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The Golden Temple |
"All places have I seen, none can compare to thee."
-- Guru Arjan
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The Sikh Gurus recognized how easily temple worship and pilgrimage can become empty
rituals, and he encouraged his followers to seek God where he may always be found -
not outside in buildings, but within one's own being. The Name, Nam, dwells
within everyone, as does the soundless Word of Truth, why search outside for what
can be found within? But provided this is understood as the priority, it does not
prevent Sikhs from building shrines to mark important places and events in Sikh
history. The Golden Temple, or Harimandir Sahib, built by Guru Arjan in Amritsar, Punjab is the
most important gurdwara, or Sikh temple, for the Sikhs.
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The Wish of Guru Arjan
Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru, wanted the Golden Temple to be open for worship to all,
regardless of caste, color, country, or sex. He declared all occupations sacred and
all classes equal, and stated:
"If I go to a temple, I see men boasting;
If I enquire of Brahmins, I find them proud.
O my friends, show me that place
Where only God's praises are always sung."
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The Harimandir:
The Golden Temple, which was completed in 1601 by Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru,
stands at the center of the holy lake of Amritsar and houses the sacred book of
the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib. In the Punjabi language, the temple is called
Harimandir Sahib (House of God).
Taking Langar:
The practice of langar, eating a communal meal, is central to the Sikh community
and reflects the Sikh ideal of charity and service, where each gives according
to their capacity and takes according to their needs. A Punjabi meal is provided
free to all who come, regardless of caste or status. Everyone present must sit
on the ground, stressing equality.
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The History of the Golden Temple: The Golden Temple was first built in
1601, and the Guru Granth Sahib was installed in 1604. Always a political as
well as a religious center, the temple has been the scene of many conflicts.
Afghan invaders seized Amritsar in 1756 and desecrated the temple. A few years
after being rebuilt, in 1762, another Afghan attack from Ahmad Shah destroyed the
temple and polluted the sacred lake with the bodies of slaughtered cows. The
latest conflict at the temple was in 1984, when there was damage to the temple
due to conflict with the Indian government.
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