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Published: September 22nd 2008
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Golden Temple Day,
Today Maina and Saroop took me to the Hari Mandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib or in English, The Golden Temple. Of course we had special front door parking through a gated area. We left our shoes outside the gates at the shoekeeper place, covered our heads and proceeded in. We walked through a small creek like pool so it could wash our feet and then in through the main clock tower gate. I will not describe the scene as I will post photos. Needless to say, it is a magical place which transcends oneself to otherworldly places. I was very, very lucky to have Saroop there with me and without him, it would have been far less intriguing. Throughout our walk around the water and temple, Uncle Saroop told me many, many historically significant things in Sikhism and many, many tales of the gurus (of which there were ten-for those who didn’t know). Along the way, there are trees, pictures, plaques, bathing areas, towers, gurduaras (temples), flags, and other magnificent buildings of significance. He is a wealth of knowledge and takes his studies and devotion with great seriousness. The stories are fascinating and thought provoking. I had
studied some Sikhism and am feeling a little awkward that my focus has been on Hindu philopsophy, given the fact that my heritage is Sikh, though I know much of the Sikh concepts are derived from Hinduism. Sikhs however, believe in a single all pervading God, and have rejected the Hindu pantheon of Gods and Godesses. The tenets in Sikhism are that of a beautiful harmonious religion. Of course historically, Sikhs are known for the many battles they have had to endure in order to ward off invasions. It is said that Sikhism is reformed Hinduism with Islamic influence. In fact, if not for the Sikhs, who actually fought to preserve Hinduism, India could very well have been a Muslim nation. The first guru, Guru Nanak, was disillusioned with both Hinduism and Islam and was the founder of Sikhism. The stories and small amount of the gurus’ scriptures I have studied are beautiful and moving. Uncle Saroop tells me of the unparalleled sacredness of the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book, of which is a compilation of all the world’s great spiritualists as told by the ten gurus). I do realize it is a most incredible compilation of which
I look forward to studying more.
We entered the temple from the main side, although one can enter from all sides. An aspect of the temple which represents the non-discriminatory nature and openness of Sikhism. I gave a donation of $500 rupees which my uncle so graciously gifted me and was presented with a sacred orange cloth and prasad (offering of symbolic bread inside). My uncle said I must keep the cloth somewhere very special and elevate it above my head. I observed the men who chant verses from the Guru Granth Sahib as well as the accompanying tabla and harmonium players amongst the lavish gold, marble and inlay interior. There was a familiarity for me here from my visits to the Gurdwaras in Canada. No photos are allowed inside the temple. The interior has three levels and on each level, there is a Granth Sahib being carefully recited. The only words that are allowed to be uttered in the Golden Temple are verses from the holy book…no exceptions. As Saroop and I walked around each level in a clockwise fashion, I could feel the power of prayer resonate deep inside my being.
At the end of our
temple visit and the fascinating stories I was told, we went to the Guru-Ka-Langar and had an amazing free lunch. Of course the langar (community kitchen) is synonymous with Sikhism and where all humans, despite social, economic status, belief system or race sit side by side on the floor and share a meal. These meals are always my favourite! This langar serves dal, sabji, rice pudding, yogurt and rotis 24 hours a day…many thousands and thousands eat here every day. I am told sometimes 50 or 60,000 people eat here a day. The system they have going is very effective…all run by donation and volunteers. Even Maina and I sat with a group of devotees and peeled garlic for some time.
The Gurdwaras are slightly different here than in Canada. The biggest difference is the sheer number they accommodate, and the fact that women and men are not separated on the main prayer floor…this surprised me given the fact that I often see this separation in so many areas of Punjabi life. Also, of course, eating on the ground in the langar is a must here whereas in Canada and the States, this is up to the philosophy of
the temple.
This was a lifelong dream to come here and I was happy to have made the pilgrimage. Although the heat was daunting and the Amrit Sarovar, the sacred pool of nectar surrounding the temple, looked mighty tempting to jump into, (where men can bathe in the open but women cannot) the beads of sweat I left behind in prayer I feel were replaced by a hydration of the soul.
Blessings,
Leila
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