The Gurdwara
Gurdwara
A Gurdwara is the place where Sikhs come together for congregational worship.
There are about 200 Gurdwaras in Britain. The first Gurdwara in the world (it was called a "dharamsala" in those days) was built by Guru Nanak in 1521-2 at Kartarpur.
The literal meaning of the Punjabi word Gurdwara is 'the residence of the Guru', or 'the door that leads to the Guru'.
Although a Gurdwara may be called the residence of the Guru (meaning the residence of God), Sikhs believe that God is present everywhere.
The Guru in the Gurdwara
In a modern Gurdwara the Guru is not a person, but the book of Sikh scriptures called the Guru Granth Sahib.
It is the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib that gives the Gurdwara its religious status, so any building containing the book is a Gurdwara.
The Golden Temple at Amritsar also known as Harmandir Sahib (God's Temple); it was completed in 1604 ©
No pictures or statues
There are no idols, statues, or religious pictures in a Gurdwara, because Sikhs worship only God, and they regard God as having no physical form. Nor are there candles, incense, or bells, or any other ritualistic devices.
Before the time of Guru Arjun Dev, the place of Sikh religious activities was known as a Dharamsala, which means place of faith.
When Sikhs visit the Gurdwara
In India many Sikhs visit a Gurdwara before work. In Britain 39% of Sikhs go once a week, and most Sikhs go on Gurpurbs i.e. the festivals of the Gurus.
Sikhs do not regard any particular day of the week as a holy day, but usually go to a Gurdwara on Sundays as that fits the UK pattern of work.
The purpose of a Gurdwara
- It's a place to learn spiritual wisdom
- It's a place for religious ceremonies
- It's a place where children learn the Sikh faith, ethics, customs, traditions and texts
- A Gurdwara is also a community centre, and offers food, shelter, and companionship to those who need it.
Sikhs do not have ordained priests, and any Sikh can lead the prayers, and recite the scriptures to the congregation.
Each Gurdwara has a Granthi who organises the daily services and reads from the Guru Granth Sahib. A Granthi is not a priest but is the reader/custodian of the Adi Granth.
The Guru Granth Sahib ©
A Granthi must be fluent in reading Gurmukhi, and be properly trained in all aspects of looking after the Guru Granth Sahib. A Granthi is expected to be an initiated member of the Sikh Khalsa who lives a life that exemplifies the ideals of the Khalsa.
Gurdwaras are managed by a committee of their community.
Inside the Gurdwara
The focus of attention, and the only object of reverence in the main hall (or Darbar Sahib) of a Gurdwara is the book of Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, which is treated with the respect that would be given to a human Guru.
The Guru Granth Sahib is kept in a room of its own during the night and carried in procession to the main hall of the Gurdwara at the start of the day's worship.
The book is placed on a raised platform (Takht or Manji Sahib, meaning "throne") under a canopy (Chanani or Palki), and covered with an expensive cloth when not being read.
During a service a person with a whisk or fan called a Chaur waves it over the Guru Granth Sahib.
A chaur is waved over the Guru Granth Sahib ©
But although Sikhs show reverence to the Guru Granth Sahib, their reverence is not to the book itself, but to its spiritual content (shabad). The book is just the visible manifestation of the shabad.
The four doors
There are four doors into a Gurdwara, known as the Door of Peace, the Door of Livelihood, the Door of Learning and the Door of Grace.
These doors are a symbol that people from all four points of the compass are welcome, and that members of all four castes are equally welcome.
There's always a light on in a Gurdwara, to show that the Guru's Light is always visible and is accessible to everyone at any time.
Flying the flag
The Sikh flag ©
Gurdwaras fly the Sikh flag outside.
The flag is orange/yellow and has the Sikh emblem in the middle.