Baabaa Nanak did not build any Gurdawara buildings (pronounced gurdawaaraa ). The Gurdawar he talks about in the Gurbani is that Gurdawara where the Guroo dwells within the Heart. It is that Gurdawara, which cannot be seen with physical eyes (ਅੱਖ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀ ਦਿਸਦਾ). It is that Gurdawara, which is Eternal (which does not get old - ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਪੁਰਾਣਾਂ ਨਹੀ ਹੂੰਦਾ)...

• ਸਚੁ ਪੁਰਾਣਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸੀਤਾ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਪਾਟੈ ॥: Sachu puraanaa hovai naahee seetaa kade na paatai: The Truth does not grow old; and once stitched, it is never torn again (sggs 956).
• ਸਚੁ ਪੁਰਾਣਾ ਨਾ ਥੀਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਮੈਲਾ ਹੋਇ ॥: Sachu puraanaa na theeai naamu na mailaa hoi: The Truth does not get old; and the Naam is never soiled. (sggs 1248).

In other words, the Heart in which the Truth or the Lord's Name (Giaan) is Realized, that Heart never gets filthy with the filth of Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.), or the mind that once get linked to the Truth (Mool within), never again breaks away from It.

Baabaa Nanak reveals this Gurdawara to Sidh, in the Bani called "Sidh Gosti". Sidh asked Baabaa Nanak how "Gur Duaaro" ( "ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੋ") is to be obtained (ਗੁਰੂ ਦਾ ਦਰ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ) - where the Guru dwells, Gur's/God's Door; from where the Aatam-Giaan, Divine Knowledge, or the Guru's Wisdom is attained...) ?

• ਰੋਸੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ਉਤਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਿਉ ਪਾਈਐ ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੋ ॥: Rosu n keejai outaru deejai kiou paaeeai gur duaaro: Don't be angry (with us) - tell us: How can (one) obtain "Gur Duaaro" ("ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੋ")? (sggs 938).

Baabaa Nanak's reply to the Sidh:

• ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਚਲਤਉ ਸਚ ਘਰਿ ਬੈਸੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੋ: Ihu manu chalataou sach ghari baisai Nanak naamu adhaaro: O Nanak! (One arrive at or abtain the "Gur Duaaro" -"ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੋ"- when) Through the Support of the Naam (Aatam-Giaan, Divine Knowledge, Spiritual Wisdom...), this fickle (restless, mercurial, deluded...) mind sits in its True Home within (the Heart, Nij Ghar, Mool...). (sggs 938).

The name of the outside Gurdawara ( also spelt Gurdwara etc.) appears to have been derived from the name Guru or Guroo Duaaraa (or Dawaaraa) or Gur Duaaraa that appear in the Gurbani.

The word Gurdawaaraa consists of two terms namely Gur (or Guru or Guroo) and Duaaraa. As the Gurbani reveals, the term Gur (Guru or Guroo) also represents God. The second term Duaaraa means door or gate. The integration of these two terms indicates the word Gurdawara: "The Guru or God's Door or the Guru or God's Teaching", which is the "Doorway to God" (Aatm-Giaan, Brahm-Giaan, Spiritua Wisdom, Divine Knowledge, etc.). Again, as the Gurbani asserts, the Guru's Teaching or Gur-Shabad is but the expression of God Himself. Thus, the term Gurdawaaraa means "the Doorway to God through His Shabad ";  which is one and the same as "Abidance in the Naam", "Shabad", "Shabad-Surti", God-consciousness, Aatam-Giaan, and so on.

• ਗੁਰੁ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਣੁ ॥: Gur Parmesuru eko jaanu (sggs 864).
• ਹਉ ਆਪਹੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਮੈ ਕਹਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਹੁਕਮਾਉ ਜੀਉ ॥: Haou aapahu bol n jaanadaa mai kahiaa sabh hukamaaou jeeou: By myself, I do not even know how to speak (i.e., ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣੀ ਅਕਲ ਦਾ ਆਸਰਾ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਇਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਦੱਸ ਰਿਹਾ); I speak all that God commands (sggs 763).
• ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਭੇਦੀਐ ਕਿਉ ਸੋਹੈ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਿ ॥: Jaab lag Sabad n bhedeeai kiou sohai Gurduaar: Until (one's mind) is pierced through with the Shabad, (until then one does not) look Beautiful at the Guru's Door (Inner Beauty: state Bliss or Anand, realization of Jot Saroop...). (sggs 19).

Now, after having some feel of the the term Gurdawara, imagine, how wonderful it would be if a Gurdawaaraa could speak, revealing the Lord's mystery and secrets that people always seek! The things it would say could include the following:

"Dear Man, I am the Shabad-Giaan (Aatam-Giaan, Divine Knowledge...), through which I am your Doorway to the Infinite Consciousness. Come, and approach me with all your love and devotion (Bhagti), because love and devotion to the Guru's Teaching is fire that burns the ignorance. I am Within the cave of your Heart. I am your bridge between the earth plane and the Spiritual Realm. I am your link between matter and Spirit, bondage and Liberation, attachment and Freedom, falsehood and Truth, ignorance and Wisdom, ephemeral and Eternal, sorrow and Bliss, unreal and Real....".

• ਸਚੁ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ॥: Sach sanjam satguroo duaarai: Truth and self-control are found through the Door of the Satguroo (sggs 1057).
• ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਤਾ ਉਧਰੈ ਪਾਏ ਮੋਖ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥: Sabadi marai taa oudharai paaeae mokh duaar: If one dies through the Shabad, then salvation is obtained, and one finds the "Door" of Liberation (sggs 33).

"Dear Sibling of Destiny, the purpose of your human birth is to link to your Mool within (Source, Origin...). The Lord placed the Soul into the cave of your body, and blew the breath of life-force into it. He fashioned your body and revealed the nine gates to you; but He kept the Tenth gate hidden. Come to me, and the mystery of this Tenth Gate will be revealed to you."

• ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੈ ਲਾਇ ਭਾਵਨੀ ਇਕਨਾ ਦਸਵਾ ਦੁਆਰੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥: Gurduaarai laai bhaavanee ikanaa dasavaa duaar dikhaaiaa: The Tenth Door (Tenth Gate, Dasam Duaar, etc.) is revealed to the one who loving Reflects on the Gurduaaraa. (sggs 922).

"Dear Spiritual Student (Sikh), everything exists in the Infinite Consciousness. This Undivided Consciousness exists in all beings. This Pure Awareness is Truth-Consciousness-Bliss. Know that you are This! Due to ignorance of the Mool (Source, Origin...), your deluded mind veils your Mool and creates an illusory appearance (division or diversity, duality, Dubidhaa...). However, the mind of an Enlightened Being (the Gurmukh) does not move from this One Reality. Come, inquire and reflect (Vichaar) on the Shabad. You will attain the Intuitive Understanding (ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ, ਆਤਮ ਗਿਆਨ...)."

• ਭਾਂਡਾ ਹਛਾ ਸੋਇ ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵਸੀ ॥ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਅਤਿ ਮਲੀਣੁ ਧੋਤਾ ਹਛਾ ਨ ਹੋਇਸੀ ॥ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਹੋਇ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਇਸੀ ॥ ਏਤੁ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਧੋਇ ਹਛਾ ਹੋਇਸੀ ॥: Bhaandaa hashhaa soi jo tis bhaavasee. Bhaandaa ati maleen dhotaa hashaa .... (sggs 730).
• ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਸੋਈ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਆਪਿ ਬੁਝਾਏ ॥੪॥: Guroo Duaarai soee boojhai jisano aap bujhaae ||4||: At the the Guroo's Door (ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ), he alone comes to understand (the right Way of life - ਜੀਵਨ ਦਾ ਸਹੀ ਰਸਤਾ), whom God Himself gives understanding (ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਆਪ ਸਮਝ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ਦਾ ਹੈ) ||4|| (sggs 1234).

"Dear Soul-Bride, your true Husband is none other than the Creator Himself (Kartaa Purakh). Due to the false love for material world (Maya) on account of the ignorance, you have separated yourself from your Beloved and suffer. Come to me; I will counsel you and prepare you for the Celestial Wedding (spiritual wedding or Aatmic-Vivaah) with your True Beloved."

• ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਹਮਰਾ ਵੀਆਹੁ ਜਿ ਹੋਆ ਜਾਂ ਸਹੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥ ਤਿਹੁ ਲੋਕਾ ਮਹਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਰਵਿਆ ਹੈ ਆਪੁ ਗਇਆ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੨॥: Gruoo Duaarai hamraa viaah ji hoyaa jaa sahu miliaa taa jaaniaa....: When I was married (spiritual wedding or Aatmic-Vivaah) in the "Guroo Duaarai" within (by coming to the Guroo's Giaan), I met my True Beloved Lord. Then I came to know that His Shabad pervades the three worlds. My ego departed, and my mind became attuned to God ||2|| (sggs 351).

"Dear Friend, know that the material consciousness is characterized by quarrel, disagreement, cheating, deceit, cynicism, hypocrisy, duplicity, and misinformation. Also, you are short-lived; not very intelligent and fortunate, and perpetually disturbed and agitated by anxieties. Further, your mind is ever flickering, turbulent, swift, restless, obstinating, outgoing, and so strong that it often overcomes even one's own intelligence. The most direct and practical method to reach the Perfection of God Consciousness is (Bhagti-to Understand the Gurmat-Aatam Giaan...). One who engages in loving Transcendental Service, he realizes the Mool within. The true Wisdom is the love of the Mool. I will open to you a world of Divine inspiration. Come and adore the Timeless Being with humility, peace, wisdom, compassion, true contentment (Sat Santokh), and self control"

• ਭਗਤਿ ਭਾਵ ਇਹੁ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਬਿਖੜਾ ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਕੋ ਪਾਵਏ ॥: This path of loving devotional worship (ਭਗਤਿ ਭਾਵ) is very difficult; a rare one finds it through the "Gur Duaarai" (who seek the Gur's Giaan) (sggs 440).

"Dear Aspirant, the entire creation is continually engaged in glorifying God's Name. As such, selfless "Hari Kirtan" is the true eternal faith (Viaakhiaa of the One – ਵਿਆਖਿਆ: ਬਖ੍ਯ੍ਯਾਨੁ, commentary, explanation, interpretation, definition, annotation, elucidation…). All the religions are in contemplating the Lord's Name (Giaan...). The selfless "Hari Kirtan" is capable of swiftly cleansing the mental conditioning (false ego), leading the mind to complete purification. Come, and meditate on God's Name, this alone is the Attal or eternal Dharma"

• ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਸੁਣੀਐ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਭਣੀਐ ॥: Gur Duaarai Hari Kirtanu suneeai Satigur bheti Hari jasu mukhi bhaneeai : Listen Hari Kirtan at the Gur's Door. Meeting with the Satgur (ਸਚ ਦਾ ਗਿਆਨ...), one chants God's Praises (ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ) ||4|| (sggs 1075).
• ਸਚੁ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ਧੰਨੁ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੁ ॥: Such saalaahee dhanu gurduaaru: Blessed is the Gur's Door, from where the Truth is praised (ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ) (sggs 153).
• ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਕੇਵਲ ਬਖ੍ਯ੍ਯਾਨੁ ॥: Andinu Keertanu keval bakhyaanu (sggs 281).

"Dear Brother, you are filled with great grief, sorrow, and sin. Come to me, and I will listen to you until you are completely free from all pains of this finite life. You constantly crave for everlasting peace or happiness (Sukha). Consequently, all your efforts and activities are aimed at gaining happiness and attaining Freedom from sorrows. All your endeavors are motivated by impulse to seek out joy-giving things and circumstances, and avoid any sorrow-giving things and situations. But, unfortunately, you are trying to find it in wrong places and false objects. I will show you the Source of Real and Eternal Peace. Come to me!"

• ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਕਥਾ ਸੁਣਾਇਹਿ ਆਪਣੀ ਸਿ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੈ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਹੇ ॥: Jis no kathaa sunaaihi aapnee is Gurduaarai sukh paavahe: (O Lord) those whom You cause to listen to Your sermon, he at the the Gur's Door finds Peace (ਆਤਮਕ ਆਨੰਦ) (sggs 919).
• ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਲੇ ਸਮਸਰਿ ਰਹੈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਏਕੁ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਕੋ ਲਹੈ ॥ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਦੇਇ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਤੇ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਏ ॥ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਆਖਿ ਸੁਣਾਏ ॥੭॥: Giaan dhyaanu le samsar rahai. Gurmukhu eku virlaa ko lahai. Jis no de kirpaa te sukhu paae. Guroo Duaarai aakh sunaae ||7||: With Divine wisdom and meditation, one abides in the state of Equanimity (evenness, sameness, etc. ). How rare is the one who, by becoming the Gurmukh, attains the One God (Realize God - ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨਾਲ ਜਾਣ-ਪਛਾਣ). With His Grace, to whom God blesses this, He Sspeaks to him through the Guroo's Door, and (that person) alone finds Peace (ਆਤਮਕ ਆਨੰਦ) ||7|| (sggs 930).

"Dear Companion, your unceasing thirst of Vaasnaas (undigested desires -ਮਾਇਆ ਦੀ ਭੁਖ) makes you wander and roam around in ten directions. As a result, your beautiful Natural Robes of humility, forgiveness, and sweet speech are torn apart. In lust, anger, greed, attachment, false pride, mental stubbornness, and jealousy your mind has become restless, and filthy. As soon as you attain Shabad-Surti (or Naam Consciousness -Aatam Giaan), your thirst will be quenched by drinking in this true Amrit (Naam). Come, and quench your thirst, once for ever."

• ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਦੇਵਸੀ ਤਿਖਾ ਨਿਵਾਰੈ ਸੋਇ ॥੩੦॥: Guroo Duaarai devsee tikhaa nivaarai so ||30||: Through the Guroo's Door, (to whom the Lord) gives (Naam-Amrit:Aatmic Giaan...), he quenches his thirst (of Maya) ||30|| (sggs 933).

"Dear Devotee, God's Naam or Shabad is the Creator as well as Support of everything. To forsake the Naam (Dvine Name-Divine Knowledge, Aatam Giaan...) is death. You have invited death (death of spiritual life-ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ) by forsaking the Naam. Without the Naam, you cannot link with the Essence of the Divinity Within (Mool); and your human birth will waste away in vain. Where does the Naam dwell? This Naam dwells deep Within the nucleus of all Beings. There is no place without It. Meditation on the Naam is the true Dharma. Thus, of all the religions the best religion is to meditate on God's Name (Naam); which is the most pious deed. So come, and focus your consciousness on Naam (Aatm-Giaan...)."

• ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਨਾਉ ਪਾਈਐ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪਲੈ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥: Gur Duaarai naaou paaeeiai bin satigur pallai n paai Through the Gur's Door, the Name is obtained. Without the Satgur (without the Knowledge of the Truth-ਸਚ ਦਾ ਗਿਆਨ), it is not received (sggs 1015).
• ਦੇਵਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਕੈ ਹਥਿ ਦਾਤਿ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਪਾਇ ॥ : The Gift (of the Name-Amrit: ਨਾਮ-ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਦੀ ਦਾਤਿ-Aatam Giaan..) is in the Hands of the Great Giver (God). At the Guroo's Door, it is received (sggs 33).

"Dear Spiritual Seeker, in order to realize your Mool within, the first process is to internally surrender all falsehood to your Totality (Existence-Awareness-Bliss Absolute) Within. But, what is surrender? The surrender is to renounce your limited intellect, material cleverness, bondage, illusion that "I am" this body idea, pride and arrogance (doership), bad association, past injurious habit patterns, material lust, expectations and desires, spiritual ignorance, duality, wickedness, false concepts, and addiction to senses; followed by dedication of the mind and head to God. Thus, surrender is your false ego bowing down to the Mool within, the Source. To put it otherwise, surrender is to discharge your river of separateness into the Ocean of Infinite Consciousness within, losing your notions of limitations in the process. Without such total surrender, one can never completely abide in the Supreme Truth. Therefore, come and take refuge in the Lord's Lotus Feet (His Naam, Shabad, Giaan... ) and then He will enjoy you. This you must win by selfless love and devotion (Bhagti); not by material logic, crooked cleverness or philosophical speculations."

• ਓਨਾ ਦੀ ਆਪਿ ਪਤਿ ਰਖਸੀ ਮੇਰਾ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਸਰਣਾਗਤਿ ਪਏ ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੇ ॥: Onna dee aap pat raakhsee meraa piaara saranaagat pae Gur Duaare: My Beloved Himself preserves the honor of those who remains at the Gur's Door (in His Sanctuary of His Giaan). (sggs 1249).

"Dear Mortal, I am crafted in spiritual art. My pinnacles are the Divine Shabad, pointing toward the peaks of Spirituality. My pillars made of the Shabad make statements that will never shake and weaken. The fluttering of my flag heralds the fact that, as the wind is felt not seen, so is the victory of Good over Evil. My dome showers Divine inspiration from all ends of the cosmos; sit under it and get soaked. Like a perennial stream, the real Amrit of Immortality overflows from my Shabad; drink it in. In my Celestial Stillness, meditate on the Naam (Aatam Giaan...) Within, let your mind silently rest in Peace and Reflect upon the secrets of the Mool. The Divine Enlightenment through the Light of the Shabad (Aatam-Giaan...) comes to you every time you contemplate on it with a singular mind (Ik Man Ik Chit-ਇਕ ਮਨ ਇਕ ਚਿਤ ਹੋਕੇ). No experience is greater than realizing the presence of the Satgur (ਸਚ ਦਾ ਗਿਆਨ) ) Within."

• ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਭੇਦੀਐ ਕਿਉ ਸੋਹੈ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਿ ॥: Jaab lag Sabad n bhedeeai kiou sohai Gurduaar: Until (one's mind) is pierced through with the Shabad, (until then one does not) look Beautiful at the Guru's Door (Inner Beauty: state Bliss or Anand, realization of Jot Saroop...). (sggs 19).

Thus speaks the Gurdawara — the Shabad-Giaan, Naam or God Consciousness: the Doorway to God! Such true Gurdwara is Realized within only through a change in the inner consciousness. Simply put: The true Gurdawara is not a building; it is the Divine Abode located within all of us (our Mool). Its bricks are made of love and devotion (Bhagti or Naam: Aatm-Giaan... ); and its plaster and cement is made of Truthfulness (Dharma), true contentment, Intuitive Wisdom, compassion, piety, and dedication. It is the axis around which our lives revolve. In other words, we must make entire life a Gurdawara (Shabad or Naam-consciousness, Gurmukh Lifestyle, Jeevanmukta...)! In essence, without realizing the true Gurdawara within, one cannot Realize the essence of Reality. As indicated in the Gurbani, the way to serve the Gur, Guru, or Guroo is through the Naam (Aatm Giaan...), within.

• ਗੁਰਸਿਖਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਵਰਤੈ ॥: Gursikhaa andar satgur vartai: The Satgur pervades inside His Gur-Sikhs (sggs 312).
• ਨਾਮੁ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸੇਵ ॥੧॥: Naamu hamaarai Gur kee sev ||1|| (sggs 1145).
• ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਟੋਲੈ ਸੋ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਹੀ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਜਿਨੀ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੋ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਸੁਹੇਲਾ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥: (The Divine Virtues, Wisdom, Spiritual tranquility, Naam, Shabad, Amrit, Prabh, ਆਤਮਕ ਸੁਖ...) all that is within the Heart-Home; not outside. Who searches outside is deluded by doubts. By "Gur Parasaadee" (i.e., by the Grace of the Gur-Giaan, the Divine Wisdom of the Gurbani ...), those who have Realized within are Happy (tranquil) inwardly and outwardly. ||1|| (sggs 102).
• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਹੈ ਮਿਲਿ ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਈਐ ॥੭॥: Antar Shabad nidhaan hai mil aap gavaayiyai ||7||: Within is the Treasure of the Shabad; (but) it is obtained by eradicating self-conceit (ਪਰੰਤੂ ਆਪਾ-ਭਾਵ ਤਿਆਗ ਕੇ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਹੈ) ||7|| (sggs 228).
• ਸਤਗੁਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਤ੍ਰਿਕੁਟੀ ਛੂਟੈ ਚਉਥੈ ਪਦਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥੨॥: Satgur miliai trikuttee shhoottai chouthai pad mukat duaar ||2||: Meeting the Satigur, the bondage of the three qualities (of Maya) is cut away; and the Fourth State, the "Door" of Liberation, is attained ||2|| (sggs 33).

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org