The story of a Temple
This is the story of a temple that was built as an abode for the Almighty on earth. The concept of making a temple as abode for the Almighty in itself is a unique concept. Sikh doctrine says that the Almighty is the creCreator Universe and doesn’t need an abode. He is all pervading and immanent. But the longing of his devotees to feel his closeness is very intensive and out of this longing, an abode is conceptualized. Guru Ramdas ji made the tank (Sarovar) under his supervision and while doing that preached the tenets of Sikhism. The fifth Guru Arjun Dev ji undertook the construction of the Temple that he called Harmandir – the abode of the Almighty. According to the Sikh vision, the Almighty is a universal l entity that sees the whole world with equality, therefore, the temple was built on this concept that people from all races, all castes and all status shall come here to seek the vision and blessings of the Almighty. The temple has four doors to signify this thought of equality. Guru Nanak’s approach for a union with the Lord of this world was to sing his praises. In the mansion of the Lord the Gods, Rishis, Muni’s, the fairies, the angels stand at the door and listen to the music instruments and praises sung in his honor. The water around this mansion creates an atmosphere of bliss and one is lost in the feeling of divinity’s presence. What a blissful creation by the fifth Master – known as Harmandir Sahib, Darbar Sahib, Sachhuh Khand, Swarn Mandir and Golden temple. Whatever the name the history of this bliss on earth has seen many ups and downs. The unique concept of Guru Nanak for developing a universal brotherhood concluded in a sovereign religion. This sovereignty of Sikhs became an eyesore for other religious doctrines that didn’t believe in the equality of humanity, sharing of wealth and power and wellness of humanity.
To a Sikh his place of worship is his lifeline and history is witness of his deep love for his place of worship because his Guru has suggested that his place of worship is not only daily rituals but a place where he can do sewa (community service), feed the hungry and congregate with the community to strengthen the ideals of his Gurus. The places of worship have become so sacred that he can protect them with his life. The daily prayers of Sikhs the Ardas never forgets to mention the sacrifices by thousands of Sikh men and women who lost their lives in protecting the Gurudwaras. Sikhs were forced to live in exile outside Punjab but whenever they heard of desecration of Golden Temple they came from the exile to fight for their holy place to restore its glory. In 1757 Taimur the son of Ahmed Shah Abdali took charge of the Punjab and the first thing he did was the destruction of Harmandir Sahib and filled its tank with debris. Sikhs were so enraged with this that they organized under Jassa Singh and fought with Afghans and restored the sanctity of Harmandir Sahib. Again Durrani invaded in 1762 and demolished the Temple and polluted its tank with cows’ blood. Sikhs rose again and restored the Temple. The Sikh Empire of Ranjit Singh ensured the sanctity of Gurudwaras. After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the British connived with Kashmiri Dogras and annexed Sikh Empire with the rest of their Raj. They had their own plans to spread Christianity in Punjab so they connived with Mahants to take control of Gurudwaras. Two main Gurudwaras were of Amritsar and Tarn Taran that were desecrated by Mahants by opening astrology shops, other shops, and idols of Hindus. They didn’t allow low caste people to come inside the precincts and pray. This was against the principles of Sikhism. Many voices rose to take control of Gurudwaras and prominent amongst them were organizations like Chief Khalsa Diwan, Singh Sabha and later Akalis joined them. The British were strict and connived with Mahants and paid no attention to the demands of the Sikhs. At the turn of the century, the protests of Sikhs spread widely to bring Gurudwara under their control and thousand paid with their lives when British colonial powers opened fire on peaceful marchers time and again. In the end, the British gave up as they needed Sikh soldiers for the First World War. Gurudwara Act came into being and Sikh temples were free to be operated with Sikh ideology. The first prayer after freedom of Golden temple was conducted and Prasad was distributed. This Prasad was cooked by the Mazhbi Singhs. The Sikh tradition of equality and sharing restored. All shops that promoted superstitions were removed and the glory of the mansion of the Almighty restored.
The worst attack on Golden Temple was yet to come and shatter the dreams of Sikhs. The Operation Blue Star was conducted by Indian Army on Golden Temple to flush out so-called militants. The demands of Sikhs were simply to fulfill promises made by Nehru at the time of Independence and stop distribution of Punjab waters to other States. The demands were for equal status that was given to other states in India like language status, own capital, and ownership of waters of Punjab. Longowal accord was signed but Congress always backed out. Punjab has no own capital and no high court till to date and it was brutally divided to make it a small state. The frustration of Sikhs was genuine but demolished by Indira Gandhi by a cruel act of Taliban mentality with an attack on sanctum sanctorum of Sikhs.
6th June 1984 is not a day for Sikhs to forget ever. The sanctity of the Golden Temple was desecrated; Akal Takht the highest seat of Sikh authority was completely demolished and the holy tank was filled with thousands of pilgrim’s bodies that were later burnt by Indian army at some secret place. Do you agree for such massacre in your own democratic country by your own people? My head hangs in shame to call my country democratic.
This is the story of a temple that was built as an abode for the Almighty on earth. The concept of making a temple as abode for the Almighty in itself is a unique concept. Sikh doctrine says that the Almighty is the creCreator Universe and doesn’t need an abode. He is all pervading and immanent. But the longing of his devotees to feel his closeness is very intensive and out of this longing, an abode is conceptualized. Guru Ramdas ji made the tank (Sarovar) under his supervision and while doing that preached the tenets of Sikhism. The fifth Guru Arjun Dev ji undertook the construction of the Temple that he called Harmandir – the abode of the Almighty. According to the Sikh vision, the Almighty is a universal l entity that sees the whole world with equality, therefore, the temple was built on this concept that people from all races, all castes and all status shall come here to seek the vision and blessings of the Almighty. The temple has four doors to signify this thought of equality. Guru Nanak’s approach for a union with the Lord of this world was to sing his praises. In the mansion of the Lord the Gods, Rishis, Muni’s, the fairies, the angels stand at the door and listen to the music instruments and praises sung in his honor. The water around this mansion creates an atmosphere of bliss and one is lost in the feeling of divinity’s presence. What a blissful creation by the fifth Master – known as Harmandir Sahib, Darbar Sahib, Sachhuh Khand, Swarn Mandir and Golden temple. Whatever the name the history of this bliss on earth has seen many ups and downs. The unique concept of Guru Nanak for developing a universal brotherhood concluded in a sovereign religion. This sovereignty of Sikhs became an eyesore for other religious doctrines that didn’t believe in the equality of humanity, sharing of wealth and power and wellness of humanity.
To a Sikh his place of worship is his lifeline and history is witness of his deep love for his place of worship because his Guru has suggested that his place of worship is not only daily rituals but a place where he can do sewa (community service), feed the hungry and congregate with the community to strengthen the ideals of his Gurus. The places of worship have become so sacred that he can protect them with his life. The daily prayers of Sikhs the Ardas never forgets to mention the sacrifices by thousands of Sikh men and women who lost their lives in protecting the Gurudwaras. Sikhs were forced to live in exile outside Punjab but whenever they heard of desecration of Golden Temple they came from the exile to fight for their holy place to restore its glory. In 1757 Taimur the son of Ahmed Shah Abdali took charge of the Punjab and the first thing he did was the destruction of Harmandir Sahib and filled its tank with debris. Sikhs were so enraged with this that they organized under Jassa Singh and fought with Afghans and restored the sanctity of Harmandir Sahib. Again Durrani invaded in 1762 and demolished the Temple and polluted its tank with cows’ blood. Sikhs rose again and restored the Temple. The Sikh Empire of Ranjit Singh ensured the sanctity of Gurudwaras. After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the British connived with Kashmiri Dogras and annexed Sikh Empire with the rest of their Raj. They had their own plans to spread Christianity in Punjab so they connived with Mahants to take control of Gurudwaras. Two main Gurudwaras were of Amritsar and Tarn Taran that were desecrated by Mahants by opening astrology shops, other shops, and idols of Hindus. They didn’t allow low caste people to come inside the precincts and pray. This was against the principles of Sikhism. Many voices rose to take control of Gurudwaras and prominent amongst them were organizations like Chief Khalsa Diwan, Singh Sabha and later Akalis joined them. The British were strict and connived with Mahants and paid no attention to the demands of the Sikhs. At the turn of the century, the protests of Sikhs spread widely to bring Gurudwara under their control and thousand paid with their lives when British colonial powers opened fire on peaceful marchers time and again. In the end, the British gave up as they needed Sikh soldiers for the First World War. Gurudwara Act came into being and Sikh temples were free to be operated with Sikh ideology. The first prayer after freedom of Golden temple was conducted and Prasad was distributed. This Prasad was cooked by the Mazhbi Singhs. The Sikh tradition of equality and sharing restored. All shops that promoted superstitions were removed and the glory of the mansion of the Almighty restored.
The worst attack on Golden Temple was yet to come and shatter the dreams of Sikhs. The Operation Blue Star was conducted by Indian Army on Golden Temple to flush out so-called militants. The demands of Sikhs were simply to fulfill promises made by Nehru at the time of Independence and stop distribution of Punjab waters to other States. The demands were for equal status that was given to other states in India like language status, own capital, and ownership of waters of Punjab. Longowal accord was signed but Congress always backed out. Punjab has no own capital and no high court till to date and it was brutally divided to make it a small state. The frustration of Sikhs was genuine but demolished by Indira Gandhi by a cruel act of Taliban mentality with an attack on sanctum sanctorum of Sikhs.
6th June 1984 is not a day for Sikhs to forget ever. The sanctity of the Golden Temple was desecrated; Akal Takht the highest seat of Sikh authority was completely demolished and the holy tank was filled with thousands of pilgrim’s bodies that were later burnt by Indian army at some secret place. Do you agree for such massacre in your own democratic country by your own people? My head hangs in shame to call my country democratic.
