Historical Gurdwaras in other Countries

Whenever we start thinking of Sikh organisations, the most important organisation that comes to our
mind is a Gurdwara, popularly known as Sikh temple at many places in India and in foreign countries. It
is this organisation about which every Sikh and all those persons who know something about Sikhism, are
familiar. So far Sikhs are concerned, it has not only been a religious place for them, but, much more for
their life and existence. Gurdwaras are so integral with the life of Sikhs that they have become a part of
Sikh psyche and cannot be separated from them. Its significance in the life of a Sikh is mainly because of its
unique features which distinguish Gurdwaras as religious places of the Sikhs from the religious places of the
people of other religions. Sri Guru Granth Sahib is not a holy book, but the Master itself in the form of divine
words enshrined therein. The installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the first and the foremost requirement
of a Gurdwara.
The concept of Sangat, meaning, a congregation assembled to listen and to recite the divine
words as contained in the Guru scripture, is another feature of the Gurudwara. It may be clarified that
congregation does not mean Sikhs alone, but anybody from any religion, caste, creed, sex, and nationality
can become a part of this congregation. That is why there are gates to the Gurdwara on all the four sides
implying that anybody is welcome from any side. Then there is a free kitchen known as Langar to feed all the
people without any discrimination. The word ‘Langar’ of Sikh religion is one of those words which have been
adopted by English Dictionaries and defined therein in context of Sikh religion (Kirpan is another such word).
The Sikh flag, known as Nishan Sahib, saffron or blue in colour just outside the central sanctum flies so
high that it appears to beacon all the people to the holy place. All these things combined have endeared
Gurdwaras so close to the heart of Sikhs that they cannot think of living anywhere without a Gurdwara near
or around them. A Sikh learns everything in his life from this place, he has answer to all his questions at
this place, and he is prepared to sacrifice even his life to protect the Gurdwara from any kind of harm.
The
question may arise as how the Gurdwara has attained such significant place in the life of a Sikh. S. Patwant
Singh rightly says that “only a historical approach can explain how the Gurdwara-going tradition developed
in the lives of the Sikh people and how past associations and events have influenced the intensity of the
present relationship between the Sikh and their Gurdwaras.

From Dharamsals to Gurdwaras

It is believed that the first Dharamsal was setup by Guru Nanak Dev Ji at the residence of Bhai Lalo (the
only Sikh devotee, whose named has been mentioned by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in one of his compositions).
When, after finishing his spiritual journeys, the Guru finally settled at Kartarpur on the bank of the river Ravi
(which city is now in Pakistan), He setup a Dharamsal at that place where he used to address his devotees
with divine words and all of them together meditated on the holy name of God. These Dharamsals were
the forerunners of Gurdwaras, which nomenclature was given to them after the installation of Adi Granth in
Dharamsals during the period of the Sixth Guru. The word Gurdwara consists of two words Gur and Dwara,
which means the door to the Guru. Sometimes the word Dwara is interpreted as house, and as such the word
Gurdwara will mean the house of the Guru. Some people explain it in different ways by spelling it differently.
However, the familiar meaning of Gurdwara is a religious place where Sri Guru Granth Sahib is installed and
those who have faith in the teachings of the Masters, visit it as their religious place.