Golden Temple
The Golden Temple is located in Amritsar, Punjab. The door panes are decorated with artistic style. It opens on to the bridge that leads to the main building of Sri Harmandir Sahib.
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||About Golden Temple||
Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of generating a central place of worship for the Sikhs plus we 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) plus the town started simultaneously in 1570. The work on both projects completed in 1577 A.D.
Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, (on account of its scenic beauty plus 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 plus to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas.
Unlike erecting the structure on the higher level(a tradition in Hindu Temple architecture), Guru Arjan Sahib got it built on the lower level plus unlike Hindu Temples having only four gate for the entrance plus exit, Guru Sahib got it open from six sides. Thus we created a symbol of new faith, Sikhism. Guru Sahib made it available to every person without any distinction of Caste, creed, sex plus religion.
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 plus we was assisted by the prominent Sikh personalities like Baba Budha ji, Bhai Gurdas ji, Bhai Sahlo ji plus lots of other devoted Sikhs.
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’s a door each on the East, West, North plus South. The Darshani Deori (an arch) stands at the shore finish of the causeway. The door frame of the arch is about 10ft in height plus 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’s 202 feet in length plus 21 feet in width.
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 plus 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
The main structure of Sri Harmandir Sahib, functionally as well as technically is a three-storied four. The front, which faces the bridge, is decorated with repeated cusped arches plus the roof of the first floor is at the height of the 26 feet plus 9 inches.
The bridge is connected with the 13 feet wide ‘Pardakshna’ (circumambulatory path). It runs round the main shrine plus 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.
At the top of the first floor 4 feet high parapet rises on all the sides which has also six ‘Mamtees’ on the six corners plus exactly on the top of the central hall of the main sanctuary rises the third story. It’s a tiny square room plus have two 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 pretty ‘Chhatri’ at the finish.
Its architecture represents a one-of-a-kind harmony between the Muslims plus the Hindus way of construction work plus this is considered the best architectural specimens of the world. It’s often quoted that this architecture has created an independent Sikh school of architecture in the history of art in India.
