Monday, November 28, 2011

 

Sat Nam everyone. This morning I peeled myself out of bed and my husband and I left our hotel at 2:30 in the morning for a windy and cold motor rickshaw ride to the Golden Temple. For the first time in our visit to Amritsar the streets were quiet. Sopurkh wrapped his arm around me, giving me comfort that I wouldn't go flying out of the rickshaw as our driver careened around the corners and over the unavoidable bumps and pot holes of the empty streets.

Upon arrival to the Golden Temple, the number of early rising devotees was astounding. I remember the sacred Parkarma (marble walkway around the Golden Temple) being virtually empty at this time of the morning in 1990 when I spent a few months in Amritsar. Every morning we would go to hear the sacred music of Asa Divar. It was one of the most incredible and transformative times of my life.

As we arrived, the gates to the Golden Temple were just being opened and a group of about 200 devotees poured in. We joined them to go and bow our heads. As we came to the threshold of the Golden Temple I brought my forehead to the marble of the threshold... something I had prayed for, remembered, and longed for all of these years. We made our way to where the Guru sits and gave our prayers and bowed. My usual spot on the bottom floor was already completely full. In conjunction with much of the energy of my life these days, I suddenly became a newcomer in a place I was once familiar with.... searching, and finding something new.

We made our way up one of the narrow marble staircases. The smell of the marble was almost sweet, bringing me back to my earliest memory of being at the Golden Temple when I was six years old and used to run up and down the staircases to find the Sevadaars serving the sweet and blessed treat called "Gur Prashaad." On the second floor we found a seat by a window that still allowed us to hear the beautiful Gurbani Kirtan. The morning air came through the window bringing in the sacred waters of the nectar tank that the Golden Temple sits in. The alchemy of the golden walls, the soft marble, the wind, the water, and the nectar of the Divine Gurbani Kirtan brought me right into my heart center. I could do nothing but close my eyes and receive the blessings of Guru Ram Das. Sopurkh and I sat for quite some time in the bliss of this energy.

At about five am it was time for us to go back to our hotel. We made our way out of the sanctum of the Golden Temple and passed over the walkway to bring us to the Parkarma. We were just in time to see our beloved Guru, the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, being brought out onto a beautiful palaquin of gold, covered in fresh flowers. The Siri Guru Granth Sahib is a collection of writings from the Sikh Gurus and saints of the Hindu, Muslim, and Sufi tradition that was solidified as our Guru by the tenth master Guru Gobind Singh in the 17th Century. Sometimes people wonder how I can bow to a Guru that is not in a living body form of a human. I can't explain it, but there is this energy that my soul is just connected to. As I caught a glimpse of the Guru, I dropped to the floor and bowed my head, and just started crying. My Guru, my Guru.... total surrender, love, and peace. The tears flowed as the Guru made its way to the Golden Temple, carried by loving devotees amidst the powerful horn being blown, and chanting.

On this day of Monday, of Gratitude, in the vibration of Thanksgiving, in the blessings of the Golden Temple... may your day, your week, your life and your next breath be filled with the remembrance and nectar of God's Name.

Blessings,

Snatam Kaur

Comments:
:)
....it is incredible how each year more and more people pack into Darbar Sahib to experience it majesty and magic ... i am blessed to go every year and with each passing year the number of devotees 'wrestling' to receive the gurus blessings just multiplies... on one hand i miss the old quieter days and on the other hand i am in awe of how the love and devotion for our guru keeps multiplying .. waheguru
 
It's like I was there too, thank you for sharing this beautiful experience!sat nam
 
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa..Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!! thanks a lot for making my day by sharing your experience with us...i truly can understand how you feel when you see Guruji's inside the golden palki....its been a long time since i have seen my Guru in that beautiful golden palki....all i can say is that, one really has to be blessed to have glimpse of Guruji....enjoy your divine stay at heaven on earth Darbar Saheb!!!
 
As. I sit here in the teachers lounge in LA, you transported met to Amritsar. Thank you
 
Thanks for beautifully describing your morning visit to The Golden Temple. Very inspiring.
Thanks again.
K.Kaur
 
WKWF,

WaheGuru Ji bless u all.

WKWF.
 
yes yes i see u dear sis u come tuseday morning also i see u ... but i cunfuse.... to see u u.. now i wating wednesday morning to say u sat shri akal nd ur family also
 
Guru Fateh!
What detail explanation of scene it feel like i am physically present there.
Many people agree with me that scenario narrated by is very emotional.

My tears too didn't hold back that monents.
May be True inner soul feel the Separation from The Wahiguru with whom its reunion had to be taken as is it is ultimate destiny
thanks
InderPreet Singh
 
Blessings to you, gentle soul. Satnam~
Anni Beale
 
I wish I could have been there. You should be a writer, I love how descriptive you are, you know how to take a person there in ones mind. I too felt the energy. Awesomeness.
 
How beautiful of an experience ! Can not be explained but felt.
 
May God bless u and give long life to serve the people with your sweet voice..............
For Amritsar:
" Amritsar sifti da Ghar "
 
I am totally frozen reading your blog...... getting to learn how a person from a different culture and land can be so dedicated to Guru Maharaj even more than us being born in sikh religion. You have put a few people like me to shame . Akal Purakh Guru Maharaj has blessed you so much with his truthfulness and love for him you are a blessed soul , he picks very few to know him , feel him , realize him . I had heard your name from Michael Angel(we both sing n produce music) several times but never got a chance to know your work n deeds ...oh my god your energy and shabads give me chills and tears as your soulful voice connects to the lord .My friend michaels mother was in Harbhajan bees ashram years ago .God Bless Jee ...Waheguru jee ka khalsa Waheguru jee ki Fateh !
 
I am totally frozen reading your blog...... getting to learn how a person from a different culture and land can be so dedicated to Guru Maharaj even more than us being born in sikh religion. You have put a few people like me to shame . Akal Purakh Guru Maharaj has blessed you so much with his truthfulness and love for him you are a blessed soul , he picks very few to know him , feel him , realize him . I had heard your name from Michael Angel(we both sing n produce music) several times but never got a chance to know your work n deeds ...oh my god your energy and shabads give me chills and tears as your soulful voice connects to the lord .My friend michaels mother was in Harbhajan jees ashram years ago .God Bless Jee ...Waheguru jee ka khalsa Waheguru jee ki Fateh !
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?