Tarn Taran...For Real

The Darbar Sahib, the gurudwara at Tarn Taran was actually as beautiful, as peaceful...actually no, more serene, more peaceful, more beautiful even, than the golden temple. 

It was spell binding. Entering the space felt like being held...like being engulfed by this feeling of expanse and serenity. It mesmerized I believe.

The path leading upto the Gurudwara. You don't see the sarovar until you walk through that gate ahead.

The sarovar is enclosed on all sides by what they call the parikrama, the meditation chambers.

Entrance, you walk through  this water pool. Water's nice and warm, which feels heavenly in that cold.

Mom, not withstanding her bad knee, took this huge massive step to get a touch of the water. And I was simply shocked at how, until I figured how the space had taken over. It just inspires.

The old gate

Me. Background, all those arches, they are the meditation spaces.

The meditation spaces run all around this massive sarovar

The main Gurudwara building

I thought that made an interesting picture. Mom was totally oblivious to this group walking behind. Interestingly, most of them had not just the little kirpans, but the big ones the swords. No connection, but just saying.

Outside the temple. That's phulkari work, the Punjabi handwork on textiles.

The sarson ( don't know what the singlular is) plants being transported. He made such a sweet picture

Way back I asked Savinder if we could stop for chai, and he said 'Langar ka chai peethe hain', and he took us to this small gurudwara where there's langar tea all the time. It's served in these shallow bowls.

(courtesy Google Picture)

Savinder said "हम्हारे पंजाब में, जो भी हो या न हो , कोई एक आदमी भी भूखा पेट नहीं सोता है ! हर जगह गुरुद्वारा होता है और खाना ज़रूर मिलता है !"   (In our Punjab, whatever else true or not, one thing is, no one person ever goes to bed hungry, there is always a gurudwara nearby that provides food)

I thought that was really powerful, and something to be rightfully proud off. You could hear it in his voice.

Thanks again to Savinder.....he changed the texture of our visit.