By T. Selva
Such obeisance leads to the path of self-discovery and makes life more meaningful.
SUNDAY is a day to unwind and relax. For some, it would be a day to seek divine grace by visiting places of worship of their respective faiths.
Prayers are vital to ease the stressful lifestyle many of us put up with daily and ancient Indian scriptures urge people to sought comfort through prayer at least once after sunrise or before the start of their daily routine.
It can be done at the place where an individual resides or at any place of worship.
However, it is sad to note that some people only pray when they run into problems. This is improper because spiritual practices should be part and parcel of our daily conscious living.
Such obeisance leads us to the path of self-discovery and makes our life more meaningful and, in the process, guides us to handle our challenges with strength and confidence.
From young, I have been taught that prayer is so powerful that when it is done with full faith and respect, it can remove obstacles, anger, fear, struggles, hatred and problems, and it provides protection and ensures peace of mind.
Besides performing our duties at home, visiting powerful places of worship also helps us to further enlighten ourselves.
It is said that you don’t have to believe in spirituality but by placing your foot at any such holy sites, one can experience transformation because of the peaceful force they vibrate.
I have been often asked what my favourite sacred place is among the many of different faiths I have visited worldwide and I am unable to pick one in particular.
But in my top five spiritual places would certainly be the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, which I visited last week for the second time in six months.
To me, the place should be considered as one of world’s wonders because its beauty is astonishing and the peacefulness it exudes is so therapeutic.
The Harmandir Sahib or the Abode of God, popularly known as the Golden Temple, is a living symbol of the spiritual and historical traditions of the Sikhs.
It has been a source of inspiration to the community and a place of pilgrimage ever since its establishment in the 16th Century.
The devotion shown by the devotees visiting the temple is overwhelming and I marvelled at the architectural splendour of its gold domes and minarets and its ornate marble hallways.
The Buddha is known to have spent time at this place in contemplation and 2,000 years after Buddha’s time, another philosopher-saint came to live and meditate by the peaceful lake.
This was Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh religion. After the passing away of Guru Nanak, his disciples continued to frequent the site. Over the centuries, it became the primary sacred shrine of the Sikhs.
The temple’s architecture is richly ornamented with marble sculptures, golden gilding, and large quantities of precious stones.
Within the sanctuary, on a jewel-studded platform, lies the Adi Grantha, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs. This scripture is a collection of devotional poems, prayers and hymns composed by the Sikh gurus.
The amazing thing about this temple is that hymns are chanted to accompaniment of flutes, drums and stringed instruments round the clock.
The enchanting music echoes across the serene lake and it induces a powerful state of trance in the pilgrims walking around the marble concourse encircling the pool and temple.
Throughout the day and night, pilgrims immerse themselves in the water – a symbolic cleansing of the soul rather than an actual bathing of the body – before entering the temple proper.
Next to the temple complex are enormous pilgrim dormitories and dining halls where all persons, irrespective of race, religion, or gender, are lodged and fed for free. Another thing that moves me is that the temple is operated through a voluntary service and although thousands of devotees and tourists visit the ground every hour, all movements are done in an orderly manner with discipline.
One thing I am sure about is that I’m very likely to visit the Golden Temple again because it has some powerful energy that draws devotees to visit it again and again.
T. Selva, The Star’s Sunday Metro Editor, feels that visiting spiritual sites connects people to deeper meaning, greater simplicity and the divine.
STAR, 17/2/2008
