Tara Baba Kutia in Sirsa a hub of faith & devotion

Sirsa city in Haryana is known for its religious sites, but one place that draws both devotees and tourists is the Shri Tara Baba Kutia. Almost every visitor to the city makes it a point to pay respects at this spiritual centre.

Tara Baba Kutia is located near Ramnagaria village on Rania Road and spreads over an area of approximately 25 acres. The main gate and walls of the kutia are adorned with paintings of various deities. Inside, a massive statue of Lord Shiva along with Nandi, his sacred bull, can be seen from a distance. The site also features a Shiva temple, Nandi shrine, and a cave, which are key attractions for devotees.

The kutia was built in 2003, largely due to the efforts of former Sirsa MLA Gopal Kanda and his younger brother Gobind Kanda. According to Gobind Kanda, member of Tara Baba Charitable Trust, Tara Baba was a celibate saint whose life was dedicated to devotion and meditation. Born around 1925 at Pali village in Hisar district, he lost his parents at an early age and was raised in Sirsa by his aunt. From childhood, he was devoted to Lord Shiva. By the age of 10, he began serving Baba Bihari Ji, a revered saint in Sirsa, and at the age of 14, he retreated to the forests near Hisar to practice meditation. Residents of Ramnagaria village later requested him to return, leading to the establishment of his kutia at the village.

Tara Baba spent many years in rigorous penance and silence, surviving on a single meal of roti and chutney daily. He continued this strict practice for 12 years, dedicating himself fully to meditation and devotion. During the months of Phalgun (February-March) and Shravan (July-August), he would undertake pilgrimages to sacred sites, including Shivdham, Neelkanth Mahadev, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Amarnath, Rameshwaram, Ujjain, and other Jyotirlingas.

Baba Tara passed away on July 27, 2003, in Haridwar on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. He gave up his mortal form in front of his disciples, after which his body was brought to Sirsa. Millions of devotees came to pay their last respects. Today, his Samadhi at the kutia attracts countless pilgrims.

The Shiva temple at the kutia stands 71 ft tall and houses a Shivalinga brought from Ujjain. A platform has been constructed for Nandi, and a 108-ft statue of Lord Shiva is also installed here.

Over the years, the kutia has hosted several prominent figures from Bollywood and spiritual circles. Celebrities including Hema Malini, Sanjay Dutt, Dharmendra, Sunil Shetty, Anuradha Paudwal, Kavita Paudwal, Anup Jalota and spiritual speakers like Dhirendra Shastri, Pradeep Mishra and Jaya Kishori have visited. Every year, Maha Shivratri sees devotees arriving from across India and abroad to participate in rituals and prayers.

The kutia is easily accessible from Sirsa via Ghantaghar Chowk, Rania Bazaar, and Valmiki Chowk routes.

Gobind Kanda says the teachings of Tara Baba continue to inspire devotees. His life exemplified devotion, penance, and celibacy. Tara Baba’s kutia is not just a religious site but a symbol of faith, dedication, and history. Visitors come not only for darshan but also to draw inspiration from the saint’s life and his spiritual discipline.

Locals also believe that Tara Baba guided Gopal Kanda to move to Gurugram, which marked the beginning of Kanda’s success in business and politics. Kanda later contested the 2009 Sirsa Assembly elections as an Independent candidate, defeating heavyweights like Lachhman Das Arora (Congress) and Padam Jain (INLD) by nearly 7,000 votes. He went on to become a state minister in the Congress government and won again in 2019. In the 2024 elections, he narrowly lost to Congress’ Gokul Setia by around 8,000 votes.

Today, Tara Baba’s kutia remains a focal point of faith in Sirsa, drawing local devotees and pilgrims from across the country, symbolising spiritual devotion and community heritage.