Gurdwara

A gurdwara (Punjabi: ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ, Gurduārā or ਗੁਰਦਵਾਰਾ, gurdwārā; meaning 'door to the Guru') is the place of worship for Sikhs.[1] People from all faiths, and those who do not profess any faith, are welcomed in Sikh gurdwaras.[2] Each gurdwara has a Darbar Sahib where the current and everlasting Guru of the Sikhs, the holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib is placed on a Takhat (an elevated throne) in a prominent central position. The Raagis (who sing Ragas) recite, sing and explain, the verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, in the presence of the holy congregation.

All gurdwaras have a langar hall, where people can eat free vegetarian food.[3] They may also have a library, nursery, and classroom.[4] A gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag.

The most well-known gurdwara is the Harmandir Sahib (popularly known as The Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab, India. This gurdwara is one the most important in Sikhism and Sikh's are obliged to come at least once in their lifetimes.

Shri Hazoor Sahib A gurdwara in Nanded, India
Harmandir Sahib, a Sikh gurdwara at Amritsar, India
The Harmandir Sahib, a Sikh gurdwara in Amritsar, India

History

Nishan Sahib flags on tall poles over Harmandir Sahib in India
Nishan Sahib flags on poles at Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar.

The first gurdwara was built in Kartarpur, on the banks of Ravi River in the Punjab region by the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev in the year 1521. It now lies in the Narowal District of west Punjab (Pakistan). The worship centres were built as a place where Sikhs could gather to hear the guru give spiritual discourse and sing religious hymns in the praise of Waheguru. As the Sikh population continued to grow, Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh guru, introduced the word gurdwara.

The etymology of the term 'gurdwara' is from the words 'gur (ਗੁਰ)' (a reference to the Sikh gurus) and 'dwara (ਦੁਆਰਾ)' (gateway in Gurmukhi), together meaning 'the gateway through which the guru could be reached'.[1] Thereafter, all Sikh places of worship came to be known as gurdwaras.

Some of the prominent Sikh shrines established by the Sikh gurus are:

By the early 20th century, a number of Sikh gurdwaras in British India were under the control of the Udasi mahants (clergymen).[5] The Gurdwara Reform Movement of the 1920s resulted in Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee taking control of these gurdwaras.[6]

Description

A gurdwara has a main hall called a darbar, a community kitchen called a langar,[1] and other facilities. The essential features of a gurdwara are these public spaces, the presence of the holy book and eternal Sikh guru the Granth Sahib,[7] the pursuit of the Sikh Rehat Maryada (the Sikh code of conduct and convention), and the provision of daily services:

A typical Darbar Sahib layout. Men and women usually sit on separate sides.

Other ceremonies performed there include the Sikh marriage ceremony, Anand Karaj; some of the rites of the death ceremony, Antam Sanskar; and most of the important Sikh Festivals. The Nagar Kirtan, a Sikh processional singing of holy hymns throughout a community, begin and conclude at a gurdwara.[8]

Gurdwaras around the world may also serve the Sikh community in other ways, including acting as libraries of Sikh literature and schools to teach children Gurmukhi, housing the Sikh scriptures, and organizing charitable work in the wider community on behalf of Sikhs. Many historical gurdwaras associated with the lives of the Sikh Gurus have a sarovar (eco-friendly pool) attached for bathing.

Gurdwaras have no idols, statues, or religious pictures.

Customs

View inside a typical gurdwara
Gurudwara Paonta Sahib, view inside a typical gurdwara.

Many gurdwaras are designed to seat men on one side and women on the other, although designs vary, and the divided seating is far from mandatory. They do not generally sit together but on separate sides of the room, both at an equal distance from the Guru Granth Sahib, as a sign of equality. Worshippers are offered Karah Parshad (sweet flour and ghee-based food offered as prashad) in the hall, which is usually given into cupped hands by a sewadar (gurdwara volunteer).

In the langar room, food is cooked and served by the volunteers in the community. Only vegetarian food is served in the langar hall, to suit the visitors from different backgrounds so that no person may be offended. All people belonging to different faiths sit together to share a common meal, regardless of any dietary restrictions. The main philosophy behind the Langar is two-fold : to provide training to engage in Seva and an opportunity to serve people from all walks of life and to help banish all distinctions between high and low or rich and poor.

Gurdwara architecture

Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick in Sandwell, one of the first and largest gurdwaras in the UK.

Gurdwara buildings do not have to conform to any set architectural design. The only established requirements are: the installation of the Granth Sahib, under a canopy or in a canopied seat, usually on a platform higher than the specific floor on which the devotees sit, and a tall Sikh pennant flag atop the building.

In the 21st century, more and more gurdwaras (especially within India) have been following the Harimandir Sahib pattern, a synthesis of Indo-Persian and Sikh architecture. Most of them have square halls, stand on a higher plinth, have entrances on all four sides, and have square or octagonal domed sanctums usually in the middle. During recent decades, to meet the requirements of larger gatherings, bigger and better ventilated assembly halls, with the sanctum at one end, have become accepted style. The location of the sanctum, more often than not, is such as to allow space for circumambulation. Sometimes, to augment the space, verandahs are built to skirt the hall. A popular model for the dome is the ribbed lotus, topped by an ornamental pinnacle. Arched copings, kiosks and solid domelets are used for exterior decorations.

Spiritual significance

Meditating on the Guru Granth Sahib

Shabad Kirtan is performed daily in gurdwaras around the world by Sikh Ragis.

It is the duty of all Sikhs to engage in personal and communal meditation, Kirtan and the study of the holy Scriptures. Meditating and understanding the meaning of texts from the Granth Sahib is important for the proper moral and spiritual development of a Sikh. One must study Gurmukhi script and be able to read Gurbani to understand the meaning of the text. A Sikh has to revert to the Granth Sahib for the all spiritual guidance in one's life.

Holy congregation (Sadh Sangat) and reflecting on Gurbani

The Darbar Sahib of a gurdwara.

It is believed that a Sikh is more easily and deeply engrossed by Gurbani when engaged in congregation gatherings. For this reason, it is necessary for a Sikh to visit gurdwara. On joining the holy congregation, Sikhs should take part and obtain the benefit from the combined study of the holy scriptures. No one is to be barred from entering a gurdwara regardless of their religious or regional background and are welcomed in.

Voluntary service (Seva)

Khalsa principles of Deg to cook food (langar) in huge amount

Seva is an important and prominent part of the Sikh religion. Dasvand forms a central part of Sikh belief (of Vand Chhako) and literally means donating ten percent of one's harvest, both financial and in the form of time and service such as seva to the gurdwara and anywhere where help is needed. All Sikhs therefore get involved in this communal service whenever an opportunity arises. This in its simple forms can be: sweeping and washing the floors of the gurdwara, serving water and food (Langar) to or fanning the congregation, offering provisions or preparing food and doing other 'house keeping' duties.

Community life and other matters

Sikhism offers strong support for a healthy communal life, and a Sikh must undertake to support all worthy projects which would benefit the larger community and promote Sikh principles. Importance is given to Inter-faith dialogue, support for the poor and weak; better community understanding and co-operation.

Sikh ceremonies within the gurdwara

Learning and other facilities

Many gurdwaras also have other facilities for Sikhs to learn more about their religion, such as libraries, complexes for courses in Gurmukhi, Sikhism and Sikh scriptures, meeting rooms, and room-and-board accommodation for those who need it. Gurdwaras are open to all people - regardless of gender, age, sexuality or religion - and are generally open all hours of a day. Some gurdwaras also provide temporary accommodations (serais) for visitors or devotees. The gurdwara also serves as a community centre and a guest house for travellers, occasionally a clinic, and a base for local charitable activities. Apart from morning and evening services, the gurdwaras hold special congregations to mark important anniversaries on the Sikh calendar. They become scenes of much éclat and festivity during celebrations in honour of the birth and death (Joythi Joyth Samaey) anniversaries of the Gurus and Vaisakhi.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gurudwaras.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Historical Gurdwaras", Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar, Punjab, India, www.SGPC.net, 2005.
  2. ↑ "Sikhism". TalkTalk. Helicon Publishing. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "The Gurdwara". http://www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 18 March 2013. External link in |work= (help)
  4. ↑ "Gurdwara Requirements". http://www.worldgurudwaras.com. Retrieved 18 March 2013. External link in |work= (help)
  5. ↑ H. S Singha (2000). The encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-81-7010-301-1.
  6. ↑ Rajit K. Mazumder (2003). The Indian army and the making of Punjab. Orient Blackswan. pp. 213–218. ISBN 978-81-7824-059-6.
  7. ↑ "BBC - Religions - Sikhism: The Gurdwara", BBC.co.uk, 2010.
  8. ↑ "BBC - Religions - Sikhism: Weddings", BBC.co.uk, 2010.
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