Andreas Stylianou, 7060 Livadia
Near Inter College Larnaca, Cyprus
Mobile No.: +357-99494998, +357-96 736553
Gurudwar Sangatsar Sahibji in Cyprus
Cyprus: A beautiful island in the Mediterranean sea, with a population of around 10 lakhs. Sikhs: A Sikh (pronounced “seek”) is an adherent of Sikhism. Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak in the state of Punjab(India)in 1469 is the 5th largest religion in the world with over 30 million followers.
A Gurudwara - "Gurudwara Sangatsar Sahib" has come up in Cyprus year 2007, Cyprus. The Sikh community in Cyprus felt the need for a Gurudwara where sangat could gather and seek Guru's blessing. The coming up a Gurudwara is the relentless efforts of few settled families in Cyprus. Cyprus is an orthodox Greek community where setting up a place of worship of other community/religion is really difficult. However, with Cyprus moving into European Union things have and will change.
Finally the Gurudwara Sangatsar Sahib was register in 2012(Reg. No. 333) with the Religion rules & regulations.The Gurudwara in its present state can accommodate around 1000 people. Bhai Inderpal Singh ji was the first Granthi, who besides his normal work schedule takes care of the the holy place. Guru's bani is recited in the morning and evening. There is a special program on Sunday which includes the recitation of "Sukhmani Sahib", followed by "Anand Sahib", "Ardaas" and Guru Ka Langar. The program lasts from 9am till 1pm.
Guru Nanak (1469–1539), founder of Sikhism, was born to Kalu Mehta and Mata Tripta, in a Hindu family in the village of Talwandi, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore.His father, a Hindu named Mehta Kalu, was a Patwari, an accountant of land revenue in the government. Nanak's mother was Mata Tripta, and he had one older sister, Bibi Nanki.
From an early age Guru Nanak seemed to have acquired a questioning and enquiring mind and refused as a child to wear the ritualistic "sacred" thread called a Janeu and instead said that he would wear the true name of God in his heart as protection, as the thread which could be broken, be soiled, burnt or lost could not offer any security at all. From early childhood, Bibi Nanki saw in her brother the Light of God but she did not reveal this secret to anyone. She is known as the first disciple of Guru Nanak.
Even as a boy, Nanak was fascinated by Hindu religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home. It was during this period that Nanak was said to have met Kabir (1440–1518), a saint revered by many. Nanak married Sulakhni, daughter of Moolchand Chona, a trader from Batala, and they had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakshmi Das.
His brother-in-law, Jai Ram, the husband of his sister Nanki, obtained a job for him in Sultanpur as the manager of the government granary. One morning, when he was twenty-eight, Guru Nanak Dev went as usual down to the river to bathe and meditate. It was said that he was gone for three days. When he reappeared, it is said he was "filled with the spirit of God". His first words after his re-emergence were: "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim". With this secular principle he began his missionary work. He made four distinct major journeys, in the four different directions, which are called Udasis, spanning many thousands of kilometres, preaching the message of God.
Guru Nanak spent the final years of his life in Kartarpur where Langar free blessed food was available. The food would be partaken of by Hindus, rich, poor, both high and so-called low castes. Guru Nanak worked in the fields and earned his livelihood. After appointing Bhai Lehna as the new Sikh Guru, on 22 September 1539, aged 70, Guru Nanak met with his demise.
