History Of Golden Temple In Amritsar
Early History and Foundation
Guru Ram Das and the Sacred Pool
The history of the Golden Temple in Amritsar begins with the fourth Guru of the Sikh religion – Ram Das, who began the construction of the holy tank called Amrit Sarovar in 1577. This tank was designed to be as an area where people could obtain spiritual purification or recuperation. The site itself was a depression that needed much preparation in order to transform it to a pool. This sacred pond was followed by building of a city known as Amritsar which literally means the “Pool of Nectar”.
Construction by Guru Arjan Dev
Construction of the temple was actually started by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev in the year 1581 ad and the construction was over in the year 1589. Temple was to be designed by Guru Arjan Dev for the Sikhs with the motive to construct a central place of worship for them and wanted the door of the temple should be open for everyone, thus showing the sprit of brotherhood and equality among all. The construction of the temple was started by laying the initial stone by the Sufi saint named Hazrat Mian Mir a symbol of the Guru’s interfaith policy.
Suggested Tour: Hemkund Sahib Tour
Architectural Features
Unique Design (History Of Golden Temple In Amritsar)
The architecture of the Golden Temple is a blend of both Hindu and Mughal style of architecture due to the culturally diverse region of Punjab. Each of the four doors of this temple is situated on each side of the building which signifies the fact that there is no prejudice in the Sikh religion, regardless of the caste, gender, or color of the skin. This was quite revolutionary during that period given the fact that society was very much divided into classes.
Harmandir Sahib (History Of Golden Temple In Amritsar)
The main temple or Harmandir Sahib is a two-storied building with marble walls and copper roof while upper story is covered with pure gold. The circle of the sanctum is enclosed by the Amrit Sarovar; however, there is a causeway that has been built across the pool to reach the temple. The dome is covered with gold and is considered one of the key items of worship in the Sikh religion.
Akal Takht (History Of Golden Temple In Amritsar)
On the other side of the Amritsar is the Akal Takht also called the “Throne of the Timeless One” and Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru constructed it in 1606. The Akal Takht is the equivalent of the ‘White House’ to the Sikhs and is where both, the religious and the political are deliberated on.
Suggested Tour: Panj Takht Sahib Tour
Historical Events
Destruction and Reconstruction
Many invasions have taken place in the history of Golden Temple which is indicative of the unending strife that Sikhism had gone through. Overtaking of the temple by the Mughals and the Afghan dynasties occurred several times in the 17th and the first half of the 18th centuries. It is also worthy of note that the Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Abdali destroyed the temple twice in mid-eighteenth century. In each case, the Sikh community proved to be quite steadfast, and the shrine was rebuilt every time.
Contributions of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
The golden temple gained more magnificence in the nineteenth century when the emperor of the Sikh empire Maharaja Ranjit Singh donated gold to build the temple. He donated large sums of money for the rebuilding of the temple and had the upper stories of the temple gold plated and done up in marble work and gems. This transformation provided new look to the building which is called now as the Golden Temple and is the central structure of the Harmandir Sahib.
British Colonial Period
After the arrival of British to India, the Golden Temple remained to be an active center of Sikh activities. However, the British authorities grew wary of the temple and its impact on Sikhs’ assembly, and closely monitored the gatherings. Still, the temple continued to be a physical representation of Sikh’s political power and religious jurisdiction.
Suggested Tour: Damdama Sahib With Golden Temple
Modern Era
Operation Blue Star
Another major and a sad chapter in contemporary history of the Golden Temple was Operation Blue Star in June 1984. The Indian government under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi demanded the Indian Army evict militants, especially Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who had taken over the temple complex. This operation was destructive leading to the destruction of the temple and many causalities. This action led to a lot of hatred among the Sikhs and left deep psychological effect on them since the shrine is their holiest place.
Restoration and Preservation
As for the consequences of Operation Blue Star, significant initiatives were taken to reconstruct the Golden Temple afterward. It was done with great patience and devoted by the Sikh community in conjunction with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The gold plating was done and its marble inlays were repaired to retain the historic and religious value of the temple.
Religious and Cultural Significance
The Guru Granth Sahib
The most important and the sacred commodity of the Sikh religion, the Guru Granth Sahib, is placed at the holiest site of Sikhism, namely the Golden Temple. The holy book is kept at the temple during the day and is then shifted to the Akal Takht at night. It is to be noted that Sri Guru Granth Sahib is considered as the ‘living Guru’ of the Sikhs which contains the sermon and sayings of all the ten Sikh Gurus and other saints of different religions.
Langar: The Community Kitchen
Another marvelous feature of the Golden temple that separates it from other religious centers is the Langar, a free food that is provided for thousands of people daily. Langar is a practice introduced by the first Guru of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, as the tradition of serving food for all and everyone without any discrimination. Volunteers cook and bake, simple and healthy foods are prepared for all attendees without discriminating the color of their skin. The Langar at the Golden Temple is the worlds largest community kitchen and reflects the Sikh concepts of Arrogance, Sewa and Dasyu.
Pilgrimage and Tourism
Golden temple is one of the most sacred shrines of Sikh pilgrims and the tourists coming from all over the world as around millions visit this temple annually. People look for spiritual healing and come to be a part of this temple to see the beautiful amalgamation of religion and work. Main parts of the temple are the Central Sikh Museum, which displays articles associated with the history of the Sikhs.
Conclusion
The temple of the Golden Temple symbolizes the strength of belief and the unity of the global society. This history is evidence of the fact that the sikhs also have not bowed down to circumstances and they continued to work for the principles of equality, service and devotion. The location remains a spectacle to millions in demanding a haven of peace and symbolizing the historical legacy of the Sikh religion.
