(A4) THE GOLDEN TEMPLE
Artist – Chuck Marshall
Giclee on Canvas
Artist – Chuck Marshall
Giclee on Canvas
(A4) THE GOLDEN TEMPLE : Artist – Chuck Marshall Giclee on Canvas
The Golden Temple (or Gurdawra) in Amritsar, India is the central religious place of the Sikhs. It is a symbol of brotherhood and equality. All are welcome to seek spiritual solace there, irrespective of if cast, creed, or race. Built in the style of traditional Sikh architecture, it sits below the level of the surrounding land, symbolizing humility.
There are four doors to get into the temple which symbolize the four directions (north, south, east, and west). The holiest text of Sikhism is a collection of writings by all 10 Sikh Gurus and compiled into the text, which is named Guru Granth Sahib. It resides under a building called Durbar Sahib which is the holy place of worship.
Over 100,000 people visit the holy shrine daily for worship. There are four entrances to the Gurdwara signifying the importance of acceptance and openness. Once inside there are many shrines to past Sikh gurus, saints, martyrs, and three holy trees (bers), each signifying a historical event or a Sikh saint, along with many memorial plaques that commemorate past Sikh historical events, saints, martyrs, and all the Sikh soldiers who died fighting in World Wars I and II. Much of the present decorative gilding and exquisite gold and marble work dates from the early 19th century, under the patronage of Hukam Singh Chimni, and Emperor Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Sikh Empire in the Punjab.
Further notes on Sikhism:
Sikh - meaning a "disciple", "seeker," or "learner"), is a monotheistic religion that originated in the Punjab region in the northern part of India around the end of the 15th century. It is one of the youngest of the major world religions and the world's fifth largest organized religion, as well as being the world's ninth-largest overall religion. The fundamental beliefs of Sikhism, articulated in the sacred script Sikhure Guru Granth Sahib, include faith and meditation on the name of the one creator, divine unity and equality of all humankind, engaging in selfless service, striving for justice for the benefit and prosperity of all, and honest conduct and livelihood while living a householder's life. In the early 21st century, there were nearly 25 million Sikhs worldwide, the great majority of them living in Punjab, according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Sikhism is based on the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Guru (1469–1539), and the nine Sikh gurus that succeeded him. The Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, named the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib as his successor, terminating the line of human Gurus and making the scripture the eternal, religious spiritual guide for Sikhs. Sikhism rejects claims that any particular religious tradition has a monopoly on Absolute Truth.
The Sikh scripture opens with Ik Onkar, its Mul Mantar, and fundamental prayer about One Supreme Being (God). Sikhism emphasizes simran (meditation on the words of the Guru Granth Sahib), that can be expressed musically through kirtan, or internally through Nam Japo (repeat God's name) as a means to feel God's presence. It teaches followers to transform the "Five Thieves" (lust, rage, greed, attachment, and ego). Guru Nanak taught that living an "active, creative, and practical life" of "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" is above the metaphysical truth, and that the ideal man is one who "establishes union with God, knows His Will, and carries out that Will".
Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, established the political/temporal (Miri) and spiritual (Piri) realms to be mutually coexistent.
There are four doors to get into the temple which symbolize the four directions (north, south, east, and west). The holiest text of Sikhism is a collection of writings by all 10 Sikh Gurus and compiled into the text, which is named Guru Granth Sahib. It resides under a building called Durbar Sahib which is the holy place of worship.
Over 100,000 people visit the holy shrine daily for worship. There are four entrances to the Gurdwara signifying the importance of acceptance and openness. Once inside there are many shrines to past Sikh gurus, saints, martyrs, and three holy trees (bers), each signifying a historical event or a Sikh saint, along with many memorial plaques that commemorate past Sikh historical events, saints, martyrs, and all the Sikh soldiers who died fighting in World Wars I and II. Much of the present decorative gilding and exquisite gold and marble work dates from the early 19th century, under the patronage of Hukam Singh Chimni, and Emperor Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Sikh Empire in the Punjab.
Further notes on Sikhism:
Sikh - meaning a "disciple", "seeker," or "learner"), is a monotheistic religion that originated in the Punjab region in the northern part of India around the end of the 15th century. It is one of the youngest of the major world religions and the world's fifth largest organized religion, as well as being the world's ninth-largest overall religion. The fundamental beliefs of Sikhism, articulated in the sacred script Sikhure Guru Granth Sahib, include faith and meditation on the name of the one creator, divine unity and equality of all humankind, engaging in selfless service, striving for justice for the benefit and prosperity of all, and honest conduct and livelihood while living a householder's life. In the early 21st century, there were nearly 25 million Sikhs worldwide, the great majority of them living in Punjab, according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Sikhism is based on the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Guru (1469–1539), and the nine Sikh gurus that succeeded him. The Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, named the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib as his successor, terminating the line of human Gurus and making the scripture the eternal, religious spiritual guide for Sikhs. Sikhism rejects claims that any particular religious tradition has a monopoly on Absolute Truth.
The Sikh scripture opens with Ik Onkar, its Mul Mantar, and fundamental prayer about One Supreme Being (God). Sikhism emphasizes simran (meditation on the words of the Guru Granth Sahib), that can be expressed musically through kirtan, or internally through Nam Japo (repeat God's name) as a means to feel God's presence. It teaches followers to transform the "Five Thieves" (lust, rage, greed, attachment, and ego). Guru Nanak taught that living an "active, creative, and practical life" of "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" is above the metaphysical truth, and that the ideal man is one who "establishes union with God, knows His Will, and carries out that Will".
Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, established the political/temporal (Miri) and spiritual (Piri) realms to be mutually coexistent.
