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| - Sikh temple ready to meet area's spiritual needs By FRANK KOCHER November 28, 2008 ESCONDIDO ---- The culmination of a 13-year effort by the local Sikh community will occur next Friday, Dec. 5, when their new temple in Escondido holds its first worship service. "This is a big moment for us. Some of our children were in kindergarten when we started and are now in college," said Baljit Singh Toor, the chairman of the board of the Sikh Society of San Diego. Toor said that on Dec. 5, the temple, or gurdwara, as the Sikhs call it, will host a three-day ceremony known as Akhandh Path, during which the entire Sikh sacred scripture (Granth) is recited in an uninterrupted reading, a tradition for newly opened places of Sikh worship. For the past 10 years, Sikhs (pronounced "seeks") in the Escondido, San Marcos and Temecula areas have been gathering at Del Dios Middle School for weekly religious services, Toor said ---- the next-nearest gurdwaras being in Poway and Riverside. The new temple has 7,900 square feet and includes a large worship hall, a kitchen to prepare community meals, a room for a spiritual leader and restrooms. The building will serve a community of Sikh worshipers estimated by Toor at about 150 families. The gurdwara is near the southeastern corner of West Valley Parkway and Avenida del Diablo, and is on land purchased in 1995. The entire project cost about $1.5 million, which is being paid for by the local congregation. "This is the first phase," Toor said. "The next step is to put three domes up, in three to four months." The domes are coming in pieces from the East Coast and will be assembled locally. "In six to 12 months, we will be in the following phase, with a Sunday school for children aged 4 to 16, and a dining hall." Sikhism is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world, with more than 23 million followers, according to several online resources. It originated in the Punjab region of northern India in the early 15th century. The word Sikh means "disciple" or "learner" in Sanskrit. Founded on the teachings of the guru Nanak, the faith grew in the region during the time of this first guru (teacher) and nine subsequent Sikh gurus. The teachings of the gurus and other writings compose the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy scripture of the Sikh faith. Among other writings, this scripture includes about 3,000 poetic compositions, many of them hymns. The teachings of the Sikh gurus differed greatly from the dominant Hindu beliefs in the area at the time. Unlike Hinduism, Sikhism is monotheistic ---- but unlike the Abrahamic monotheistic faiths of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, Sikhs believe in Vahiguru, the Universal God, also known as the Akal Purakh, or Timeless Being. Through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and messages of this non-humanlike God, followers of Sikhism pursue liberation and the realization of truth. The Sikh faith places much emphasis on attaining harmony with the message of the Vahiguru, despite man's tendency for inherent self-centeredness. The reward is liberation from an otherwise endless cycle of transmigration and rebirth, to a goal of a mystical union in eternal serenity with the Universal God. Though there is no formal priesthood, gatherings for Sikh worship are led by a granthi, or "keeper of the scripture." The granthi leads the congregation in readings of scripture and singing hymns to musical accompaniment and reciting prayers, called ardas, before concluding by reading a hymn from scripture. Many Sikh men wear their hair uncut, and many cover their heads with a cloth turban. They also may carry specific articles as part of their faith, such as a comb, a steel bracelet, a small sword or blade, and specially cut shorts. Sikh worshippers traditionally bring food to prepare and share a meal in a large kitchen ---- it is considered part of the devotional experience. This community activity also shows a distinction between the caste system prevalent in India and its rejection by the Sikhs, who believe in equality of all humans. One benefit to the local Sikh community of having their own gurdwara instead of renting space in a public school is having an area to prepare meals for the weekly services. Toor said the meals, Punjabi vegetarian dishes, are prepared at every service by a family that volunteers. "Services are held every Sunday." said Toor. "Sikhs observe special days for the 10 Gurus. The day of birth, of passing, and also when the last guru passed away is observed. There will be plenty of room for these observances in the new gurdwara. "Then, we will be reserving the main hall for marriage ceremonies, instead of going to Riverside or Poway. In Sikhism, marriages are required to be held in front of the granth." For those who are curious, visitors are welcome, although they are asked to abide by Sikh customs. "Services are open to everyone, as long as they take off their shoes and cover their heads," Toor said ---- adding that hair coverings are provided by the church for visitors' use.
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