GOLDEN TEMPLE OF THE SIKHS

SIKH'S GOLDEN TEMPLE

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pilgrim at the Golden Temple
Golden Temple is the Sikh religion’s holiest shrine, a symbol of Sikhism and the religion’s most important pilgrimage center. The Golden Temple is known to Sikhs as the Harimandir (“House of God”), Darbar Sahib (“Royal Court”) or Sri Harmandir Sahib. It is located in the middle of a rectangular pool connected to the shore by a 20-meter-long marble causeway. From a distance the gold-plated dome, shaped like a lotus, shimmers in the water and the temple looks as if it is floating. The pool is known as” amritsar” (the pool of the nectar of immortality), also the source of the city’s name, and is said to have transformed lepers into healthy men and turned crows into doves. Periodically thousands of Sikh devotees gather to clean silt from the pond. Pilgrims also gather around a 450-year-old tree, under which the temple’s first priest sat.

Built to house the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism's holiest bok, Golden Templet was completed in 1601 under Guru Arjan, the Fifth Sikh Guru, who declared it as the noblest of all places. The Golden Temple was always covered with gold. The temple earned its name in 1803 when Maharajah Ranjit Singh covered the upper part of the walls with sheets of gilded copper. Afghans seized it and desecrated twice, in the 1750s and 1760s. The temples was damaged in fighting between Sikh separatist in the Indian government in the 1980s and was closed for a period of time. It is now open and completely restored. Non-Sikhs are welcome and greeted warmly.

The Golden Temple is sheathed with gold. It glows in the sunlight, especially in the late afternoon. The domes are covered with gold leaf and the interior is decorated with delicate floral patterns and inlaid with semi-precious stones. Daily worship lasts from 4:00am to midnight and consist mainly of the chanting of hymns which can often be heard emanating from the temple.Steve McCurry wrote in National Geographic Traveler: “the atmosphere is contemplative yet festive. Music and chanting of devotional hymns always fill the temple; outside, people sit and chat with friends or take ceremonial baths. There’s a real sense of community, a feeling that this is the Sikhs’ place, a place where they belong.

The Golden Temple was nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004. According to a report submitted to UNESCO: The word 'Sikh' means "devoted follower". The same principle of universal participation is extended to planning and execution of the complex. In the center of the amrit-sass (pool of nectar) is the Harimandir (sanctum sanctorum), which is connected by the causeway to the 'swarg dwarn' (Darshini Deori). Its location in the center of the pool symbolizes the synthesis of nirgun and sargun the spiritual and temporal realms of human existence. [Source: Ministry of Environment of Forests, Government of India]

History of Amritsar and the Golden Temple

Amritsar was founded in 1577 by the Fourth Sikh Guru, Ram Das. Its name comes from the words amrit, referring to the sacred water used in Sikh initiations and sarowar, meaning "lake." The lake predates Amritsar. It had long been used for bathing by sants (wandering sages), including Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Guru Ram Das had the lake enlarged and contained and attracted people looking for spiritual renewal, including mystics, spiritual leaders, writers, musicians, scholars, and artists. [Source: “World Religions Reference Library”, Thomson Gale, 2007]

Ram Das's son, Arjan Dev, the Fifth Guru, built a temple in the lake called Sri Harmandir Sahib — The Golden Temple. To finance it Guru Arjan Dev decreed that each Sikh was to contribute one-tenth of his or her income. This requirement remains an important tenet for Sikhs, who generally contribute one-tenth of their incomes to charity.

On August 16, 1604, with great pomp, Guru Arjan placed the Adi Granth, Sikhism’s holiest book, in the inner sanctuary of the Golden Temple, which he had designed himself to reinforce the philosophical ideas and the literary patterns of the sacred verse in . His successor, Guru Hargobind, built a smaller temple facing the Golden Temple, where he administered the day to day affairs of Sikhism.

From the early 1600s to the mid-1700s Amritsar was repeatedly attacked by Muslim armies, and the temple was repeatedly destroyed but e Each time it was rebuilt, with the new temple being more glorious than the last. It took its present form under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, had marble and precious stones brought in from far away to decorated the temple. He also had it covered in gold-plated copper — the source of its popular name.

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Golden Temple in Amritsar

Architecture of the Golden Temple

The architecture of the Golden Temple is spectacular. The base of the structure is a 6.2 square meter (67 feet square foot) marble slab. The temple is a two-storied structure with its top half covered in almost 400 kilograms of pure gold leaf, which is what earned it its English moniker.. The rest of the temple complex is built in white marble, inlaid with precious and semi-precious colorful stones. To create motifs, the pietra dura technique has been used. As is true with Sikh architecture the arches are decorated with floral engravings and verses from religious hymns. Everything is constructed to evoke feelings of peace and openness, key tenets of the Sikh faith. Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, a religious studies professor at Colby College, told U.S. News and World Report."It's a visual translation of the Sikh scripture."

The Golden Temple contains Hindu and Muslim elements. And, while Muslims have traditionally set up mosques to be entered from the west and Hindus believe their temples should be entered from the east, the Golden Temple has four doors so that anyone can enter from any direction, a feature fund that all Sikh gurdwaras have, reflecting the egalitarian ethic of Sikhism. Guru Arjan Dev said, "My faith is for the people of all castes and all creeds from whichever direction they come and to whichever direction they bow." [Source: Louis E. Fenech, “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Hockings, 1992 |~|]

At the main entrance is a gateway called the “Darshani Deoorbi”. Over this is a treasury with four sets of doors, jeweled canopies and golden spades that were used to dig the pool. Behind it are two watchtowers and an area where langar is taken. The main entrance boasts an imposing clock tower, which also has a Central Sikh Museum. From here, one can sight spectacular views of the shrine and its elegant silhouette in the Amrit Sarovar. A second entry is through the silver doors of the gorgeously embellished Darshani Deori, which leads onto the causeway that links the sanctum sanctorum with the Parikrama, the marbled surface surrounding the sarovar. In the northwest corner of the complex is the Jubi tree, which is believed to possess special powers. It is said to have been planted 450 years ago by the Golden Temple’s first high priest, Baba Buddha.

According to a report submitted to UNESCO: The exterior elevation of the shrine is a three storied composition over which are the low fluted dome in a gilt metal. The lowermost floor is submerged in the sarovar. One large hall forms the interior of the edifice, the ceiling of which are elaborately embellished. The internal spaces of Harimandir Sahib are named as "Sachkhand" The 'Prakash Asfhan' is the space, which houses the Guru Granth Sahib. The entire building including the external facade is richly decorated with floral design either inlayed in marble, painted in tempera or embossed in metal. [Source: Ministry of Environment of Forests, Government of India]

“The shrine is open from ail four sides and has a passage all around it. Towards the eastern side are the flights of steps, known as 'har- ki pauri' descending into the sarovar structure appended to the main shrine. The staircase adjoining the ‘har-ki-pauri' leads to the first floor of the shrine. There is a small square pavilion surrounded by a low fluted golden dome in this story. The interior of the pavilion is set with pieces of mirrors of different sizes and colors and hence is known as Shish Mahal. On the same axis of the temple and the causeway is the Akal Takht Sahib, the highest seat of authority in the religious hierarchy of the Sikhs, which stands facing the principle entrance.

Parts of the Golden Temple

According to a report submitted to UNESCO: There are five Deories (gateways) in the Parikarma, which lead into the core-precinct. Deories (gateways) are all at a higher level than the core-precinct. To the interior side of these entrances have a descending flight of steps up to the level of the Parikarma. All these Deories have rooms within. The names of the Deories are; The Ghanta Ghar Deori, the Langar Deori, the Manji Sahib Deori, Atta Mandi Deoril Sikh Reference Library Deori and the Khazana Deori. Outside all these Deories are the Joda ghar (shoe house), where one leaves the footwear and then walk to ‘Chhabachha' wash their feet. [Source: Ministry of Environment of Forests, Government of India]

The Bunga is a rest house. The word 'bunga' is derived from a Persian word, which means an abodeor a place of dwelling. During the Misl period- in the 18th century, after the Sikhs had succeeded in establishing their military strength as the Dal Khalsa and emerged as a political power they consolidated their position in the Punjab with Amritsar as node. While undertaking the reconstruction of the temple (desecrated for the third time in 1762 by Ahmed Shah Abdali) the prominent Sikh chieftains built Bungas around the Parikarma of the Amrit saran. Though initially the idea was to provide a ready line of defense, but eventually it also served as a valuable institute of learning.

Originally there were 74 bungers built between 1765 and 1833 around the Parikarma of the Harimandir Sahib. Adi Granth — the Sikh Holy Book — is placed there during night. It also houses the weapons belonging to Sikh Gurus and renowned warriors. The edifice though lies on the principle axis of the Harimandir, but is skewed and is oriented towards the east. On the northern side of the Akal Takht Sahib is the Shaheed Baba Gurbaksh Singh Ashtan, Thara Sahib associated with Guru Tegh Bahadur and the two Nishan Sahib. In front of the edifice are two Nishan Sahibs (these are two poles with a flag, connected to each other) symbolizing Mid- Pirl, the temporal and the spiritual powers. In front of this is the open multi activity space, also known as Gurmatha space, used for congregation activities.

Pool and Walkway of the Golden Temple

The glistening temple is surrounded by Amrit Sarovar (pool of nectar), whose waters are said to have healing powers. One can also watch colorful fish swim in the lake’s clear blue waters as devotees take a dip in it. The temple has been designed keeping in mind the basic tenets of Sikhism that advocate universal brotherhood and all-inclusive ethos. Thus, it is accessible from all directions. A walkway lined with white marble buildings housing museums and offices surrounds the pond. Both the walkway and the causeway are often filled with pilgrims, which are often families that spend a couple of days around the temple.

According to a report submitted to UNESCO: “Parikarma (circumarnbulatory path): There is a Parikarma all around the amrit- saras. The Parikarma has a raised platform towards the sarovar and a colonnaded space and series of rooms onto the other side. There are four shrines, which define the inner periphery of the Parikarma and stand as a symbolic sign within the core-precinct. Pilgrims, while taking a Parikarma pause by these points and pay respect. They are (starting from Darshani Dow! and moving in clockwise direction) Lachi ber, Baba Budha ji ber and Dukh Bhenjini ber and the holy shrine of Baba Deep Singh.[Source: Ministry of Environment of Forests, Government of India]

There are three pond-enclosures made as bathing space for women. Along the same principle axis of the Harimandir-Akal Takht Sahib is Dukh Bhanjini ber, which is towards the Har ki pauri Dukh bhanjini beri also has a small platform adjacent to it, with a small shrine on the platform, which signifies Ath Safh Teerth (68 holy places). Rooms opposite to all these holy shrines house the granthis. The other rooms served the Harimandir Sahib in some way or the other. One of the rooms contains the SGPC office. The rooms' abutting the Gurmathe space is kerha prasad room (where the Prasad or the sacred sweet is prepared and served). Ghhabils drinking water facility is provided in all the four corners of the outer Parikarma.

Langar

The Langar (Community Kitchen) is a very important institution for the Sikhs. The concepts of ‘langar' and 'sewn' demonstrate practically the philosophy of life as in 'truth is all important but alcove all is truth full living'. The philosophy stresses that spiritual empowerment and salvation is for all irrespective of caste and creed if one can live ones life on the principles. The Langar building in the Golden Temple is a three storied structure with exposed brick work. The ground floor and the first floor are used for the Langar and the third floor being used by the sewadars (volunteer that help at a gurdwara).

Richard Green wrote in The Sunday Times: ““Further on, a crowd milled outside a large brick building, where a toothy man handed me a large metal thali tray, big and round as a hubcap. A young girl in western clothes said hello and asked me where I was from. She explained that this was the langar hall, where free meals are served round the clock. It was a two-storey building the size of a Victorian school. Catching my bemused look, the girl launched into an explanation. “Fifty thousand people a day eat here, can you imagine? Guru Nanak, our founder, started it so that all Sikhs should eat together and show we are not agreeing with the caste system, like in Hinduism, and that men and women aren’t keeping separated, like in Islam.“The people cooking and serving are volunteers, too,” she continued. “All sorts of people, you’ll see. We are calling it seva. It is the voluntary work we are doing at a temple.” [Source: Richard Green, The Sunday Times, June 19 2005]

“A bell rang and the heavy wooden doors opened. We shuffled inside and sat cross-legged on hessian mats, at least 1,000 people, I reckoned. There was a tug on my sleeve: two wily little kids with worn-through clothes and quick movements asked my name, shaking my hand energetically. Opposite, a portly gentleman with a magnificent beard adjusted his sword and bowed his head minutely in welcome.

“Sumpreet, the sassy girl from outside, explained that the boys were poor and possibly came to eat every day, while the man was a rich businessmen. “A line of servers scurried in from behind. They slung chapatis and dished out dhal with hilarious inaccuracy, but they were volunteers, and already the next sitting was agitating at the door. It’s the same in gurdwaras everywhere; rich and poor, young and old, men and women, all eating together. The food may be basic, but the symbolism was fine fusion.

Care of the Granth Sahib and Cleaning the Pathway

The Sikh sacred scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, is set on a jewel-studded platform During the day, the Granth Sahib — the holy book of the Sikhs — is kept inside the temple. At night, it is taken to the Akal Takth (See Below) that houses ancient weaponry earlier used by Sikh warriors and administrative offices. Emma Schwartz wrote in U.S. News and World Report: Early each morning the original scripture — a bulky, 1,430-page manuscript — is carried from an adjacent building to the temple on a palanquin. Once inside, the book is showered in perfume and incense, and its white covers are removed and opened at random. The hymn on the top left-hand page is sung first and is considered the auspicious prayer of the day. Throughout the day, people sing hymn after hymn from the book. Then, late each night, the book is returned to its resting spot. [Source:Emma Schwartz, U.S. News and World Report, Nov. 16, 2007]

In the late afternoon the pathway to the temple is ceremoniously cleaned. Relaxing nearby Richard Green wrote in The Sunday Times: “Lying on the marble was refreshingly cool" and I" fell asleep". ...Suddenly, a young boy in a white dhoti was frantically prodding me awake, shouting: “The water is coming; the water is coming — look!” Advancing at a slow walk were at least 100 people. Sikhs were scoop-filling buckets from the edge of the tank, then passing them on to the next person in the chain. The pails swung across the crest of the crowd, water spilling and pails clattering. When they reached the last person in the row, the water was hurled over the marble. [Source: Richard Green, The Sunday Times, June 19 2005]

“Then the crowd engulfed me, too. It was like a childhood summer — foot-stampingly happy days spent spraying friends with garden hoses. By the time a teenager tapped me on the shoulder and offered me a heavy pail, I was laughing aloud. “What on earth is going on?” I asked with a happy shrug. ““We are cleaning the pathway. Here,” he said, handing me a full bucket. I took the weight, then hesitated and looked around. This couldn’t really be allowed, could it — in what is the Sikh equivalent of Canterbury Cathedral? I lunged forward like a first-timer in a bowling alley and the water arched through the air, splattering onto the white stone. The youth beamed, grabbed back the bucket, then rushed off to the pool.

Pilgrims at the Golden Temple

Geoffrey C. Ward wrote in Smithsonian Magazine: “Sikh men are identifiable by the turbans and beards their faith requires the orthodox to wear, but their distinctive theology and remarkable history remain little known beyond India's borders. Their most sacred shrine embodies both. We joined a stream of chattering pilgrims and, with covered heads and bare feet, stepped through the main gateway — and into another world. The cacophony of the city fell away. The waters of the broad sacred pool mirrored a brilliant sky. The sun gleamed on the white marble cloister that surrounds the pool and burned so brightly on the temple built on the island in its center that it seemed almost aflame. [Source: Geoffrey C. Ward, Smithsonian Magazine, September 2009]

“The pilgrims around us fell silent. Some shut their eyes and folded their hands. Others fell to their knees and touched their foreheads to the ground. The complex is built at a level lower than the surrounding streets so that poor and high-born worshipers alike are forced to humble themselves by climbing down into it. Gateways on all four sides are meant to welcome people of all castes and creeds. Volunteers cook and serve thousands of free meals for pilgrims each day and insist that those who eat them do so side by side. "There are no foes nor strangers," says Sikh scripture, "for we are all fellow beings."

“No one gawks here. No one demands money. Everyone seems content simply to be present in this holiest of places. The pilgrims make their slow, reverent clockwise way around the marble platform that edges the pool, past an old man with a white beard reaching nearly to his waist who gently lifts his infant grandson in and out of the sacred waters; a young mother on her knees patiently teaching her little girl the proper way to prostrate herself; a cleanshaven American Sikh, his head covered with a stars-and-stripes handkerchief, praying alongside his brand-new bride, her wrists hidden by bright red bridal bangles.

“The goal of every visitor is to follow the causeway that leads out to the gilded sanctum sanctorum and pay respects to the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred book that is the sole object of Sikh veneration and was first installed there in 1604. Nanak, the first of the Sikh gurus (or "great teachers") whose thoughts are contained within its pages, was a 15th-century mystic with a simple message: "There is but One God. He is all that is." In the search for salvation, the only thing that matters is meditation on his name. "There is no Hindu," he said, "there is no Mussulman."

“Whether or not Nanak ever meant to found a religion, Sikhs believe he did. And this place, where his teachings and those of four of his nine successors were brought together by the fifth guru, has special meaning for them. "It is, quite simply, the core of their...being," the Sikh historian Patwant Singh has written. "It represents so many things they are immensely proud of: the vision of their gurus who gave it form and wrote the scriptures on the banks of the sacred waters; the courage of their forebears who died defending it; and the devotion with which others laid their abundant wealth before it in gratitude for the inspiration it has provided...over the centuries."”

Visiting the Golden Temple

According to the “Encyclopedia of Religion”; Emerging from the shimmering waters, Guru Arjan's structure appears to stand without any solid borders or boundaries. The innumerable abstract patterns on its walls set the imagination in motion. The panoramic view of the building merging at once with transparent waters and radiant sunlight sweeps the visitor into a sensory swirl. Here the Sikhs visually encounter Guru Nanak's perception of the infinite One.

One must cover one’s head and remove his/her footwear before entering the Golden Temple, to purify themselves and show respect. To enter, people walk down stairs to the courtyard, an act meant to evoke humility. Guru Nanak said, "Getting rid of ego, we receive the word" (Guru Granth 228). In order to absorb the divine, the selfish, egotistical "I" must be emptied. Guru Arjan reiterated the point, saying: "By getting rid of arrogance we become devoid of hatred" (Guru Granth 183).

Inside is like entering heaven or something like it. As one listens to the beautiful notes of gurbani (spiritual songs), the serene spirituality of the temple soothes the soul. One can also partake of the free meal that is offered here to around 20,000 people every day at the Guru Ka Langar (community meal), regardless of caste, creed or gender. The entire process is managed by volunteers and is one of the most humbling experiences you can have.

Richard Green wrote in The Sunday Times: “I walked into the temple compound” and “suddenly the midge-like hawkers were gone. It was as though an invisible force were stopping them from entering. Glancing back, the most pesky postcard-seller caught my eye and briefly interrupted his Churchill-ian sulk with a smile...I relaxed immediately...“At a busy row of benches, a greying lady in a rose-red sari mimed that I should take off my shoes and socks. She removed hers, too, then scooped up mine and bustled over to a long counter. Exchanging them for tokens, she hurried back and pressed a metal disc into my palm, closing my fingers around it as though it were precious. She gathered in her sari and led me to a sawn-off oil barrel. It was full of headscarves. The few men not already wearing turbans were pausing to grab temporary head cover, a requirement for entry to the temple.[Source: Richard Green, The Sunday Times, June 19 2005]

“Next, she led me to the entrance proper, where we paddled through a shallow pool to cleanse our feet. She held my elbow for balance and we climbed the steps together. At the top, she leant against a column and proudly pushed me forward. There, framed by the white arch, was the 400-year-old Golden Temple of Amritsar. It was familiar to me from pictures in countless Punjabi restaurants, but in real life it was much more impressive. Shimmering in the heat, it loomed lightly, like a mirage. Its giant gilded strongbox glared bullion-brilliant, and paradoxically appeared to float at the centre of a giant olive-green pool.

“Emerging from the inner sanctum, where Sikhs were filing past their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, I walked by a formal grassy area. Having just bathed ceremonially in the pool, men were drying their long, long hair in the sun. Without question, the Golden Temple has all the grace and beauty of the Taj Mahal. It’s not as big or as grand, but it is certainly as stunning. And while the Taj is a mausoleum, moribund except for the swarms of tourists and touts, the Golden Temple pulses with the energy of a thriving living community — the spiritual and temporal centre of the Sikh faith...It is hardly visited by non-Indian or non-Sikh tourists.”

Museums at the Golden Temple

Golden Temple Interpretation Center is an intriguing multimedia museum that tells important stories from Sikhism through four 15-minute videos that are first projected on an inverted pyramid and then a 180-degree cinema. After this, they are screened over a 3D scale model of the Golden Temple and then on a projector in a shrine-like room. The videos also do interesting storytellings on the significance of the Golden Temple. The center lies outside the clock-tower entrance to the Golden Temple, underneath a marble square.

Richard Green wrote in The Sunday Times: “ The there is an information office. After a cup of tea, information officer Sundeep Dalbir Singh (Retired) led me on a free tour of the temple. Mr Singh was an old man with a forthright chest and bow legs. I followed him up the narrow steps to the museum, where walls were crammed with paintings. They were of the Sikh gurus and their followers, teaching, fighting and suffering, but mainly suffering. [Source: Richard Green, The Sunday Times, June 19 2005]

“In front of one particularly gruesome canvas, my guide scrunched up his face excitedly, like a schoolboy recounting an infamous scrap, saying that these three martyrs were tortured “very extensively, very extensively indeed”. Each “very” was projected loudly, like when a giant first appears in a bedtime story. Another picture showed a Sikh being sliced in two with an axe — lengthways; and another panel brimmed with black-and-white photographs of Sikh youths who had been shot by the Indian army. They were like school portraits, but madly macabre, and “very extensively” began echoing all around.

“So much for blood and guts, bricks and mortar — I had a killer theological question that I wanted to air. So I asked: “What’s the main difference between the Sikh salvation and the Christian heaven?” He thoughtfully twizzled his thinning grey beard and fell silent for a long time. A very long time. Then, with eureka certainty, he said: “The Christian heaven has better facilities.”

Important Places Around the Golden Temple

There are other famous temples surrounding Sri Harmandir Sahib, including the Durgiana Temple as well as a beautiful garden and the tower of Baba Atal. It is said that sage Valmiki wrote the epic Ramayana in this sacred place. The Gurudwara Manji Sahib is situated in the Guru Ka Bagh, now a very spacious lecture hall.The water tank situated towards the south west of the Golden Temple is known as Kaulsar (Lotus Tank) and the shrine as Gurudwara Asthan Mai Kaulan.

Baba Atal Rai Tower is situated to the south of the Golden Temple. At a height of 40 meters (131 feet), it is a nine-storied octagonal tower and one of the tallest buildings in Amritsar. Nine stories represent the age (nine years) of Baba Atal (Atal Rai, See Below). All the stories are not of the same height. First six stories are higher than the remaining three. The four doors of the ground floor are decorated with elegantly embossed designs on brass and silver sheets. The interior walls and ceiling of the ground floor are covered with a number of murals and contains fresco in series. The Guru Granth Sahib is kept in the ground floor of the building. in the Mata Kaulsar.

The Gurudwara Baba Atal was erected in the memory of Atal Rai, the younger son of Guru Hargobind, the seventh Sikh Guru. According to legend Atal Rai, the son of the sixth Guru Hargobind, revived a dead friend, Mohan. Guru Hargobind rebuked the nine-year-old child for displaying his spiritual powers. In order to compensate for breaking the law, Atal Rai took samadhi. Each floor of this octagonal tower represents a year of Atal’s life. Initially, the structure was built as a tower, but eventually, it was transformed into a gurudwara. The first floor of the tower houses a number of miniature works depicting scenes from Guru Nanak's life. One can also get a sweeping and panoramic view of the city of Amritsar from the top of the tower.

Gurudwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib is believed to be among the oldest Sikh religious facility in the region. Established by the 5th Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, it is also said to have the largest sarovar (pond) among all the gurdwaras in Punjab. Guru Arjan Dev laid the foundation of this beautiful gurdwara in 1590. Another noteworthy feature of the gurudwara is that it is the only gurudwara that is the replica of the Golden Temple. The gurudwara sees a huge crowd on amavasya (no moon) night as a multitude of pilgrims gathers here. One will also find an ancient tank along with many temples. Every year in November, starting on the full-moon night, there is a four-day fair held that invites visitors from around the region.

Akal Takht

Akal Takht is the highest seat of authority in the religious hierarchy of the Sikhs and one of the five seats of the Sikh religious authority. The word 'akal' translates into timeless one and 'takht' means throne. Thus, Akal Takht literally means the "Throne of the Immortal" or or "Eternal Throne". It was built by the sixth guru of the Sikhs, Guru Hargobind Ji, who laid the foundation stone in 1605. The takht was a symbol against the tyranny of the rulers and represented justice in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is the highest seat of the Khalsa, which is a military and civil authority of the Sikhs. The weaponry that was used by Sikh warriors in those times is also housed here. The takht is situated within the Golden Temple complex. The building faces the Darshini Deorhi, which then leads to the temple.

The Akhal Takht houses the Guru Granth Sahib — the most sacred Sikh text — at night and was built the sixth Sikh Guru Guru Hargobind and rebuilt in 1984 after it seriously damaged following clashes between Sikhs and the Indian government. It used to house the relics and weapons of the last five Gurus. Now it is used as a conference center and has been the site of important political and religious discussions. In the main temple, the Harimandir, Guru Grangth Sahib installed every morning at 5:00am. It has four entrances symbolizing that it is open to everyone. The guards wear huge turbans flowing garments and have long beards and are armed with long swords and spears. There are often hundreds of pilgrims in line, waiting to pay respect to the Sikhs’ holy book.

The original Takhat of Guru Hargobind is said to have been a simple platform, 3.5 metres high, on which the Guru would sit like a king at court, surrounded by insignia of royalty such as the parasol and the flywhisk, and perform kingly tasks of receiving petitions and administrating justice. Today’s Akal Takhat is a large five-story structure with inlaid marble and a gold-leafed dome.Among the articles stored inside are the Sri Sahibs (swords) of Guru Hargobind, representing Miri and Piri, and Guru Gobind Singh Ji. A sword like weapon belonging to Guru Hargobind Sahib's Katar is also kept there. The Akal Takht was destroyed during the 1984 assault on the Golden Palace and was where many Sikh militants hid out.

The Akhal Takht is on the same axis of the Golden Temple on the other side of the causeway and stands facing the principle entrance of the temple. According to a report submitted to UNESCO: “This is a five storied structure. Within the edifice is the chamber in which the Adi Granth — the Holy Book of Sikism — for night. It also houses the weapons belonging to Sikh Gurus and renowned warriors. The edifice though lies on the principle axis of the Harimandir, but is skewed and is oriented towards the east. On the northern side of the Akal Takht Sahib is the Shaheed Baba Gurbaksh Singh Ashton, Thara Sahib associated with Guru Tegh Bahadur and the two Nishan Sahib. In front of the edifice are two Nishan Sahibs (these are two poles with a flag, connected to each other) symbolizing Mid- Piri, the temporal and the spiritual powers. In front of this is the open multi activity space, also known as Gunnatha space, used for congregation activities.” [Source: Ministry of Environment of Forests, Government of India]

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: India tourism website (incredibleindia.org), India’s Ministry of Tourism and other government websites, UNESCO, Wikipedia, Lonely Planet guides, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, and various books and other publications.

Updated in December 2023


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