Outrage in Punjab over replica of Golden Temple

source: Outrage in Punjab over replica of Golden Temple - National News ? News ? MSN India - News


Monday, June 15, 2009



Outrage in Punjab over replica of Golden Temple

Sangrur (Punjab): The Sikh leadership in Punjab is furious over attempts by a sect to replicate the design and structure of their holiest shrine - the Golden Temple or Harmandar Sahib at Amritsar.


Reminiscent of the huge row after the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had sought to imitate the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh, by wearing look-alike robes in April 2007, the private shrine in Punjab's Sangrur district, 170 km from Chandigarh, seems to have upset everyone -- from common devotees to the apex Sikh clergy and the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC).

While an indignant SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar has ordered the management of the Gurudwara Sachkhand Angeetha Sahib at Mastuana to halt further construction on the structure, the head priest of the Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat of Sikhism), Giani Gurbachan Singh has declared it "sacrilegious".

"No one will be allowed to make a replica of Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple)," the Akal Takht head said.

A probe panel sent by the SGPC to Sangrur recorded video evidence and said in its report that the sect was trying to replicate Sikhism's holiest shrine. The panel reported "a blatant attempt to copy the design of Harmandar Sahib".

The roots of the controversy go back 40 years ago.

The shrine, owned by the cash-rich Mastuana Dera headed by Sant Sadhu Singh, has been under construction since 1967. It had provoked similar controversy when its outer shape became apparent in the early 1990s and the then Akal Takht Jathedar had issued a Hukumnama (religious edict) barring its completion till key structural changes were made.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/25415-outrage-punjab-over-replica-golden-temple.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25415

The Mastuana sect comprises of Sikh followers, mostly from the lower-strata of society. Its main influence is limited to a part of south-west Punjab's agricultural belt of Malwa.

Recent attempts to restart work on the incomplete shrine have provoked angry objections.

SGPC chief Makkar has summoned a meeting (Sarbat Khalsa) of important Sikh leaders and religious organisations at Amritsar on June 20 to decide on the fate of the Mastuana Gurudwara.

He said any attempt to replicate the sacred Harmandar Sahib built by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan dev himself, "would not be tolerated".

The Mastuana shrine management has submitted a written apology to the Akal Takht but its fate will be known Saturday.

"The issue, including specific directions on necessary structural alterations will only be issued after the June 20 meeting," a SGPC spokesman said.

The issue is expected to raise further acrimony amidst demands that the controversial Golden Temple replica be pulled down completely. SGPC chief Makkar has said he wants to "settle the matter once and for all".

IANS

 
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Who can replicate the heart?

Matter has been simmering for past 20 years...and now being brought to a BOIL...another _low caste-high caste jatt vs others battle plan is being planned....a wise enemy never lets up..and we have got one hell of a clever enemy...64 million dollar question..WHY ALLOW CANCER TO REACH TERMINAL STAGE ??
Answer: to KILL the PATIENT..but escape the blame...Sapp ve maar jayeh..sottee vee bach jaiyeh...is an old Punajbi Proverb....Kill the snake but save the Stick !!! CHAKRVIEW...Readers must read the Bhagvad Gita to find out how a chakrview operates...(surround and tire the enmey by numerous attacks/skirmishes....keep at it..until he falls vanquished...) BUT TRUE..

If you view thru Google Earth (satellite viewing) another structure similar to Sri Harmandir Sahib can be seen not far from it. The difference being, the island is bigger and the sarovar is the same size as Sri Harmandir Sahib.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25415
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25415

Our Gurus were far sighted when Mian Mir was asked to lay the foundation.
Because they knew what the Hindus were all about.

Guru Arjan often visited Lahore to interact with the Lahore sangat. On the occasion of one such visit he called on Sain Mian Mir. The two men of God met and became lifelong friends. Mian Mir was thirteen years older than Guru Arjan. Guru Arjan was responsible for the construction of many tanks and buildings. In 1589 he planned to build a Gurdwara in the center of the holy tank called Amritsar or the tank of nectar. As the temple was to be thrown open to people of all castes, creeds and climes, he invited Mian Mir to lay the foundation stone of the Harmandar.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25415

Mian Mir was given a warm welcome. The two holy men embraced each other in sincere love and regard. The purpose of the temple was disclosed to the Sufi saint. The Guru pointed out that the Hindu temples and Muslim mosques were built on a raised plinth. The Sikh Gurdwara would be erected on a lower plinth than the surrounding area. The idea was that God could be attained by bending low in submission and humility. The Hindu temples and Muslim mosques were closed on three sides and had only one doorway facing east and west respectively. His temple would be open on all the four sides implying that it would welcome persons of all the four castes, Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishas and Shudras; to all the four religions in the world, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, and to all the people from any country or climate from north, south, east and west.

The DM may be BIGGER..etc..etc..BUT otheh makhian bhinnkdeean neh...meaning its void of the hustle and bustle of the Harmandar Sahib....in FACT the ONLY person to RESIST arm twsiting tactics to "visit" the DM was Queen Elixzabeth II. She stuck to her guns and said..I came to visit Harmandar sahib..and period. Each visiting foreign dignitary is.."persuaded" to visit DM after paying visit to harmandar sahib to "equalize" the two...
BUT its not said for nothing..ORIGINAL.....VS...PIRATED COPY !! how to compare the two ?? One GURU made..the other human made... GOLD vs PITTAL..brass !!!

GOLD is expensive right now!!!!they will never pull this off. Maybe they should try a SILVER TEMPLE or something? Even I think a replica is in bad taste to say the least. Dont let me down extremists, GO GET EM! ahahahahahahah

NOt quite...the SANTS have TONS of GOLD...all donated by the starving minions...who eat dust..and feed their babies with watered milk called kachee lassi... .but donate pails of milk for these gogarrs - just look at the golden domes and golden palkis everywhere..do you think the saadhs sweated for that ??

what if people stop going to Gurudwaras?