of a cordial relationship between Baba Ram Rai and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who provided lands and funds for the site.[3]
History
The temple site was founded by Baba Ram Rai in the mid-17th century after he was banished by the orthodox Sikh sect for mistranslating a word in the Adi Granth in front of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He replaced the word “Mussalman” with “faithless” to prevent causing offence.[4] The settlement is believed to have given Dehradun its name: a “dera”, or camp, in the “Doon” valley.[4] The central complex of the temple was completed in 1699, twelve years after Baba Ram Rai’s death, and the complete structural work was finished between 1703 and 1706; embellishment and painting work is thought to have continued long after the structural completion.[5] Mata Panjab Kaur, Baba Ram Rai’s wife, oversaw the construction work and managed the affairs of the Darbar till her death in 1741/42.