GANGA, MATA

GANGA, MATA (d. 1621), consort of Guru Arjan (1563-1606), Nanak V, was the daughter of Bhai Krishan Chand of the village of Mau, 10 km west of Phillaur in the Punjab. The nuptial ceremonies took place at her village on 19 June 1589. She was the mother of Guru Hargobind born to her at Vadali, near Amritsar, on 19 June 1595. She died at Bakala (now Baba Bakala) on 14 May 1621.

Her dead body was immersed in the River Beas in deference to her wish that her body be consigned to water, as had been her husband`s, and not burnt. However, a symbolic cremation was also carried out and a samddh built at Bakala, which has since been replaced by a shrine named Gurdwara Mata Ganga.

References :

1. Gurbilas Patshahi Chhevin. Patiala, 1970
2. Satibir Singh, Paratakhu Hari. Jalandhar, 1982