Global Religions: A Sikh Temple in Glendale

While driving along the highway and once again seeing the temple I’ve passed many times before, I felt both nervous and excited knowing I was finally going to see what was inside. As I pulled up and exited my vehicle, the quiet afternoon eased my nerves and the beautiful architecture awed me. I took some pictures and made my way up the steps to the courtyard. I saw people coming and going, most of them dressed in traditional Sikh clothing a few others wearing more western style clothing. I made eye contact with a woman who saw me take a picture; I smiled and introduced myself. I lucked out, as she is the reason this temple exists here in Glendale.

Saranjit Saini built this temple in memory of her late husband, Dr. Jasbir Singh Saini, a beloved cardiologist who passed away in 2000. Saranjit felt a desire to do something in his name so that his memory would live on. She began building in 2003 and the temple officially opened in 2006. Before the opening of this temple, Saranjit, like many other Phoenix valley Sikhs, worshiped at the temple in downtown Phoenix, a somewhat substantial commute for Sikhs living in north Phoenix. The temple has become very popular, seeing about 500 people coming to worship for the Sunday service. Many in the local community also visit, just as I did, to learn about the Sikh faith. Saranjit said they’ve had visitors from Canada, which I learned has the second largest population of Sikhs in the world after India. They offer an open house every year although their doors are always open and welcoming for anyone who wishes to visit.

Bell brought me to the worship side of the temple, the Gurdwara, where she helped me affix a head covering, my shoes were already still off. To my right I saw a small room where a man was continuously reading aloud a prayer in Punjabi. In front of him sat a gold box with money inside. Bell explained that we place a dollar in the box, and then bow before it to pray to God. Bell said she would give me a dollar but I showed her that I had one. She said that is great because if she gave me the dollar, then it would not really be coming from me, but from her. Using my own dollar showed that I was giving this to God myself. I watched as Bell placed the dollar in the box and bow before it. I then followed suit and did just as she did. Despite being a secular person, there is something very special about being invited by another person to take part in their religious rituals. I felt very honored to be a part of this, and that is what I thought about as I bowed in front of the box.

Next, Bell led me to the large prayer room. There is a line of red carpet that goes down the middle. The women sit on one side; the men sit on the other. Sitting is an act of humbling oneself. She showed me the screens that come down and project an English translation of the prayers for those born in America who have not learned Punjabi. A throne at the front of the room is where the Holy Book sits. The Holy Book is the Guru Granth Sahib, which is a book of Punjabi scriptures written by Guru Nanak and other Gurus, as well as saints from Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim religions. Bell walked me around the throne and I could feel how much she passionately loved her faith, as she would stop to bow and delicately touch the throne. We stopped at a bowl where she took a napkin and told me that this was a sweet dish that everyone ate after they were done praying, a blessing from God. I asked her what it was called and she giggled as she told me her Father called it “brown candy.” She said it was made from wheat, brown sugar, and butter. She he handed me a napkin with some of the sweet dish inside and said I could eat it later.