Pilgrimage To Amritsar
In the winter of 1970-71, Singh brought an entourage of eighty-four Americans on a pilgrimage to the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, India. The Punjabi Sikhs had never seen Westerners in turbans before, and at first, they were suspicious. The Sikh administration in the holy city of Amritsar was in a turmoil. Once they understood that the devotion of the Westerners was genuine, they approved of the visit. Of the eight-four Americans, twenty-six took vows to join the Order of Khalsa as full-fledged Sikhs.
On March 3, 1971, outside the Akal Takhat (the traditional seat of Sikh temporal authority in Amritsar), Sant Fateh Singh and Sant Chanan Singh bestowed on Singh a ceremonial sword and a robe of honor and a unique designation. They had reasoned that Yogi Singh had indeed created "Singh Sahibs" (noble lions), and to continue in his work he would need a higher designation. For this reason, they gave Singh the unprecedented title of "great, noble lion": Siri Singh Sahib. Because no one before in all of Sikh history had received this title, it would ignite controversy in years to come.
Read more about this topic: Harbhajan Singh Yogi
Famous quotes containing the words pilgrimage to and/or pilgrimage:
““Come hither, Son,” I heard Death say;
“I did not will a grave
Should end thy pilgrimage today,
But I, too, am a slave!””
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
““Come hither, Son,” I heard Death say;
“I did not will a grave
Should end thy pilgrimage today,
But I, too, am a slave!””
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)