One of my fav’ places in the world: Darbar Sahib, Amritsar
“Dithe Sabe Thanv, Nahin Tud Jehaya” : I have seen everything in this world but there is nothing like you.
Darbar Sahib is my FAVORITE place in the world. It is very, very close to my heart. Even right now, I feel am here in Delhi and my heart, my soul is there, out there in Amritsar!! I am just pining to visit Amritsar.
Today, on the eve of the birthday of Guru Ramdas, I thought I could write something here, an ode if you will, to this place. I am not sure if I’d be able to put all my thoughts into words, ‘coz am not sure if I’d be able to express really how I feel when I am there, in Amritsar. But I am going to try for sure.
Well, we have made several trips to Amritsar. We really don’t have family there and we usually go to visit Darbar Sahib only.
I clearly remember my first trip. It was during the school vacations, on a hot June- day that I found myself standing in the long queue at the door, waiting to go inside. For those who have never been there, The Gurudwara itself is housed in a very large complex. So, you walk inside and then you have to wait in a long line of believers to go inside, inside where Babaji is present. Again, I’d like to specify here that (for those of you who don’t know) the “Guru Granth Sahib” is a living breathing Guru for us and not merely a scripture.
So I was talking about my first trip and there I was standing in a long line, with people jostling for space under a hot sun. You can only imagine how I felt. I just wanted to get out of there. But, then I was a kid then and was bound to get a little irritated.
We have made many, wonderful, beautiful trips after this first one, and my love has only grown with each and every passing trip.
Every time, as the train (or our car) pulls out in the station, we hire an auto to the Gurudwara Sahib and make our way through the serpentine bylanes of Amritsar to reach the complex. I wait impatiently to reach the gurudwara. Trust me, the bylanes are vey tricky and kudos to the auto & rickshaw- drivers who cleanly drive through the narrow roads dotted with old- style houses.
You always know when you’re about to reach the complex. One hears the mellifluous renditions of shabads along with few glances of the beautiful golden domes of the complex, and then there you are standing at the door of this massive- beautiful complex.
Whenever I reach the door and bow my head with love and respect, I cannot even describe the feeling. It is palpable. I feel as if am HOME and happy, content and at peace. I feel as if nothing can touch me now and I can do anything, as I have reached the place I wanted to, the place I was meant to.
Thanks to my mom, who always makes sure that each and every time we go to Amritsar, we spend the maximum amount of time in the gurudwara and not outside. So the moment we reach, we dunk our bags in the room and our first plan of action is to reach inside as soon as possible and spend the time inside.
We always have a plan to go around the large crowds, which you would invariably find here, anytime you visit. We walk fast and when we reach the queue at the kiwar, we jostle through small spaces to get as far ahead as we can and then we try and find a place inside to sit. Its always like this. Me and my mom, we sit inside and my dad and my bro, they either sit upstairs or at the parikrama.
I absolutely love this place and the energy there is absolutely conspicuous and this combined with the soul-stirring shabads, you just cannot let your mind wander off. Heck! It does not wander off. This remarkable, unmistakable feeling that you have when you are there, you won’t find that anywhere else.
Even during the Gurupurabs, when you have large crowds gathered there and people come in throngs from nearby villages, then the place becomes like a fair. I have been there during a Gurupurab and the crowds are just unbelievable. But then there is nothing else that’s amiss. Everything is managed so well that you cannot be anything but thankful for being there.
Oh! How I wish I could be there, right now!! I am planning to go there soon and I aim to spend a considerable time there.
Let me just sign off with these lines here:
ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਲੋਚੈ ਗੁਰ ਦਰਸਨ ਤਾਈ ॥
maeraa man lochai gur dharasan thaaee ||
My mind longs for the Blessed Vision of the Guru's Darshan.
(15 Maajh Guru Arjan Dev)
ਬਿਲਪ ਕਰੇ ਚਾਤ੍ਰਿਕ ਕੀ ਨਿਆਈ ॥
bilap karae chaathrik kee niaaee ||
It cries out like the thirsty song-bird.
(15 Maajh Guru Arjan Dev)
ਤ੍ਰਿਖਾ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਦਰਸਨ ਸੰਤ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥
thrikhaa n outharai saanth n aavai bin dharasan santh piaarae jeeo ||1||
My thirst is not quenched, and I can find no peace, without the Blessed Vision of the Beloved Saint. ||1||
(15 Maajh Guru Arjan Dev)