The Golden Temple or
Darbar Sahib, situated in Amritsar, Punjab, is the most sacred
temple for Sikhs. It is a
symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh people all
over the world. In the evolution of the Darbar
Sahib, is entwined the history and ideology of Sikhism. In its
architecture are included, symbols associated with other
places of worship. This is an example of the spirit of
tolerance and acceptance that the Sikh philosophy propounds.
Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden
Temple, (on account of its scenic beauty and golden coating
for English speaking world), is named after Hari(God) the
temple of God. The Sikhs all over the world, daily wish
to pay visit to Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri
Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas.
History
The Sri Harmandir Sahib was invaded and destroyed many a times
by the Afghan and other invaders. Each and every time
the Sikhs had to sacrifice their lives in order to liberate it
and restore its sanctity. After the martyrdom of Bhai Mani
Singh ji in 1737, Massa Ranghar, the Kotwal of Amritsar took
charge of Sri Harmandir Sahib in 1740 and converted it into a
civil court and began to hold notch parties. This act created
great resentment among the Sikhs. Two warriors, Sukha Singh
and Mahtab Singh avenged the insult by a dare devil act. They
entered the temple complex in guise of peasants, severed the
head of Massa Ranghar with a single blow of kirpan and fled
away with decapitated head on one of the their spears.
Guru Arjan Sahib got its foundation laid by a muslim saint
Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore on 1st of Magh, 1644
Bikrmi Samvat(December,1588). The construction work was
directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself and he was
assisted by the prominent Sikh personalities like Baba Budha
ji, Bhai Gurdas ji, Bhai Sahlo ji and many other devoted
Sikhs.
Unlike erecting the structure on the higher level(a tradition
in Hindu Temple architecture), Guru Arjan Sahib got it built
on the lower level and unlike Hindu Temples having only one
gate for the entrance and exit, Guru Sahib got it open
from four sides. Thus he created a symbol of new faith,
Sikhism. Guru Sahib made it accessible to every person
without any distinction of Caste, creed, sex and religion.
Architecture of the Golden Temple
Sri Harmandir Sahib, is built on a 67ft. square platform
in the centre of the Sarovar(tank). The temple itself is
40.5ft. square. It has a door each on the East, West, North
and South. The Darshani Deori (an arch) stands at
the shore end of the causeway. The door frame of the arch is
about 10ft in height and 8ft 6inches in breath. The door panes
are decorated with artistic style. It opens on to the causeway
or bridge that leads to the main building of Sri
Harmandir Sahib. It is 202 feet in length and 21 feet in
width.
The bridge is connected with the 13 feet wide 'Pardakshna'
(circumambulatory path). It runs round the main
shrine and it leads to the 'Har ki Paure' (steps of God). On
the first floor of 'Har ki Paure', there is continuous
reading of Guru Granth Sahib.The main structure of Sri
Harmandir Sahib, functionally as well as technically is a
three-storied one. The front, which faces the bridge, is
decorated with repeated cusped arches and the roof of the
first floor is at the height of the 26 feet and 9 inches.
At the top of the first floor 4 feet high parapet rises on all
the sides which has also four 'Mamtees' on the four
corners and exactly on the top of the central hall of the main
sanctuary rises the third story. It is a small square room and
have three gates. A regular recitation of Guru Granth Sahib is
also held there. On the top of this room stands the low fluted
'Gumbaz'(dome) having lotus petal motif in relief at the base
inverted lotus at the top which supports the 'Kalash' having a
beautiful 'Chhatri' at the end.
Its architecture represents a unique harmony between the
Muslims and the Hindus way of construction work and this is
considered the best architectural specimens of the world. It
is often quoted that this architecture has created an
independent Sikh school of architecture in the history of art
in India.
Among the other objects of interest in and around the Golden
Temple worth mentioning are :
Dukh Bhanjni Ber (Jujube Tree)
Thara Sahib
Ber Baba Budha Ji
Gurdwara llachi Ber
Ath Sath Tirath (Sixty eight holy places condensed into one)
Gurdwara Shaheed Bunga Baba Deep Singh
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