The Harmandir Sahib,
also referred to as the Golden Temple or Sri Darbar Sahib, is a prominent Sikh
gurudwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. Harmandir Sahib
literally means Temple of God. The temple (or gurdwara) is a major
pilgrimage destination for Sikhs from all over the world, as well as an
increasingly popular tourist attraction.
Guru Arjan Sahib, the
Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the
Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib. Earlier
the planning to excavate the holy tank (Amritsar or Amrit Sarovar - meaning
"Pool of the Nectar of Immortality") was chalked out by Guru Amardas
Sahib, the Third Nanak, but it was executed by Guru Ramdas Sahib under the
supervision of Baba Budha ji. The plan to establish a town settlement was also
made. Therefore, the construction work on the Sarovar(the tank) and the town
started simultaneously in 1570. The work on both projects completed in 1577
A.D. In 1604, Guru Arjan Dev completed the Adi Granth, the holy scripture of
Sikhism, and installed it in the gurdwara. A devout Sikh, Baba Budha Ji was
appointed its first Head Priest.
During the eighteenth
century, the Harmandir Sahib was the site of frequent fighting between the
Sikhs on one side and either Mughal or Afghan forces on the other side and the
gurdwara occasionally suffered damage. In the early nineteenth century,
Maharaja Ranjit Singh secured the Punjab region from outside attack and covered
the upper floors of the gurdwara with gold, which gives it its distinctive
appearance and English name of "Golden Temple". 100 kg of gold were
applied to the inverted lotus-shaped dome and decorative marble was added.
Some of the
architectural features of the Harmandir Sahib were intended to be symbolic of
the Sikh worldview. Instead of the normal custom of building a gurdwara on high
land, it was built at a lower level than the surrounding land so that devotees
would have to go down steps to enter it. In addition, instead of one entrance,
the Harmandir Sahib has four entrances, which signify that people belonging to
every walk of life are equally welcome.
The most famous and
sacred part of the Golden Temple complex is the Hari Mandir (Divine
Temple) or Darbar Sahib (Court of the Lord). The water that surrounds
the Hari Mandir is a sacred pool known as the Amrit Sarovar (Pool of
Nectar). The temple is reached by following the Parikrama, which
circumscribes the sacred pool in a clockwise direction. Connecting the pathway
with the Hari Mandir is a marble causeway called the Guru's Bridge,
which symbolizes the journey of the soul after death. The gateway to the
bridge, the Darshani Deorhi, has magnificent silver doors.
Another major highlight
of the Golden Temple complex is the Guru-ka-Langar, a dining hall
where around 35,000 people a day are fed for free by temple volunteers.
Everyone is invited to join this communal breaking of bread. All participants
sit on the floor, regardless of caste, status, wealth or creed, powerfully
symbolizing the central Sikh doctrine of the equality of all people.
In a country that is
exceptionally rich with vibrant devotion, Frommer's rates the Golden
Temple "the most tangibly spiritual place in the country."
I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources
Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib.You can book Bus Tickets in online.
ReplyDelete