THE GOLDEN TEMPLE - PHOTO

The Golden Temple

About Golden Temple

The golden temple is also known as “SRI HARMANDIR SAHIB” or “SRI DARBAR SAHIB TEMPLE”. The temple is well known in the world because of its scenic beauty and the golden coating around its dome. It is named after the word “HARI” which means god so this way the word states that the meaning of the name SRI HARI temple means the temple of god. The temple is in main attraction for the Sikhs and they daily wish to pay obeisance to SRI HARMANDIR SAHIB in their ARDAS into the temple at AMRITSAR.

GURU ARJAN SAHEB the FIFTH NANAK himself conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the SIKHS and designed the architecture of SRI HARMANDIR SAHIB. Shortly after the making of temple the planning to excavate the holy AMRITSAR or AMRIT SAROVAR was chalked out by GURU AMARDAS SAHIB whom was the THIRD NANAK himself but it was executed by GURU RAMDAS SAHIB under the supervision of BABA BUDHA JI. 

Where is the golden temple ?

The golden temple is located in the AMRITSAR city of PUNJAB state. The temple is known worldwide for its beauty and sublime peacefulness and has a great attraction for people of SIKHS community all over the world. The temple site is located in a place quite like forest. This way the location is also popular for wandering MEDICANTS and has a peaceful nature around it to sage deep antiquity. 

The Buddha is known to have spent time at this place in contemplation before 2000 years ago. After Buddha’s time, another philosopher-saint came to live and meditate to the peaceful lake. He was GURU NANAK (1469-1539) whom is founder of the SIKH religion.

Temple of Harmandir Sahib

After the death of GURU NANAK, his disciples continued to frequent the site. Time passed away and over the centuries it became the primary scared shrine of the SIKHS. The lake surrounding temple was enlarged and structurally contained during the leadership of FOURTH SIKH guru named GURU RAMDAS (1574-1581) AND FIFTH guru named GURU ARJAN (1581-1606) when the god of temple HARMANDIR was built. During the early 16th to mid of 17th centuries the sixth to tenth SIKH gurus were involved constantly in defending their religion from against MUSLIM (MUGHALS) armies. The temple was destroyed number of times by MUSLIMS but each and every time it was rebuilt more beautifully by the SIKHS. From 1767 onwards, the SIKHS became strong enough to resist among the major and capital internal armies of INDIA and the result is, the temple of SRI HARMANDIR SAHIB is still stood peacefully. 

The temple has a unique combination of artistic styles of HINDUS and MUSLIMS in architecture. During the rule of MAHARAJA RANJITSINGH (1780-1839), the temple was richly ornamented with marble scriptures, golden gilding and large quantities of rich precious stones. Within the sanctuary, the scared scripture of SIKHS the ADI GRANTHA lies on a platform of jewels. The scripture is a collection of number of devotional poems, prayers and hymns composed by the ten SIKH gurus and various HINDU, MUSLIM saints. Beginning early in the morning and at the sunset time these hymns are chanted to the exquisite accompaniment of flutes, drums and stringed instruments. Famous musicians and singers also invited to take part into these ceremonies at holy occasions. Echoing across the serene lake, this enchantingly beautiful music induces delicate yet powerful state of trance in the pilgrims strolling leisurely around the marble concourse encircling the pool and temple.

The History of the Golden Temple ( Har mandir)

The entrance to the Golden Temple complex is through an ornate archway with intricate inlay work. Verses from the GRANTH SAHIB are inscribed on the doorway. The main north entrance is under a Victorian clock tower. Known as the DARSHANI DEORI, the entrance is up a flight of steps and down again to the temple and holy tank. The temple is a two storey marble structure reached by a causeway known as Guru´s Bridge. The lower storey is in white marble with the walls decorated with inlaid flower and animal motifs in the PIETRADURA style of the TAJ-MAHAL. The architecture of the golden temple is a blend of the HINDU and MUSLIM styles.

The upper storey is gold plated, crowned with a dome (the Golden Dome) shaped like an inverted lotus. With the first light of dawn, the reflection of the temple in the tank gives an ethereal atmosphere to the complex. As the sun shifts, the temple presents myriad views, each magnificent and captivating. The Golden Dome (said to be glided with 100 kg of pure gold) is supposed to represent an inverted lotus flower, pointing back to earth to symbolize the Sikh´s concern with the problems of this world

The temple building has four entrances instead of the usual single entry. This is symbolic of the openness of Sikhism and indicates that followers of all faiths are allowed inside. The walls within are decorated with carved wooden panels and elaborate inlay work in silver and gold. The ADI GRANTH, compiled by Guru ARJAN DEV, rests on a throne beneath a jewel-encrusted canopy. Priests conduct continuous recitation of verses from the holy book in 3-hour shifts. A complete reading of the text stakes 48 hours. The original copy of the Guru GRANTH SAHIB is kept under pink shroud in the, Golden Temple during the day and at around 10 p.m. each day is ceremoniously returned to the Akal TAKHT (Sikh Parliament) building. The morning processional ceremony takes place at 4 a.m. in SUMMER and at 5 a.m. in WINTER, when Sri Guru GRANTH SAHIB is bought from Akal TAKHT SAHIB in a procession to the Sanctum Sanctorum, which is washed with milk.

The GOLDEN TEMPLE is open to all. Pilgrims and visitors to the Golden Temple must remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering the precincts. No Smoking is allowed inside the whole temple area, photography is permitted only in/from the PARIKRAMA, the marble pathway that surrounds the sacred pool. An English speaking guide is available at the information office near clock Tower that marks the temples main entrance. The information office has a number of interesting free publications.

                                                

The old city, with the Golden Temple and surrounding bazaars along narrow alleys, is encircled by a ring road. Even today, the markets have an ambience of ancient times, when traders bought and sold goods right across from central Asia up to the farthest corners of India. Little light reaches down to the congested streets, which are best negotiated on foot. There are rows upon rows of shops on each street selling specifics goods. Guru Bazaar specializes in GOLDEN JEWELLARY shops, while the Bazaar KESARIAN is for steel and brass utensils. The smells of KATRA KATHIAN announce its wares before you reach the shops selling PAPADS, WARIAN (crispy made from pulses) MURABBAS (Indian jams), pickles and AAM-PAPAD (dried mango candies). The MISHRI Bazaar is the place to buy dry fruits, while KATRA Mohan Singh offers a COLOURFUL kaleidoscope of bridal glass bangles.

“AMRITSAR” 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 is the “check-post”, is about 29 km 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.

ARCHITECTURE OF THE GOLDEN TEMPLE:

SRIHARMANDIR SAHIB is built on a 67 sq-ft. platform in the centre of the SAROVAR (tank). The temple itself is 40.5 sq-ft. 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 'PRADAKSHINA' (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 having 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.

The GOLDEN TEMPLE 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.  

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.

This is the style that developed in the DRAVIDA DESAM. The VIMANA and the GOPURAMS are the distinctive characteristics of the Southern style. The VIMANA is a tall pyramidal tower consisting of several progressively smaller STOREYS. This stands on a square base. The GOPURAMS has a two storys seperated by a horizontal moulding. The PRAKARA or the outerwall, envelops the main shrine as well as the other smaller shrines, the tank. The PALLAVAS, the CHOLAS, the PANDYAS, the VIJAY NAGAR rulers, the NAYAKS all contributed to the Southern style of temples.

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