The Golden Temple, a place of serenity and peace.

The Golden Temple

Located in Amritsar, the Sri Harimandir Sahib, most popularly known as the Golden Temple is not only the most sacred place of the followers of Sikhism but in the middle of the blue waters of the lake which is believed to have special healing powers, the Golden Temple stands majestically as a symbol of human brotherhood and equality.Regardless of cast, creed or race, everyone is welcomed in the Golden Temple to seek spiritual solace and religious fulfillment. Indeed, the four different entrances from the four directions of the temple symbolises that people from different walks of life are welcome to this holy shrine.

Ever since its completion in 1604 and having been subject to numerous attacks, the Golden temple is seen as one of the most, it not the most important temple of Sikhism. It has become a place of pilgrimage ans all Sikhs try to visit the place at least once in their life-time. One of the main reasons for this is that the holy script of the Sikhs, the Adi Sri Guru Grant Sahib is kept inside the Golden Temple.

The Golden Temple

The Golden Temple at night

The Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy sripture of the Sikhs

Note that the etiquettes for the visitors are that the shoes should be removed and the feet and hands mush be washed. Also, the head should be covered.

The concept of seva

"Do seva , selfless service, for the Holy Saints and the noose of death shall be cut away."

-Guru Granth Sahib: Paanaa 214, line 7) 

Seva or voluntary service is a prominent component of the Sikh religion. According to Sikhism, God pervades His creation, among whom also comes humanity. Hence, service to humanity is a form of worship. In fact in Sikhism, no worship is conceivable without seva. The Sikh must serve none than God. "Serve you the Lord alone; none else must you serve." (Guru Granth Sahib, P.490).

Simple forms of seva can include sweeping the floor of the gurudwara, serving water or fanning the congregation, offering provisions to and rendering any kind of service in the kitchen-cum-eating house or safe-guarding the foot-wears of those who have gone to worship the gurudwara.

Acts of seva

Langar

Founded by Guru Nanak (the founder of Sikhism), the langar means a free kitchen and is one of the most important institutions of this religion. The philosophy which lied behind the idea of langar was a radical departure of the norms of the then India.Ridden by caste hierarchies and restrictive religiosity of the ruling class on that period of time, the  langar was a place, where every human being, peasant or king, man or woman saint or sinner could sit as equals and share a common meal and is a practical expression of equality among humans. The food is prepared by the community for the community. Each gurudwara, however modest or lavish has a free kitchen.This ethos remains to this day and is perhaps the most visible form of seva that can be encountered in the modern day.

Preparing food for langar

Food serving in langar