What is a Gurdwara? What are its Functions? Gurdwara is the modified version of Gurudwara used by Guru Nanak in the bani (words, veric). But nowadays the brahmanized Sikh replaced the word Guru Dwara with Guru Ghar without paying any antention to the differences in the meanings of these two words. Ouru Dwara has been shortened into Gurdwara that is acceptable in modernization of languages as there are no differences in the meanings.) Although both words have Guru in common replacement of Dwara with Ghar makes lots of differences in their meaning. When Guru Nanak used the word Guru Dwara in his bani to referred Guru to the Almighty, thus Guru Dwara means the Gateway to the Almighty through Gurbani. But when you use Guru Ghar it means The House of the Almighty. According to thc boni of Guru Nanak there is no particular place in the universe for the Almighty Lo live in. Because according to Guru Nanak the Almighty pervades everywhere in the universe so much so that it pervades in the minds of everybody. Thus to call Guru Dwara or Gurdwara as Guru Ghar is hard to swallow. However, the brahmanized Sikhs who have coined this word, Guru Ghar, might argue that Guru Ghar means where the had Guru Granth Sahib (AGGS) resides. This argument is not valid because many Sikhs keep the AGGS in their residences and such residences cannot be called Guru Ghars under any circumstance. Nevertheless, I must add here that Bhai Kahn Singh (21) has used Gurdwara and Guru Ghar as interchangeable terms. I don’t agree to his interchangeable use because Guru Dwara is Guru Dwaru according to Gurbani.
Let us come back to the word Guru Dwara (Gurdwara) used by Guru Nanak in his bani. Let us also find out what does the critical interpretation of the following verse or Guru Nanak Ieaders us about Gurdwaras AGGS, MI, p.729-730. Meanings of special words:
In the above verse bhaanda means body and the mind, Guru means Almighty, dwara means gateway. maanis means man, amrit means. elixir gay and means the next world and three worlds used as similes, respectively. Interpretation:
-Only that body (mind) is pure that is liked by the Almighty.
– The body (mind) that is extremely polluted with vices cannot be cleansed just by washing.
It is only when one enters the gateway one can get wisdom (from Gurbani to realize the Almighty). -It is this gateway where after entering one can cleanse one’s polluted mind.
-(When one enters this gateway) then the Almighty Himself will make one to distinguish between the polluted and cleansed mind.
One must not understand that the mind can be cleansed after going to the next world.
It is here in this world “What you sow so shall you reap’. -The elixir of the life is the realization of the Almighty and He himself will distribute it to you.
Once one enters this gateway one will be honored.
– Then man will be honored everywhere (in the three worlds).
– Nanak says: you yourself will be contented and will make your filial generation (family) contented. AGGS, M 1, p 729-730.
The main theme conveyed in this verse by Guru Nanak is as follows: The polluted mind cannot be cleansed by washing the body. It can be cleansed only when one enters the gateway. As soon as you enter the gateway you find the Gurbani When the Gurbani, is recited, discussed Wichar disciplined in the following verse of the Fifth Nanak) and followed properly then one’s mindset cleansed. Guru Dawura, therefore, means frittering the gateway to Gurbani then understanding the Gurbani to learn to find the truth and contentment and ultimately so realize the Almighty so that one becomes most civilized
Importance of Vichar
(Discussion) When the sabd (words, verse) of the Almighty was compiled into a form of Granth by the Fifth Nariak, Guru Arjan, he mentioned the importance of discussion (vichar) of the subject matter wast) in it (thal) The final instructions to the Sikhs have been compiled at the end of the AGGS under the headingor Mundawani (scal in the form of conclusions) by Fifth Nanak as follows:
Article extracted from this publication >> February 10, 1995
