GOLDEN TEMPLE, AMRITSAR

Golden Temple


Sri Harmandir European (The abode of God)   conjointly Sri Darbar European (Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, Punjabi pronunciation: [dəɾbɑɾ sɑhɪb]) and informally stated because the "Golden Temple",  is that the holiest Gurdwara of Sikhism, placed within the town of Amritsar, Punjab, India. Amritsar (literally, the tank of nectar of immortality) was supported in 1577 by the fourth Sikh guru, Guru Ram Das. The fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan, designed the Harmandir European to be in-built the centre of this holy tank, and upon its construction, put in the Adi Granth, the Good Book of Sikhism, within the Harmandir European.  The Harmandir European advanced is additionally home to the Akal Takht (the throne of the unaltered  one, recognized by the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind). whereas the Harmandir European is thought to be the abode of God's religious attribute, the Akal Takht is that the seat of God's temporal authority

The construction of Harmandir European was supposed to create an area of worship for men and ladies from all walks of life and every one religions to come back and worship God equally. consequently, as a gesture of this non-sectarian universalness of Sikhism, Guru Arjan had specially invited Muslim Sufi saint, Hazrat Mian Mir to get the muse stone of the Harmandir European. The four entrances (representing the four directions) to induce into the Harmandir European conjointly symbolise the openness of the Sikhs towards all folks and religions.  Over a hundred,000 folks visit the holy shrine daily for worship, and conjointly partake collectively within the free community room and meal (Langar) in spite of any distinctions, a practice that's a trademark of all Sikh Gurdwaras.

The present-day gurdwara was renovated in 1764 by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia with the assistance of other Sikh Misls. In the early nineteenth century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh secured the Punjab region from outside attack and covered the upper floors of the gurdwara with gold, which gives it its distinctive appearance and its English name.

The Harmandir Sahib literally means the Temple of God. Guru Amar Das had ordered Guru Ram Das to create a nectarous tank as a place for worship for the Sikh religion. Guru Ram Das instructed all his Sikhs to join in the work, under Bhai Budha's 

superintendence, and engaged labourers to assist them. He said that the tank of nectar should be God's home, and whoever bathed in it shall obtain all spiritual and temporal advantages. During the progress of the work, the hut in which the Guru first sheltered himself was expanded for his residence; it is now known as the Guru's Mahal, or palace.

In 1578 CE Guru Ram Das excavated a tank, which subsequently became known as Amritsar (Pool of the Nectar of Immortality),  giving its name to the city that grew around it. In due course, the Harmandir Sahib,  was built in the middle of this tank and became the supreme centre of Sikhism. Its sanctum came to house the Adi Granth comprising compositions of Sikh Gurus and other saints considered to have Sikh values and philosophies, e.g., Baba Farid, and Kabir. The compilation of the Adi Granth was started by the fifth guru of Sikhism, Guru Arjan

Guru Arjan conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and designed it. Earlier the planning to excavate the holy tank (Amritsar or Amrit Sarovar ) was chalked out by Guru Amar Das, the Third Sikh Guru, but it was executed by Guru Ram Das under the supervision of Baba Budha. The land for the site was acquired by the earlier Guru Sahibs on payment or free of cost from the Zamindars (landlords) of native villages. The plan to establish a town settlement was also made and the construction work on the Sarovar (the tank) and the town started simultaneously in 1570. The work on both projects was completed in 1577. In December 1588, Guru Arjan initiated the construction of the gurdwara and the foundation stone was laid by Hazrat Mian Mir on 28 December 1588.

The gurdwara was completed in 1604. Guru Arjan put in the Guru Granth in it and appointed cake Buddha because the initial Granthi (reader) of it in August 1604. within the mid-18th century it absolutely was attacked by the Afghans, by one among Ahmed monarch Abdali's generals, Jahan Khan, and had to be well restored within the decade. However, in response a Sikh Army was sent to seek out the Afghan force. The forces met 5 miles outside Amritsar and Jahan Khan's army was destroyed