To Simply Be Near: Reflections at Sri Harimandar Sahib | Inni Kaur

A poetic reflection on Sri Harimandar Sahib, honoring its 450th anniversary through stillness, memory, and quiet transformation.

In 2025, I spent three evenings sitting quietly in the parkarma (periphery) of Sri Harimandar Sahib. I didn’t go for ceremony or spectacle—I went for presence. As the sun set and Rehras Sahib echoed across the water, I sat in stillness, surrounded by memory, longing, and grace. On the 450th anniversary of its foundation, this reflection honors not just the place, but the transformation it offers to those who come with nothing and leave re-aligned. This is not a history—it is a remembering.

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I traveled far, across oceans and time zones—
not chasing peace,
not searching for revelation.

I just wanted to be there.
To sit.
To listen.
To be.

Three evenings.
6:45 PM to 10:15 PM.
I sat in the parkarma of Harimandar Sahib.
I listened. I watched. I breathed.

Rehras Sahib floated across the waters.
The sun dipped behind the domes.
And I stayed.

That’s all I did.
And that’s all I needed.

No urge to walk the inner bridge.
No compulsion to touch gold.
Just a silent yearning—to be there.

They call it many things.
Harimandar. Ramdaspur. Darbar Sahib.

Each name a layer.
Each name a whisper.
But in those quiet hours,
it was simply Presence.

Not the grandeur of architecture,
but the weight of centuries resting gently in the marble.
Not the gleam of the dome,
but the Sabad echoing in water ripples,
softly brushing the edge of my being.

This is no ordinary pool.
It was dug with love, defended with blood,
bathed in by the weary and the longing ones—
by those seeking not escape,
but return.

I thought I came alone.
But I was surrounded—
not by crowds,
but by those who once built and rebuilt
with their hands and their hearts.
The dust beneath me knew their names.

In those hours, the marble remembered.
The water remembered.
And perhaps… it remembered me too.

The Sabad says:
This body is Harimandar.

Then what is this yearning to be near?
Perhaps, it is the call of the within
to the within.

I sat.
The dome shimmered beneath the sunset.
I whispered no prayers.
Not because I had none—
but because I needed none.

Just being there was enough.
Just being allowed to be there—
was everything.

450 years.
And still, this place holds space.
For tears. For silence. For longing.
For those who carry no offering
but themselves.

I brought nothing.
But I did not leave empty.

Something in me was rearranged.
Not changed—
re-aligned.

Toward the center.
Toward the stillness.
Toward the 1-Light’s Mansion
that lives within
and rises—quietly—without.

I walked away
not carrying memories,
but immersed in a knowing.

A quiet fullness.
No sadness. No grasping.

Just a soft echo: It is here.
And somehow,
It is within me too.

Revised:

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Inni Kaur

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Inni Kaur is Creative Director at the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI), where she leads content creation, branding, and external communications.

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To Simply Be Near

Reflections at Sri Harimandar Sahib

To Simply Be Near

Reflections at Sri Harimandar Sahib

To Simply Be Near

Reflections at Sri Harimandar Sahib

A poetic reflection on Sri Harimandar Sahib, honoring its 450th anniversary through stillness, memory, and quiet transformation.

I traveled far, across oceans and time zones—not chasing peace,not searching for revelation.

I just wanted to be there.To sit.To listen.To be.

Three evenings.6:45 PM to 10:15 PM.I sat in the parkarma of Harimandar Sahib.I listened. I watched. I breathed.

Rehras Sahib floated across the waters.The sun dipped behind the domes.And I stayed.

That’s all I did.And that’s all I needed.

No urge to walk the inner bridge.No compulsion to touch gold.Just a silent yearning—to be there.

They call it many things.Harimandar. Ramdaspur. Darbar Sahib.

Each name a layer.Each name a whisper.But in those quiet hours,it was simply Presence.

Not the grandeur of architecture,but the weight of centuries resting gently in the marble.Not the gleam of the dome,but the Sabad echoing in water ripples,softly brushing the edge of my being.

This is no ordinary pool.It was dug with love, defended with blood,bathed in by the weary and the longing ones—by those seeking not escape,but return.

I thought I came alone.But I was surrounded—not by crowds,but by those who once built and rebuiltwith their hands and their hearts.The dust beneath me knew their names.

In those hours, the marble remembered.The water remembered.And perhaps… it remembered me too.

The Sabad says:This body is Harimandar.

Then what is this yearning to be near?Perhaps, it is the call of the withinto the within.

I sat.The dome shimmered beneath the sunset.I whispered no prayers.Not because I had none—but because I needed none.

Just being there was enough.Just being allowed to be there—was everything.

450 years.And still, this place holds space.For tears. For silence. For longing.For those who carry no offeringbut themselves.

I brought nothing.But I did not leave empty.

Something in me was rearranged.Not changed—re-aligned.

Toward the center.Toward the stillness.Toward the 1-Light’s Mansionthat lives withinand rises—quietly—without.

I walked awaynot carrying memories,but immersed in a knowing.

A quiet fullness.No sadness. No grasping.

Just a soft echo: It is here.And somehow,It is within me too.

Written By

Inni Kaur

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I traveled far, across oceans and time zones—
not chasing peace,
not searching for revelation.

I just wanted to be there.
To sit.
To listen.
To be.

Three evenings.
6:45 PM to 10:15 PM.
I sat in the parkarma of Harimandar Sahib.
I listened. I watched. I breathed.

Rehras Sahib floated across the waters.
The sun dipped behind the domes.
And I stayed.

That’s all I did.
And that’s all I needed.

No urge to walk the inner bridge.
No compulsion to touch gold.
Just a silent yearning—to be there.

They call it many things.
Harimandar. Ramdaspur. Darbar Sahib.

Each name a layer.
Each name a whisper.
But in those quiet hours,
it was simply Presence.

Not the grandeur of architecture,
but the weight of centuries resting gently in the marble.
Not the gleam of the dome,
but the Sabad echoing in water ripples,
softly brushing the edge of my being.

This is no ordinary pool.
It was dug with love, defended with blood,
bathed in by the weary and the longing ones—
by those seeking not escape,
but return.

I thought I came alone.
But I was surrounded—
not by crowds,
but by those who once built and rebuilt
with their hands and their hearts.
The dust beneath me knew their names.

In those hours, the marble remembered.
The water remembered.
And perhaps… it remembered me too.

The Sabad says:
This body is Harimandar.

Then what is this yearning to be near?
Perhaps, it is the call of the within
to the within.

I sat.
The dome shimmered beneath the sunset.
I whispered no prayers.
Not because I had none—
but because I needed none.

Just being there was enough.
Just being allowed to be there—
was everything.

450 years.
And still, this place holds space.
For tears. For silence. For longing.
For those who carry no offering
but themselves.

I brought nothing.
But I did not leave empty.

Something in me was rearranged.
Not changed—
re-aligned.

Toward the center.
Toward the stillness.
Toward the 1-Light’s Mansion
that lives within
and rises—quietly—without.

I walked away
not carrying memories,
but immersed in a knowing.

A quiet fullness.
No sadness. No grasping.

Just a soft echo: It is here.
And somehow,
It is within me too.