GOLDEN TEMPLE

Golden temple also known as ‘HARMANDIR SAHIB’ is one of the largest visiting pilgrimage places in world. It is called golden temple because of its gold-foil-covered exterior.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY HARMINDER SAHIB?

Harimandar, Harimandir, and Harmandir Sahib are all variations of Harmandar Sahib. It's also known as the Darbaar Sahib, which means "holy audience. The word "Harmandir" is made up of two words: "Hari," which means "God," and "mandir," which means "home", according to experts. Several Gurdwaras in the Sikh religion are named "Harman."

Sri Guru Amardas Ji

 HISTORY

According to Sikh historical records, Guru Amar Das, the Sikh tradition's third Guru, chose the land that became Amritsar and the Harimandir Sahib. It was first referred to as 'Guru Da Chakk', after he asked his disciple Ram Das Ji to seek out a land to determine a replacement town with a man-made pool as its central point. According to Sikh historical records, the land that became Amritsar.

Sri Guru 
Arjan Dev Ji

 

In 1574, Guru Ram Das succeeded Guru Amar Das, and in the face of hostile opposition from Guru Amar Das's sons, Guru Ram Das founded the town that became known as "Ramdaspur." He began by completing the pool with the assistance of Baba Buddha. Guru Ram Das built his new official centre and house right next to it. He invited merchants and artisans from all across India to settle in the new town.

 

SRI GURU RAMDAS JI

Ramdaspur town grew during Guru Arjan's reign, financed by donations and built entirely by supporters. The town grew to become Amritsar, and therefore the middle area became the temple complex.The construction activity between 1574 and 1604 is described in Mahima Prakash Vartak, a semi-historical Sikh hagiography text likely written in 1741 and the earliest known document dealing with the lives of all ten Gurus. In 1604 Guru Arjan established the Sikhism scripture within the new Gurdwara Sahib.Guru Arjan established Amritsar as a primary Sikh pilgrimage destination, building on the efforts of Guru Ram Das. He wrote a large amount of Sikh scripture, including the well-known "Sukhmani Sahib".

 

 

 

 FEW FACTS ABOUT GOLDEN TEMPLE :-

The gurdwara is built around a man-made pool that was constructed in 1577 by Guru Ram Das, the 4th Sikh Guru. In 1589, Guru Arjan, Sikhism's sixth Guru, asked Sai Mir Mian Mohammed, a Muslim Pir from Lahore, to lay the foundation stone. Guru Arjan put a copy of the Adi Granth in Harmandir Sahib in 1604.

The Sikhs restored the Gurdwara after it was destroyed multiple times by Mughal and invading Afghan troops after it became a target of persecution. After establishing the Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh restored it in marble and copper in 1809, and in 1830, he coated the sanctum with gold foil. As a result, the Golden Temple was given its name.

The Golden Temple is a place of worship that welcomes individuals of all religions. It has a square design having four entrances and a path over the pool that can be used to circumambulate it. The Gurudura Sahib and the pool are surrounded by a group of buildings. One of these is “Akal Takht” , Sikhism's main religious authority centre. A clock tower, Gurdwara Committee headquarters, a Museum, and a langar hall (a free Sikh community run kitchen that serves a simple vegetarian meal to all visitors without discrimination) are the other buildings among the Akal Takht.

Every day, around 1 million people come to worship at this holy place. The Gurdwara complex has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the proposal is currently awaiting approval on UNESCO's tentative list.

In 1574 Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, established the Golden Temple.

The Gurudwara Sahib was completed building in 1604.

The ceiling of "Harmandir Sahib" is designed and made with gold and precious and expensive stones.
The Golden Temple) organises the world's largest langar sewa. Every day, it serves approximately 100,000 devotees.

While the food is being served, all devotees sit in rows on the floor, regardless of religion, caste, or creed. Here, all devotees are treated equally.

The temple is built on a lower level than the ground level to represent humility and the need to go down to the earth.

In 1830, two centuries after its construction, Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered it in gold. This required 162 kg of gold, which was then worth approximately Rs 65 lakh.

It's all made of 24-karat gold, which is far purer than the 22-karat gold commonly found in Indian homes today.
It was renovated within the 1990s with 500 kg of gold. This amount of gold would be worth more than Rs. 150 crores.