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Sikhism: Celebration and Pilgrimage » Pilgrimage in Sikhism and the Harmandir Sahib

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Sikhism (4RS1/2F), 2.2

Different Sikh attitudes to pilgrimage today, and why it is not a duty
The history of the Harmandir Sahib, from the pool to the golden temple
What its design and its continuous hymns show about Sikh beliefs
Why it is the best-loved Sikh place of worship

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Quick recall

You have learned that a gurdwara is a Sikh place of worship, that the Guru Granth Sahib is the living Guru, and that Guru Arjan compiled the Adi Granth. This lesson uses those ideas to ask a new question: should Sikhs travel to holy places, and why does one temple in Amritsar matter so much?

Pilgrimage in Sikhism

A pilgrimage is a journey to a place that is special to a religion. Many faiths ask followers to make such journeys. Sikhism is different, because pilgrimage is not a duty. No Sikh is told they must visit any place to be a good Sikh.

Key terms:

Pilgrimage: a journey to a place that is holy or important to a religion.
Harmandir Sahib (recap from Sikhism in a Multi-Faith Society): "the Temple of God", the most important gurdwara for Sikhs, in Amritsar in Punjab, India. It is often called the Golden Temple.
Sarovar: a holy pool. The Harmandir Sahib stands in the middle of one.

🙏 Guru Nanak's teaching

Guru Nanak taught that bathing at holy places does not wash away wrongdoing if the heart is not devoted to God. God is everywhere, so there is no need to travel to find God. For Sikhs, the real pilgrimage is the journey within: remembering God, living honestly and serving others.

🚶 Why many Sikhs still go

Many Sikhs visit places linked to the Gurus. They go to learn Sikh history, to worship with others and to feel part of the worldwide Sikh family. They do not go to earn rewards or to be forgiven.

So there are different attitudes. Some Sikhs treat a visit as an important, moving experience and hope to go at least once. Others say the journey is optional and what matters most is daily devotion and sewa (selfless service) wherever they live. Both groups can point to Guru Nanak, because he warned against empty ritual, while the Gurus also built places where the sangat could meet.

The history of the Harmandir Sahib

Follow the story in order.

The pool. Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru, had a pool dug on the site. A town grew around it and became Amritsar, a name linked to the "pool of nectar".
The temple. Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru, had the temple built in the middle of the pool. By tradition, the foundation stone was laid by Mian Mir, a Muslim saint who was a friend of the Guru. Sikhs often point to this as a sign that the temple is for people of every faith.
The Adi Granth. In 1604 the Adi Granth was installed in the temple. From then on, the Guru's words were at the heart of the building.
Rebuilding. The temple was attacked and damaged more than once in later years, and each time the Sikh community rebuilt it. This is one reason Sikhs see it as a symbol of survival.
The gold. In the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh ruler of Punjab in the first half of the 1800s, the upper parts were covered in gold, which is why many people call it the Golden Temple.

The Akal Takht, opposite the temple, was badly damaged in June 1984 and rebuilt by the Sikh community; many Sikhs remember this with sorrow.

What the design teaches

🚪 Four entrances

There is a door on each side. This shows that people from every direction, every background and every faith are welcome.

🌊 A low floor

The temple is built lower than the land around it. Visitors walk down to enter, a sign of humility. Sikhs believe nobody should come before God with pride.

🎵 Hymns all day

Kirtan, the singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, goes on from early morning until late at night. The atmosphere is calm and focused on God.

Why it is the best-loved Sikh place of worship

It links Sikhs to the Gurus who founded it, dug its pool and placed the Adi Granth in it.
Its open doors and low floor express key Sikh beliefs: equality and humility.
Its continuous hymns keep the Guru's words in the air.
Its survival after attacks is a source of pride and a symbol of the community's strength.
Sikhs from every country, and people of other faiths, are welcome.

The activities of visiting Amritsar are covered in Visiting Amritsar: Langar, the Akal Takht and Jallianwala Bagh.

Common mistakes

Saying Sikhs must make a pilgrimage. They are not required to, and Guru Nanak criticised ritual bathing without devotion.
Saying the temple is gold because Guru Arjan built it. The gold came later, in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's time.
Describing the four doors as just architecture. Always link them to welcome for everyone.

Exam-style question

(a) Outline two features of the Harmandir Sahib that show Sikh beliefs. [4 marks, Paper 2, AO1]

Model answer (a)

One feature is its four entrances (1), which show that people of all backgrounds and faiths are welcome (1). A second feature is that its floor is lower than the land around it (1), so visitors walk down to enter, showing humility before God (1).

(b) Explain why the Harmandir Sahib is important to Sikhs. [6 marks, Paper 2, AO1 and AO2]

Model answer (b)

The Harmandir Sahib is important because of its history. Guru Ram Das had the pool dug and Guru Arjan built the temple, so Sikhs feel close to the Gurus when they visit. In 1604 the Adi Granth was installed there, so the Guru's words are at its heart. Its design teaches Sikh beliefs: four doors show that everyone is welcome and the low floor shows humility. Hymns are sung all day, which keeps attention on God. Finally, it was rebuilt after being damaged and later covered in gold in the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, so it is a symbol of the survival and pride of the Sikh community.

(c) 'Every Sikh should make a pilgrimage to the Harmandir Sahib.' Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view, and your own opinion. [10 marks, Paper 2, AO1 and AO2]

Plan for (c)

For: it links Sikhs to the Gurus and to Sikh history; worshipping with others strengthens the sense of belonging to the Sikh family; its welcome and hymns are inspiring. Against: Guru Nanak taught that God is everywhere and that bathing at holy places is worthless without devotion; pilgrimage is not a Sikh duty; cost and distance mean some Sikhs cannot go, yet they can still be devoted. Different views: some Sikhs hope to go once, others stress daily devotion and sewa at home. Possible conclusion: the statement is mostly false, because the journey is valuable but not required; what matters is the inner devotion it is meant to deepen.

Exam tip

In a 10-mark question, use Guru Nanak's teaching that the true pilgrimage is within as your counter-argument, then show that Sikhs still value a visit for history, worship and belonging.

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