1/19/2012

Golden Temple Amritsar gurdwara

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Golden Temple Amritsar

***** Location: Amritsar, India
***** Season: Topic
***** Category: Humanity


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Explanation

The Harmandir Sahib - Harimandir Sahib
(Punjabi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ also Darbar Sahib
(Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, IPA: [dəɾbɑɾ sɑhɪb]),
also referred to as the Golden Temple,


is a prominent Sikh gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. Construction of the gurdwara was begun by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev. In 1604, Guru Arjan Dev completed the Adi Granth, the holy scripture of Sikhism, and installed it in the Gurdwara. In 1634, Guru Hargobind left Amritsar for the Shivalik Hills and for the remainder of the seventeenth century the city and gurdwara was in the hands of forces hostile to the Sikh Gurus.



During the eighteenth century, the Harmandir Sahib was the site of frequent fighting between the Sikhs on one side and either Mughal or Afghan forces on the other side and the gurdwara occasionally suffered damage. In the early nineteenth century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh secured the Punjab region from outside attack and covered the upper floors of the gurdwara with gold, which gives it its distinctive appearance and English name of "Golden Temple".
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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Karah Parshad

In Sikhism, Karah Parshad is a type of Semolina halva made with equal portions of semolina, butter, and sugar. It is offered to all visitors to the Darbar Sahib in a Gurdwara. It is regarded as food blessed by the Guru and should not be refused. As it has a very high sugar and oil content, visitors may ask the Sewadar for a small portion. As a sign of humility and respect, visitors accept the Karah Parshad sitting, with hands raised and cupped. The offering and receiving of this food is a vital part of hospitality protocols. It has the same amount of semolina, butter and sugar, to emphasise the equality of men and women. The Sewadar serves it out of the same bowl to everyone in equal portions. The Karah Parshad is a food which if not taken may make some Sikhs feel insulted. Karah Parshad is also taken at the initiation ceremony of Amrit Sanskar at the very end where it is shared out equally among all.

The Gurdwara is the place where Sikhs go to worship. Gurdwaras can be any size or shape, but one thing they always have is a kitchen, or langar. People can come there for food, and you can even rest there for the night. Every day a meal is prepared here for as many people who want to eat, you can eat free here.
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !

Karah Prasad
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Kara Parshad or Guru Parshad
is a sweet vegetarian pudding, which is offered to all visitors to the Darbar Sahib in a Gurdwara.
The recipe was given by Guru Gobind Singh and the experience of receiving the Guru's Parshad is a reminder that all blessings come by Guru's kirpa (grace) and that everything we receive in life is sweet to us because it comes from the Guru.

The ingredients for Kara Parshad are donated by members of the Sangat (congregation) often to commemorate special events in their family life. When you are offered Kara Parshad, you should accept it sitting down with cupped hands raised high to make it easy for the Sewadar to serve you. The Parshad is then transferred to the palm of one hand and eaten with the other hand. It is a good idea to take a “Napkin” to wipe any excess ghee off your hands.

It has a very high sugar and oil content, if these ingredients are not suitable for you, ask the Sewadar to give you a very small amount of “Parshad”– Say “very small portion” (or "sa-vah-yah") to the Sewadar (volunteer) as the approaches you and before you put up your cupped hands. You should take a small plastic bag (or ask for one from the Sewadar (volunteer) serving the Kara Parshad) to save your Kara Parshad to give to another later, or perhaps offer it to a child who is present if it is not to your taste – Please do not refuse it or throw it away as this is considered disrespectful to the Guru.
source : www.sikhiwiki.org


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way



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HAIKU


the Golden Temple -
its splendor emanates
in your haiku


Gabi Greve
January 2012


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stepping down
and turning back again -
a glimpse of the Golden Temple


Jasdeep Singh


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temple gate --
the morning sun shining
on her gray hair

in the temple pond
a little fish swims freely . . .
spring thaw

dawn aglow …
the sikh temple vivified
with sacred hymns


Sandip Sital Chauhan


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The Golden Temple -
a home to Sikh faith
& the pigeons

break in the journey --
I spot a cigarette kiosk
bang in front of a Gurdwara


exiting Gurdwara-
the feel of warm Karah Parshad
on my palm


Manu Kant


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evening aarti
shimmering image of Harimandir
in the sarowar


Jatinder Kaur


At Jagannaath Puri, a famous pilgrimage center of the Hindus, Guru Nanak noticed that the priests were more interested in the rituals and elaborate arrangements rather than in their love for God. So he stepped outside the temple and burst into the following masterpiece.
The Aarti
source : www.sikhiwiki.org



. Sarovar - The Sacred Pool .


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Related words

***** . Chuzon-Ji 中尊寺 Golden Temple in Japan .
Hiraizumi


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