Gurdwaras:
Place of God
The word 'Gurdwara' means Guru's
home. It is the Sikh place of worship. Gurdwaras, or Sikh Temples, were built at
important Sikh historical places in memory of events that had occurred there. It
is not easy to name each and everyone. However, like all religions, Sikhism has some
Gurdwaras that have more historical significance than others. Harmandir Sahib
is the most famous and world known Gurdwara.
Harmandir
Sahib
Harmandir
Sahib is commonly called Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple. The Golden Temple
name is given because it is covered in the gold plating. It is the most holy and
chief shrine for the Sikhs. It was built by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Amritsar. It is
built in the middle of a square tank called Sarovar. It has four doors, one in
each direction, indicating it is open to all. Golden
Temple is known world wide. Visitors from all over the world visit this
Gurdwara.
There are also the following five
Takhats meaning thrones which are of great significance in Sikhism :
1) Akal
Takhat
2) Keshgarh Sahib
3) Damdama Sahib
4) Patna Sahib
5) Hazoor Sahib
Akal
Takhat
The
Akal Takhat is the oldest and the first Takhat of the Sikhs. It is
inside the Golden Temple Complex in Amritsar. It was built by Guru
Hargobind Sahib Ji. The Akal Takhat is the political center or in
other words the highest seat of justice and worldly activity of the Sikhs.
Keshgarh
Sahib
Keshgarh
Sahib is a very important Gurdwara at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. This is
the place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji had started the Khalsa Order by
creating Khalsa brotherhood on the Baisakhi of 1699 AD, explaining the Panj
Pyaras and five K's.
Damdama
Sahib
Damdama
Sahib is located in Talwandi Sabo in Punjab. Guru Gobind Singh Ji stayed
here for nearly a year and prepared the Guru Granth Sahib Ji by revising
and recompiling scriptures and this revised version is the eternal Guru of
the Sikhs..
Patna
Sahib
Patna Sahib, also Known as Sri Harmander Sahib is a very important Gurdwara in
Patna, Bihar. It is the birth place of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Hazoor
Sahib
Hazoor sahib is a very important Gurdwara in the City of Nanded in Maharashtra. Guru
Gobind Singh Ji went for his heavenly abode here. It was
here that he passed the permanent Guruship to Guru Granth Sahib Ji before
his heavenly abode.
Gurdwaras have been built all over the world where there is a Sikh
population. The first Gurdwara in north America was built in 1912 in Stockton. A Gurdwara not only serves as a
place of worship and singing hymns but also serves as a center to promote Sikh
culture and knowledge of Sikh history. Rooms are set aside in Gurdwara buildings
for schools/libraries to promote the teaching of Punjabi, religious education,
music etc. The Gurdwara provides religious and community service. 'Nishan Sahib' (Sikh Flag) flies high on every Sikh Gurdwara. The Gurdwara
building has a Congregation hall and a langar hall. They might
be your neighbors but you never knew and you did not feel comfortable asking
them. In most of the big cities there are Gurdwaras where they hold
congregations on Sundays. Feel free to visit them to know more information.
Click
here to find the location of the local Gurdwara in your town.
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