PART of the fun in exploring NYC neighborhoods is that you can look up the block and see a random gilded onion dome. The one seen here, on 118th Street looking north from 101st Avenue, is the Sikh Cultural Center, more properly the Gurdwara Sikh Temple. For some decades, Richmond Hill and south Jamaica have been home to immigrants from the Indian subcontinent, joining parts of Flushing as NYC’s “Little India.” Gurdwaras, or Hindu houses of worship, feature a main prayer hall containing the scripture Guru Granth Sahib; a langar hall, or community kitchen (the Ganesh Temple’s canteen in Flushing is famed borough-wide). Musicians and congregants sing hymns (shabad kirtan) and read verses from the sacred scripture (paath). Many of the gurdwaras have impressive, handsome construction such as this one.
At 101st Avenue, 118th Street is subnamed Guru Nanak Way. A native of Talwandi, Pakistan, Guru Nanak (1469-1539) was an Indian spiritual teacher, mystic and poet, who is regarded as the founder of Sikhism.
Guru Nanak described his mystical encounter with God in one of his hymns: He was taken to the court of God and given a cup of divine nectar called amrit to drink. This nectar bestowed the gift of God’s name upon him and he was charged by God with the preaching of the Divine name.
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With this charge, Guru Nanak left his job and spent many years traveling throughout India and, according to early Sikh sources, even to the Middle East. He preached his message in the form of beautiful hymns called shabads. According to tradition, he was accompanied by Mardana, a musician and a Muslim by birth. Guru Nanak sang of the oneness of God, the equality of all people, the futility of empty ritualism. [Harvard University]
Check out the ForgottenBook (HarperCollins, 2006), as well as Forgotten Queens (Arcadia, 2013). I also have a chapter in the anthology “New York Calling: From Blackout to Bloomberg” (Reaktion, 2007). As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
10/5/26
1 comment
It wouldn’t surprise me if Guru Nanak is the oldest figure to have an honorific street renaming.