Praying at the Holy Temple of the Sikhs (Gurudwara) | Travel Photographer
A Gurudwara is the holy temple of the Sikhs. But unlike Hindu temples and Christian churches a Gurudwara has no image of any guru or saint. There are also no statues or icons inside. The only object of worship in a Gurudwara is the Granth sahib the holy book of the Sikhs.
The tenth Guru Gobind Singh had decreed that after his death there would be no guru and all Sikhs were enjoined to worship the Granth sahib the holy book of the Sikhs. The Granth sahib written in a Hindi dialect of that period called the Braj Bhasa is a compilation of sacred writings and verses of the Sikh gurus and also includes Muslim and Hindu saint’s verses.
The granth sahib is worshiped as a god and all rituals are carried out by treating the granth as the epitome of the Sikh religion. The holy book is kept in the centre of the prayer hall and a granthi or Sikh priest reads the verses of the book. In addition the book is kept on a raised podium with a canopy on it as a cover.
All visitors to the Sikh temple are to first remove their shoes and socks and enter the temple only barefoot. They are also enjoined to keep their head covered. Sikhs will wear the turban or a small under turban called the patka. Non Sikhs can enter by covering their head with a handkerchief or cloth or scarf. No woman is to enter the temple without covering her head. Even the Prince Charles had entered the Golden temple at Amritsar with his head covered.
Devotees entering the temple must remove their shoes and socks as well as wash their hands and feet before entering the prayer hall. Woman worshipers are also to follow the same ritual.
After entering inside the devotee is to walk towards the Granth sahib and kneel before the holy book. If he wishes he can make a donation in the box that is kept in front of the book. After kneeling he can take a round of the holy book and then sit down on the carpet to listen to the recitation of verses from the granth.
Sikh gurudwaras are open to people of all faiths and castes. There is no bar to anyone and even a scheduled caste Hindu can pray at the temple. Sikh gurudwaras are the centre of the Sikh religion and all functions revolve around the holy book. Marriages are also conducted with the bride and groom taking 4 rounds around the guru granth sahib.
The Sikh religion is a simple religion with very little complications and rituals. It is in effect a religion in tune with the modern age.
– Article written by @ Madan G Signh
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