Shri Harmandir Sahib

The Golden Temple

Darbar Sahib

Shri Harmandir Sahib

Shri Harmandir Sahib

Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, (on account of its scenic beauty and golden coating for English speaking world), is

named after Hari(God) the temple of God. The Sikhs all over the world, daily wish to pay visit to

Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri HarmandirSahib in their Ardas.

Guru Granth Sahib

The Harimandir Sahib is considered holy by Sikhs. The

holiest text of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, is

always present inside the gurdwara. Its construction

was mainly intended to build a place of worship for

men and women from all walks of life and all religions

to come and worship God equally. Over 100,000 people

visit the holy shrine daily for worship

History

The Harmandir Sahib literally means the House of God. 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 AdiGranth 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.

Time Table of Shri Harmandir Sahib

Kiwad (Portals) OpTmening Time 2.30 a.m.

Kirtan at Amrit Vela (Early dawn) 2.30 a.m.

Asa di Var 3.30 a.m.

Departure of Palki Sahib from Sri Akal Takhat

Sahib

4.30 a.m.

First Hukamnama 5.00 a.m.

First Ardas 5.30 a.m.

Asa Di War Samapti 6.30 a.m.

Second Ardas & Hukamnama

Holy reading of Rehras Sahib starts at sunset. 6.45 a.m.

Hukamnama at night 9.45 p.m

Departure of Palki Sahib from Sri Harimandir

Sahib

10.00 p.m.

Sukh-Aasan Sahib at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib 10.15 p.m.

Celebrations at the Harmandir Sahib

One of the most important festivals is Vaisakhi, which is celebrated in the second week of April (usually the 13th). Sikhs celebrate the founding of the Khalsa on this day and it is celebrated with fervour in the HarmandirSahib. Other important Sikh religious days such as the birth of Guru Raamdas ji, martyrdom day of Guru TegBahadur, the birthday of Guru Nanak, etc., are also celebrated with religious piety. Similarly Bandi Chhor Divas is one of the festivals which sees the HarmandirSahib beautifully illuminated with Divas (lamps); lights and fireworks are discharged. Most Sikhs visit Amritsar and the Harmandir Sahib at least once during their lifetime, particularly and mostly during special occasions in their life such as birthdays, marriages, childbirth, etc.

Entrance to Golden Temple

Ber Baba Buddha Ji

Amrit Sarovar

The gurdwara is surrounded by a large lake or holy tank, known as the Sarovar, which consists of Amrit ("holy water" or "immortal nectar") and is fed by the Ravi River. There are four entrances to the gurdwara, signifying the importance of acceptance and openness. Inside the gurdwara complex there are many shrines to past Sikh Gurus, saints and martyrs . There are three holy trees (bers), each signifying a historical event or Sikh saint. Inside the gurdwara there are many memorial plaques that commemorate past Sikh historical events, saints, martyrs and includes commemorative inscriptions of all the Sikh soldiers who died fighting in World Wars I and II.

Nishan Sahib Golden Temple

Sri Harmandir Sahib - Structure

Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place

of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri

Harmandir Sahib. Earlier the planning to excavate the holy tank (Amritsar or

Amrit Sarovar ) was chalked out by Guru Amardas Sahib, the Third Nanak,

but it was executed by Guru Ramdas Sahib under the supervision of Baba

Budha ji. 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. Therefore, the construction

work on the Sarovar(the tank) and the town started simultaneously in 1570.

The work on both projects completed in 1577 A.D.

Guru Arjan Sahib got its foundation laid by a muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of

Lahore on 1st of Magh, 1645 Bikrmi Samvat(December,1588). The

construction work was directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself and he

was assisted by the prominent Sikh personalities like Baba Budha ji, Bhai

Gurdas ji, Bhai Sahlo ji and many other devoted Sikhs.

Sri Harmandir Sahib - Structure

Unlike erecting the structure on the higher level(a tradition in Hindu Temple

architecture), Guru Arjan Sahib got it built on the lower level and unlike Hindu

Temples having only one gate for the entrance and exit, Guru Sahib got it open

from four sides. Thus he created a symbol of new faith, Sikhism. Guru Sahib

made it accessible to every person without any distinction of Caste, creed, sex

and religion.

The building work completed in 1601 A.D. on Bhadoon Sudi 1st, 1661 Bikrmi

Samvat (August/September,1604). Guru Arjan Sahib installed newly created

Guru Granth Sahib, in Sri Harmandir Sahib and appointed Baba Budha ji as its

first Granthi i.e. the reader of Guru Granth Sahib. After this event it attained

the status of ‘Ath Sath Tirath’. Now the Sikh Nation had their own Tirath, a

pilgrimage center

Sri Harmandir Sahib - Structure

Sri Harmandir Sahib, is built on a 67ft. square platform in the centre of the Sarovar(tank). The temple itself is 40.5ft. square. 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 ‘Pardakshna’ (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.

Sri Harmandir Sahib - Structure

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 have

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.

Its 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.

Artwork and monument sculptures

Much of the present decorative gilding and marblework dates from the

early 19th century. All the gold and exquisite marble work were

conducted under the patronage of Hukam Singh Chimni and Emperor

Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab. The

Darshani Deorhi Arch stands at the beginning of the causeway to the

Harmandir Sahib; it is 62 metres (203 ft) high and 6 metres (20 ft) in

width. The gold plating on the Harmandir Sahib was begun by Ranjit

Singh and was finished in 1830. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a major

donor of wealth and materials for the shrine and is remembered with

much affection by the Punjabi people in general and the Sikh

community in particular.