Harmandir Sahib - Golden Temple Amritsar
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mritsar is one of Punjab´s principal cities, dating back in history
over 400 years. It is known more for the world famous Golden Temple, the seat
of Sikh religion.Situated on the north-western border of India, the city is
also gateway for the travelers on the overland route through Pakistan. The
Wagah border, which the check-post is about 29 kms away. Amritsar literally
means "the pool of nectar", the name derived from a pool constructed
at the sacred site in the 16th century, gifted by the Mughal Emperor Akbar to
Guru Ramdas, the fourth preceptor of the Sikh faith.
Under instructions from Guru Amar Das Sahib, this city was founded
by Guru Ram Das Sahib in 1574, on the land bought by him for an amount of
rupees 700 from the owners of the village Tung. (Earlier Guru Ram Das Sahib had
begun building Santokhsar Sarovar, near erstwhile village of Sultanwind in 1564
{according to one source in 1570}. It could not be completed before 1588). In
1574, Guru Ram Das Sahib built his residence and moved to this place. At that
time, it was known as Guru-Da-Chakk. (Later, it came to be known as Chakk Ram
Das). Guru Ram Das Sahib began excavation of the Amritsar Sarovar (tank) in
1577. It was ready by 1581. This tank was renovated by Guru Arjun Sahib in
1586. Since then this city is known as Amritsar (after the name of the
Sarovar). The foundation of the Darbar Sahib had been laid by Guru Arjan Sahib
on January 3, 1588. (Later, it was propagated that the foundation stone of
Darbar Sahib was laid by Sain Mian Mir, a Muslim holy man. Sain Mian Mir was
very friendly with Guru Sahib but the foundation of Darbar Sahib was laid by
Guru Sahib himself). In 1590, Guru Arjan Sahib moved to village Wadali where
Guru Hargobind Sahib was born on June 19, 1590. By 1601, the Darbar Sahib was
fully ready. In 1603-04, the first volume of Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh
scriptures, was prepared in this city and was installed at Darbar Sahib on
August 16, 1604.
It is here that Akal Takht Sahib (Throne of the Almighty) was
revealed by Guru Hargobind Sahib in 1609. Two flags representing temporal and
spiritual authority (Sikh sovereignty) have been set up in front of Akal Takht
Sahib. Here Guru Hargobind Sahib wore two swords of Miri and Piri (temporal and
transcendental authority). The building of Akal Takht Sahib was twice
demolished by Afghan armies and was very badly damaged by the Indian regime (in
June 1984). The Indian government repaired in in September 1984. The Sikhs
began demolishing it on January 26, 1986. The present structure has been
constructed by five service-groups headed by Baba Thakar Singh of
Bhindran-Mehta Jatha.
On April 13, 1634, the Mogul army attacked Guru Hargobind Sahib
here. From 1635 to 1698, Amritsar remained in the control of the Mina family
(descendants of Pirthi Chand). During this period, on November 23, 1664, Guru
Tegh Bahadur Sahib visited the town. In April 1698, Bhai Mani Singh was
appointed as the caretaker of the shrines of Amritsar.
The Mogul chief of Patti tried to occupy Amritsar several times.
One such attempt was made in April 1709. The Sikhs, under the command of Bhai
Mani Singh and Bhai Tara Singh of Dall-Wan, repelled this attack. When Baba
Banda Singh Bahadur occupied several areas in the Punjab, Bhai Mani Singh chose
to leave Amritsar in order to avoid the Mogul attacks.
On December 30, 1711, the Mogul emperor, Bahadur Shah, granted Ajit
Singh Palit the charge of Amritsar in order to use him against Baba Banda Singh
Bahadur. After the death of Bahadur Shah, Ajit Singh Palit returned to Delhi.
In 1721, Bhai Mani Singh returned to Amritsar and re-started regular worship.
His first act was to solve a dispute between so-called Tat Khalsa and so-called
Bandai Khalsa for the right to the management of the shrines at Amritsar.
On March 29, 1733, a major gathering of the Sikhs was held here in
front of Akal Takht Sahib. During the same time a Sarbat Khalsa gathering was
also held. It discussed the Mogul offer of Nawab-hood. In April 1734, Bhai Mani
Singh was arrested and was martyred at Lahore on June 24, 1734.
In 1740, Massa Ranghar, a debauched official, desecrated Darbar
Sahib. He was punished by Bhai Sukkha Singh and Bhai Mahtab Singh, on August
11, 1740. In 1757 Afghan army demolished Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib.
Baba Dip Singh led several thousand Sikhs against the Afghan. A major battle
was fought on November 11, 1757. Baba Dip Singh and several thousand Sikhs
embraced martyrdom. Again, in 1762, the Darbar Sahib complex was demolished by
Afghan army. On December 1, 1764, the Afghan army made another attack. 30
Sikhs, led by Jathedar Gurbakhsh Singh, fought against mammoth Afghan army and
embraced martyrdom. In 1765, the Sikhs began re-construction of the shrines. The
central part was ready by 1776. Around 1830, Ranjit Singh gold-plated some part
of the inner section of the Darbar Sahib. (It harmed this Sikh institution as
some ignorant people began unjustly calling it Golden Temple).
In 1846, the British established themselves in the Lahore Darbar,
with a Resident in the Court; and, Amritsar became a place of frequent visits
by the British. In order to keep sanctity of the city, H. M. Lawrence, the
British Resident, issued an order, dated March 24, 1847, asking the English
people to follow the Sikh protocol while visiting the Sikh centres. In 1858, a
Municipal Committee was set up here. In 1862, train services between Lahore and
Amritsar were started. Khalsa College, the first Sikh college was established
here in 1892. [In 1969 Guru Nanak University was established here]. In 1913,
the city was electrified. In September 1915, the British declared Amritsar a
"Holy City". (This order was undeclaredly annulled after August 15,
1947 by the Indian regime). On April 13, 1919, General Dyer opened fire on the
gathering, at Jallianwala Bagh, near Darbar Sahib, killed 379 people and
wounded another 1200. The the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
(S.G.P.C.) and the Shiromani Akali Dal were established here in 1920
Harmandir Sahib
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"Golden Temple" redirects here. For other uses, see
Golden Temple (disambiguation).The Harmandir Sahib
ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ
The Golden Temple
The Harmandir Sahib(The abode of God),
informally known as the The
Golden Temple
General information
Architectural style Sikh
architecture
Town or city Amritsar
Country India
Coordinates 31°37′12″N 74°52′37″ECoordinates: 31°37′12″N 74°52′37″E
Construction started December
1585 AD
Completed August 1604
The Harmandir Sahib (Punjabi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) also Darbar Sahib (Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, Punjabi pronunciation: [dəɾbɑɾ sɑhɪb])and informally referred to as the "Golden Temple" is a
prominent Sikh Gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. It was
built by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan, in the 16th Century. In 1604, Guru
Arjan completed the Adi Granth, the holy scripture of Sikhism, and installed it
in the Gurdwara.
There are four doors to get into the Harmandir Sahib, which
symbolize the openness of the Sikhs towards all people and religions.The
present day Gurdwara was rebuilt in 1764 by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia with the help
of other Sikh Misls. 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 its
English name.Contents
1 General
2 History
2.1 Construction of the Harmandir Sahib
3 The Harmandir Sahib Complex and areas in its vicinity
4 Artwork and monument sculptures
5 Celebrations at the Harmandir Sahib
6 Operation Blue Star
7 Photo gallery
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
General
The Harmandir Sahib is considered holy by Sikhs. The holiest text
of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib,is always present inside the Gurdwara. Its
construction was mainly intended to build a place of worship for men and women
from all walks of life and all religions to come and worship God equally.Over
one lakh people visit the holy shrine daily for worship.
History
The Harmandir Sahib literally means The Temple of God. The fourth
guru of Sikhism, Guru Ram Das, excavated a tank in 1577 CE which subsequently
became known as Amritsar (meaning "Pool of the Nectar of
Immortality"),giving its name to the city that grew around it. In due
course, a Sikh edifice, Sri Harmandir Sahib (meaning "the abode of
God"),rose in the middle of this tank and became the supreme centre of
Sikhism. Its sanctum came to house the Adi Granth comprising compositions of
Sikh Gurus and other saints considered to have Sikh values and philosophies,
e.g., Baba Farid, and Kabir. The compilation of The Adi Granth was started by
the fifth guru of Sikhism, Guru Arjan.
Construction of the Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib at night
Originally built in 1574, the site of the Gurdwara was surrounded
by a small lake in a thin forest. Mughal Emperor Akbar, who visited the third
Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das, in the neighbouring town of Goindval, was so
impressed by the way of life in the town that he gave a jagir (the land and the
revenues of several villages in the vicinity) to the Guru's daughter Bhani as a
gift on her marriage to Bhai Jetha, who later became the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru
Ram Das ji. Guru Ram Das enlarged the lake and built a small township around
it. The town was named after Guru Ram Das as Guru Ka Chak', Chak Ram Das or Ram
Das Pura.
During the leadership of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan (1581–1606),
the full-fledged Gurdwara was built. In December 1588, Guru Arjan initiated the
construction of the Gurdwara. The foundation stone was laid by none other than
Guru Arjan Sahib himself in December 1588. It is a common misconception that
the foundation stone was laid by the Sufi saint Mian Mir of Lahore.
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, Sri Harmandir Sahib has four entrances.
The Gurdwara was completed in 1604. Guru Arjan, installed the Guru
Granth Sahib in it and appointed Baba Buddha as the first Granthi (reader) of
it on August 1604. In the mid-18th century it was attacked by the Afghans, by
one of Ahmed Shah Abdali's generals, Jahan Khan, and had to be substantially
rebuilt in the 1760s. However, in response a Sikh Army was sent to hunt down
the Afghan force. Both forces met each other five miles outside Amritsar; Jahan
Khan's army was destroyed.
The Harmandir Sahib Complex and areas in its vicinity
One of the three holy trees
(bers)
Wide-angle view of the
Harmandir Sahib
the Harmandir Sahib's
eastern entrance gate (see map)
The Gurdwara is surrounded by a large lake or holy tank, known as
the Sarovar, which consists of Amrit ("holy water" or "immortal
nectar"). There are four entrances to the Gurdwara, signifying the
importance of acceptance and openness. Inside the Gurdwara complex there are
many shrines to past Sikh Gurus, saints and martyrs (see map). There are three
holy trees (bers), each signifying a historical event or Sikh saint. Inside the
Gurdwara there are many memorial plaques that commemorate past Sikh historical
events, saints, martyrs and includes commemorative inscriptions of all the Sikh
soldiers who died fighting in World Wars I and II.
In keeping with the rule observed at all Sikh Gurdwaras worldwide,
the Harmandir Sahib is open to all persons regardless of their religion,
colour, creed, or sex. The only restrictions on the Harmandir Sahib's visitors
concern their behavior when entering and while visiting:
Maintaining the purity of the sacred space and of one's body while
in it:
Upon entering the premises, removing one's shoes (leaving them off
for the duration of one's visit) and washing one's feet in the small pool of
water provided;
Not drinking alcohol, eating meat, or smoking cigarettes or other
drugs while in the shrine
Dressing appropriately:
Wearing a head covering (a sign of respect) (the Gurdwara provides
head scarves for visitors who have not brought a suitable covering);
Not wearing shoes (see above).
How to act:
One must also sit on the ground while in the Darbar Sahib as a sign
of deference to both the Guru Granth Sahib and God.
First-time visitors are advised to begin their visit at the
information office highlighted in the map and then proceed to the Central Sikh
Museum near the main entrance and clock tower.
The Harmandir Sahib (also known as the Golden Temple) is the
Gurdwara of worship of Sikhs.
Artwork and monument sculptures
The ceiling of Harminder
Sahib is made with gold and precious stones
Dukh Bhanjani Beri & Ath
Sath Tirath
Much of the present decorative gilding and marblework dates from
the early 19th century. All the gold and exquisite marble work were conducted
under the patronage of Hukam Singh Chimni and Emperor Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of
the Sikh Empire of the Punjab. The Darshani Deorhi Arch stands at the beginning
of the causeway to the Harmandir Sahib; it is 202 feet (62 m) high and 21 feet
(6 m) in width. The gold plating on the Harmandir Sahib was begun by Ranjit
Singh and was finished in 1830. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a major donor of
wealth and materials for the shrine and is remembered with much affection by
the Punjabi people in general and the Sikh community in particular.
Celebrations at the Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib Watch
Towers (Point 17 on map)
One of the most important festivals is Vaisakhi, which is
celebrated in the second week of April (usually the 13th). Sikhs celebrate the
founding of the Khalsa on this day and it is celebrated with fervour in the
Harmandir Sahib. Other important Sikh religious days such as the martyrdom day
of Guru Teg Bahadur, the birthday of Guru Nanak, etc., are also celebrated with
religious piety. Similarly Bandi Chhor Divas is one of the festivals which sees
the Harmandir Sahib beautifully illuminated with Divas (lamps); lights and
fireworks are discharged. Most Sikhs visit Amritsar and the Harmandir Sahib at
least once during their lifetime, particularly and mostly during special
occasions in their life such as birthdays, marriages, childbirth, etc.
Operation Blue Star
Main article: Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star was undertaken on 3 June 1984 and ended on 6
June 1984. The Indian Army, led by General Kuldip Singh Brar, brought infantry,
artillery, and tanks into the Harmandir Sahib to put a stop to Dharam Yudh
Morcha, which were peaceful protests to support the implementation of The
Anandpur Sahib Resolution. During these "Morchay" thousands of Sikhs
courted arrest. Indira Gandhi ordered the army to launch Operation Blue Star.
Within six months, Indira Gandhi’s Sikh bodyguards killed her (31 October 1984)
for the perceived sacrilege.
Fierce fighting ensued between Sikhs and the soldiers, in which
many of the Sikhs were killed along with many soldiers. An official account
tallies the deaths of 83 soldiers and 492 sikhs killed by the army;the
Harmandir Sahib complex also suffered much damage due to the attack, especially
the holy Akal Takhat Sahib.
This attack is regarded as a desecration of Sikhism's holiest
shrine and discrimination of a minority in India. In 1986, the repairs
performed on the Akal Takhat Sahib, which the Rajiv Gandhi Government had
undertaken without consultation, were removed. A new Akal Takhat Sahib was
completed in 1999 by Kar Sevaks.
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