Harmandir Sahib

Harmandir Sahib
The Harmandir Sahib (The abode of God), informally known as the Golden Temple in Sikhism
Building information
Location	Amritsar
Country	India
Architect	Guru Arjan Dev
Client	Guru Arjan Dev & Sikhs
Construction start date	December 1585 C.E.
Completion date	August 1604 C.E.
Style	Sikh architecture

The Harmandir Sahib (Punjabi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) or Darbar Sahib (Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ), informally referred to as the Golden Temple or Temple of God, constitutes the most significant shrine of the Sikhs and one of the oldest Sikh gurudwara. Guru Ram Das, the fourth guru of the Sikhs, established the Golden Temple in the city of Amritsar.

Introduction

General

Part of a series on Sikhism
History of Sikhism Sikh beliefs Sikh
The Sikh Gurus
Sikh Bhagats
Other Important People
Philosophy Beliefs and principles Underlying values Prohibitions Technique and methods Other observations · Bani
Sikh practices · List
Scripture Guru Granth Sahib Adi Granth · Dasam Granth
Categories Practices · History Family of the Sikh Gurus Gurdwara Places · Politics
Articles on Sikhism Portal: Sikhism

Sikhs consider the Harmandir Sahib holy because the eternal Guru of Sikhism, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, always has a presence inside. The temple had been constructed as a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religion to come and worship God equally. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib constitutes the holiest literature in the Sikh religion, the tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh on 7th October 1708 made it the eternal Sikh Guru and the teacher of Sikhism. The holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib makes the place it resides, anywhere in the world, equally holy and precious to Sikhs.

History

Harmandir Sahib literally means "House of God." The fourth Guru of Sikhism, [Guru Ram Das], excavated a tank in 1577 C.E. which subsequently became known as Amritsar (meaning: Pool of the Nectar of Immortality). The city growing up around it took on the name. In due course, a splendid Sikh edifice, Harmandir Sahib, rose in the middle of that tank and became the supreme center of Sikhism. Its sanctum came to house the Adi Granth comprising compositions of Sikhi Gurus and other saints considered to have Sikh values and philosophies e.g. Baba Farid and Kabir. The fifth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Arjan Dev, started the compilation of the Adi Granth.

The Amritsar area

Amritsar situates in the Majha region of the Punjab. Majha, also known as the Bari Doab, comprising the Doab (Do = two, ab = rivers) or the (fluvial) tract of land laying between two of the five great rivers of the province, the Ravi and the Beas. As such, Majha lies in the heart of the ancient Punjab region, comprised of Gurdaspur, Batala and Tarn Taran Sahib as well as Amritsar.

Construction of the Harmandir Sahib

Wideview of the Harimandir Sahib night light

Originally built during 1574 C.E., a small lake in a thin forest surrounded the site of the temple. The third of the six grand Mughals, emperor Akbar, visiting the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das, at the neighboring town of Goindval expressed admiration for the way of life in the town. 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. He later became the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das. Guru Ram Das enlarged the lake and built a small township around it. The town, named after Guru Ram Das, called "Guru Ka Chak", "Chak Ram Das" or "Ram Das Pura".

The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev (1581-1606), built the temple in final form. In December 1588, the great Muslim Sufi saint of Lahore, Hazrat Mian Mir, who was a close friend of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, initiated the construction of the temple by laying the first foundation stone (December 1588 C.E.). A mason then straightened the stone but Guru Arjan Dev told him that, as he had undone the work just completed by the holy man, a disaster might come to the Harmandir Sahib. The Mughals later attacked it.

Completed in 1604, Guru Arjan Dev, installed the Guru Granth Sahib, appointed Baba Buddha Ji as the first Granthi (Reader) on August 1604 C.E.. In the mid 18th century, the Afghans attacked, lead by one of Ahmed Shah Abdali's Generals, Jahan Khan. The temple had to be substantially rebuilt in the 1760s. In response, a Sikh Army embarked to hunt down the Afghan force. Ordered to show no mercy, historical evidence suggests they carried out their orders. The opposing armies met each other five miles outside Amritsar, Jahan Khan's army utterly defeated. Commander Sardar Dayal Singh decapitated him himself.

The Harmandir Sahib Complex and areas in its vicinity

The Map of the Harmandir Sahib

A large lake of water, known as the Sarovar which consists of Amrit (Holy Water or Immortal Nectar), surrounds the temple. The four entrances to the temple signify the importance of acceptance and openness. Ostensibly, that concept calls to memory the tent of Abraham in the Old Testament. His tent remained open on all four sides to welcome travelers from all directions. Inside the temple complex, many shrines exist to past Sikh Gurus, Saints and martyrs (see map). Three holy trees (Bers), each signifying a historical event or Sikh saint, stand. Inside the temple many memorial plaques commemorating past Sikh historical events, saints, martyrs and includes commemorative inscriptions of all the Sikh soldiers who died fighting in World War I and World War II.

Most people visit the Sikh Central museum near the main entrance and clock tower on their first visit. Anyone who wants to enter the Harmandir Sahib may do so, irrespective of religion, color, creed or sex. People must not drink alcohol, eat meat or smoke cigarettes or other drugs while in the shrine. People must dress appropriately and cover their heads as a sign of respect. Pilgrims remove shoes, followed by washing feet in the small pool of water, before entering the Harmandir Sahib premises. All Sikh temples (Gurdwaras) in the world follow the traditional rule of welcoming everyone to enter.

The East entrance gate to Harmandir Sahib (see map)

Four doors provide entrance to the Harmandir Sahib. In 1988, after Operation Black Thunder, the government acquired a narrow peripheral strip of land (including buildings) essentially creating a security belt. The government displaced and rehabilitated a large number of people in the process.

Wideview of Harmandir Sahib

The project, meeting with strong resistance from the moderate as well as militant Sikh organizations, forcing an abandoning of the plan. The murder of a senior Government engineer, connected with the project, prompted the abandonment of the plan. The Deputy Commissioner Karan Bir Singh Sidhu revived the project in 1993. Sidhu also had been appointed as the Project Director popularly described as the Galliara Project. He changed the concept of the periphery from that of a security belt to that of a second parikarma, creating a serene landscape fully consistent with the ethereal beauty of the Harmandir Sahib. Sidhu created the plan in quiet consultation with the SGPC. The pilgrims today can travel only by foot in the Galliara.

Artwork and monument sculptures

North Entrance gate near Ath-sath Tirath (68 Sacred Places) (Point 15 on map)

Much of the present decorative gilding and marble work dates to the early 1800s. Hukam Singh Chimni and Emperor Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab served as patrons for all the gold and exquisite marble work conducted. The Darshani Deorhi Arch stands at the beginning of the causeway to the Harmandir Sahib, standing 202 feet (62 m) high and 21 feet (6 m) in width. Emperor Ranjit Singh began the gold plating on the Harmandir Sahib, completed in 1830 C.E. The Sher-e-Punjab (Lion of the Punjab), a generous donor of wealth and materials for the shrine, won the affection by the Punjabi people in general and the Sikh community in particular. Maharaja Ranjit Singh also built two other sacred temples in Sikhism. Maharaja Ranjit Singh's generosity derived from his profound reverence for the tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh. The other two most sacred temples in Sikhism, which he built, include Takht Sri Patna Sahib (initiation or birth place of Guru Gobind Singh) and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib the place of Guru Gobind Singh's Sikh ascension into heaven.

Notable visits

The Causeway to the Harmandir Sahib (Point 10 on map)

• Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of the United Kingdom—October 1997
• Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs—John Manley—January 2002
• Former Prime Minister of Canada—Jean Chrétien—October 2003
• Indian President—A.P.J. Abdul Kalam—August 2004
• Indian Prime Minister—Manmohan Singh—September 2004
• British Foreign Secretary—Jack Straw—February 2005
• Dalai Lama—Tenzin Gyatso—November 2007
• Ernesto Carlos Alvarez—Ambassador of Argentina in India
• Mr. & Mrs. Miguel Angel Ramirez—Ambassador of Cuba in India
• Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Abad—Ambassador of Ecuador in India
• Mr. & Mrs. J.Ronald Gajraj—High Commissioner of Guyana in India
• Mr. & Mrs. Rogelio Granguillhome—Ambassador of Mexico in India
• Hans Dannenberg—Ambassador of Dominican Republic in India
• Milena Santana Ramirez—Ambassador of Venezuela in India
• Ricardo Leon—Charge De Affairs(CDA) of Govt. of Chile
• Minister Genaro Pappalardo—Charge De Affairs(CDA) of Govt. of Paraguay
• Carlos Alberto Yrigoyen—Charge De Affairs(CDA) of Govt. of Peru

Celebrations at 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 (13th usually). 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, birthday of Guru Nanak etc, are also celebrated with religious piety. Similarly Diwali is one of the festivals which sees the Harmandir Sahib beautifully illuminated with Divas/Diyas (lamps),lights and fireworks are discharged. During these special occasions 1-2 million pilgrims visit the Holy shrine named Harmandir Sahib.

Most Sikh people visit Amritsar and the Harmandir Sahib at least once during lifetime, particularly during special occasions in their life such as birthdays,marriages or birth of their children etc.

Reaching the Harmandir Sahib from abroad

For the global Sikh pilgrim or international tourist visitor the fastest way to reach the Harmandir Sahib is by air-travel. The holy city of Amritsar, where the Harmandir Sahib is located, has a rapidly expanding modern Airport; Amritsar International Airport. The airport can be reached direct, by the international traveler, from most major cities of the world including, London and Toronto. Moreover, there is a rapidly expanding array of international hotels in the holy city that can be booked for overnight stays. Lonely Planet Bluelist 2008 has voted the Harmandir Sahib as one of the world’s best spiritual sites.

Recent events

• On July 6, 2005 the SGPC decided to install closed circuit television cameras around the Harmandir Sahib Complex and will be adding more security due to other attacks in India on other religious areas.
• Latin American and Caribbean Ambassadors visit Golden Temple. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
• The Dalai Lama visits Golden Temple. Retrieved July 14, 2008.

Operation Blue Star

Between June 3 and June 6, 1984, the Indian Army led by General Kuldip Singh Brar brought troops into the Harmandir Sahib to arrest Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He and some followers had taken refuge in the Harmandir Sahib, and resisted the police who sought to arrest him for suspected acts of terrorism.

By 1983, the Harmandir Sahib became a shelter for a large number of militants. Mark Tully and Satish Jacob wrote: "All ... [Bhindranwale's] terrorists were known by name to the shopkeepers and the householders who live in the narrow alleys surrounding the Golden Temple ... The Punjab police must have known who they were also, but they made no attempt to arrest them. By this time Bhindranwale and his men were above the law."

The Harmandir Sahib compound and some of the surrounding houses were fortified. The Statesman reported on July 4 that light machine-guns and sophisticated self-loading rifles were known to have been brought into the compound.

Indira Gandhi ordered the army to launch Operation Blue Star, leading to fierce fighting ensued between Bhindranwale's supporters and the soldiers, in which many of Bhindranwale's supporters were killed along with many soldiers. An official account tallies the deaths of 83 soldiers and 492 civilians. The Harmandir Sahib complex also suffered much damage due to the fighting, especially the holy Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.

Many Sikhs regarded the attack as a desecration of their holiest shrine, and their alienation had deep and dramatic consequences. Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her bodyguards, both Sikhs, the following October.

Sonia Gandhi in 1998 officially apologized for the assault on the holy Harmandir Sahib, as a great mistake.

In 1986 the repairs performed on the holy Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, which the Rajiv Gandhi Government had undertaken without consultation, were removed. A new Sri Akal Takhat Sahib was completed in 1999 by Kar Seva (free pilgrim service & work).

Photo gallery

• Golden temple Akal Takhat.JPG

  Harmandir Sahib main Building with Akal Takht Sahib

• Golden Temple West Entrace.JPG

  Harmandir Sahib from the North Entrance gate near Ath-sath Tirath (68 Sacred Places) (Point 15 on map)

• Baba Atal Amritsar.JPG

  Gurdwara Baba Atal, Harmandir Sahib complex Amritsar (Point 25 on map)

• 

  Nishaan Sahib (Flagstaffs) (Point 7 on map)

• 

  Harmandir Sahib Complex

• 

  Harmandir Sahib

• 

  The Entrance to the Harmandir Sahib as seen from the inside of the complex

• Harmandir Sahib-2995.jpg

  Corridor, Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar.

• 

  Panorama of the main building and Sarovar

• 

  North Entrance gate near Ath-sath Tirath (68 Sacred Places) (Point 15 on map).

• 

  The Causeway to the Harmandir Sahib (Point 10 on map)

• 
• 

  The East entrance gate to Harmandir Sahib (see map)

• 

  Harmandir, circa 1870

• Golden Temple Amritsar 1987.JPG

  Harmandir Sahib Amritsar 1987, Amritsar.

• Guarding the Golden Temple, 1973.JPG

  Guarding the Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar.

• 

  Langar Canteen, inside Harmandir Sahib.

• 

  Harmandir Sahib.

Other gurdwaras

• Akal Takht, Amritsar, India Dhan Dhan Baba Jarnail Singh Ji, Dhan Dhan Baba Gen. Shahbeg Singh Ji
• Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, Pakistan
• Bangla Sahib, Delhi, India
• Hazur Sahib, Nanded, India
• Patna Sahib, Patna, India
• Damdama Sahib, Bathinda, India
• Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, India
• Sri Hemkunt Sahib, Chamoli, India

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Seth, Asha. Sri Harmandir Sahib The Golden Temple, a Pilgrimage. Mumbai [India]: Virtual Studio, 2001. OCLC 52840048.
• Singh, Harban. Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University, 1998. ISBN 817380530X.
• Singh, Patwant. The Golden Temple. Hong Kong: ET Pub. Ltd, 1988. ISBN 9627375012
• Yadava, Anurag, and Inderjit Singh Bakshi. Sri Harmandir Sahib: Golden Temple of the Sikhs. Chandigarh: Unistar Books, 2007. ISBN 8189899279

External links

• Amritsar Portal. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• Amritsar Paath. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• Sri Harmandir Sahib. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• Sikhnet.com. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• SacredSites.com. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• SriGuruGranthSahib.org. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• A journalist’s report on his short tourism experience of Punjabi Sikh shrines. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• Pictures of the Harmandir Sahib Pictures of the Harmandir Sahib from a backpackers trip around India.. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• Some images of Sri Harmandir Sahib .Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• Golden Temple Photographs. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• Hotel In Amritsar Near Golden Temple. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• Vídeo Tour the Temple[1]. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
• The Sikhism Home Page: Introduction to Sikhism. Retrieved July 7, 2008.</ref>

 Topics in Sikhism  

Gurus:	Guru Nanak Dev | Guru Angad Dev | Guru Amar Das | Guru Ram Das | Guru Arjan Dev | Guru Har Gobind | Guru Har Rai | Guru Har Krishan | Guru Teg Bahadur | Guru Gobind Singh | Sikh Bhagats
Philosophy:	Beliefs and principles | Underlying values | Prohibitions | Technique and methods | Other observations
Practices:	Ardās | Amrit | Chaṛdī Kalā | Dasvand | Five Ks | Kirat Karō | Kirtan | Langar | Nām Japō | Simran | Three Pillars | Vaṇḍ Chakkō
Scripture:	Guru Granth Sahib | Dasam Granth | Sarab Loh Granth | Bani | Chaupai | Jaap Sahib | Japji Sahib | Mool Mantar | Rehras | Sukhmani | Tav-Prasad Savaiye
More:	Ek Onkar | Gurdwara | History | Khalsa | Khanda | Literature | Music | Names | Places | Politics | Satguru | Sikhs | Waheguru

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

• Harmandir Sahib  ^history

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

• History of "Harmandir Sahib"

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.