INSIDE THE GURU'S GATE - Anpere

the book is set in a context of external relationships articulated in language and social
practices of humans. Through these routine acts, enacted by devotees, the scripture
manifests itself as a “social other” and becomes the target of real ministration within
the framework of social relationships between the Guru and devotees. The ritual
action does not merely reflect or represent existing relationships, but are external
strategies to effectively create the presence and authority of a majestic Guru who
continues to interact with disciples. 348 Simultaneously the scripture is presented in a
setting that is aimed at the inner centre of the text, that is, gurbani or the words and
teaching of Gurus which eventually is the true Guru. The arrangement of spaces and
ritual acts in a gurdwara has “concentric” features to underscore that what should be
the object of veneration is not only the scriptural corpus, but the interior of gurbani.
The daily ceremonies of unwrapping and wrapping the clothes of Guru Granth Sahib
have the function of revealing and concealing its internal form and thereby regulate
the routes of entry and access to its interior. Considering spatial arrangement the
book cover of Guru Granth Sahib constitutes the external vessel which enshrines and
protects the locus of agency ‒ the words dwelling within the pages of the text (See
Figure 10). The scripture is further enveloped with layers of textiles: firstly white
underwear in cotton and over that robes to suit the weather of the season. Whenever
the scripture is inactive, not opened or read from, it is covered with these clothes. At
the heart of the gurdwara the scripture is mounted on a royal throne in a higher position
and fronted by flowers, weapons and other attributes in possession and service
of the Guru. The royal seat is surrounded by the devotional assembly and the constant
stream of individual devotees who seek darshan and present the Guru with
offerings and prayers. By their bodily presences and acts of reverence devotees are
virtually wrapping the scripture in a social layer. The outermost “wrapper” around
the Guru is the gurdwara building, the entrance of which marks the transition to a
pure and peaceful space permeated with the sound of gurbani. Outside the gurdwara
hall, but still within the temple complex, are the social institutions of the communal
kitchen, school, hospital, etc., which represents the Gurus’ teaching implemented in
the world. Visitors who enter the gurdwara will move through these different layers
in an opposite direction than described here, from the outer space of charity towards
the physical centre of the scriptural throne, and eventually reach the inner ‒ gurbani
mediated in script or sound from the unfolded book. Whenever the scripture is
opened and recited or sung from, all the layers will be penetrated by the sound of
gurbani.
Although it only requires the presence of a printed copy of Guru Granth Sahib to
create a gurdwara, this chapter has so far illustrated that local Sikhs put a great deal
of effort into designing and enchanting this space to situate the scripture in an extraordinary
surrounding. The most guarded areas are the scriptural throne and the
348
Gell 1998.
176
Published on www.anpere.net in May 2008