I Have Established the Temple of Truth

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

Sach mandir kir-i rakhiaa — I have established and maintained (kir-i rakhiaa — made and kept, built and preserved) the Temple of Truth (sach mandir — the true temple). Guru Arjan built the Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) in Amritsar — the literal Temple of Truth, completed in 1604. This pauri is personal testimony from the builder himself: I established this temple not for my own honor but as the home of the Guru's Sikhs.

Gur-simrit-h, langiaa, paer-i pariaa — I sought out the Guru's Sikhs (gur-simrit-h — those who remember the Guru), brought them in; I wash their feet (paer-i — feet) and fall at their feet. The radical reversal: Guru Arjan, the Fifth Guru, the king of this world in his religious role — washes the feet of the Sikhs who come to the temple he built. The posture of the great one who falls at the feet of the humble ones.

Dhoo dhool-i avar-i baan-tur-i keet-aa — bowing low (dhoo dhool-i — in the dust), I wave the fan (baan-tur-i — the ceremonial fan) over them and fall at their feet (keet-aa — done, performed this service). The tradition of chaur seva — fanning the sacred — as humble service. The Guru who could be fanned instead fans. The builder who could receive the worship instead worships the worshippers.