The Golden Temple
The Golden Temple is a seamless blend of impressive architecture, hospitality and enchanting peace. It attracts devotees from different parts of the world who seek spiritual blessings and comfort. This beautiful structure with shiny golden walls and intricate patterns is a complete feast for the eyes. Standing in the middle of a large lake often gives the illusion of a magnificent golden temple floating on the water. This idea is very beautiful and leaves a mark on the soul.
The Golden Tempel History
Sri Harmandir Sahib, known as The Golden Temple, literally means “House of God”. The shrine consists of Darbar Sahib, surrounded by the sacred Reservoir (Amrit Sarovar). It was built under the leadership of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru. He wanted to build a place of worship for the Sikhs, providing a common platform where all the Sikhs could meet and pray to the Almighty. This desire started the idea of building the Golden Temple and created the architecture of the temple. Before him, Guru Amardas Sahib, the third Guru, planned to dig the ground of the holy place (Amrit Sarovar), but Guru Ramdas Sahib did it alone, under the supervision of Baba Budha Ji.
The first Guru Sahibs acquired the site from the Zamindars (owners) of the villages. Plans to establish a community have also been drawn up. Therefore, the work of Sarovar (Reservoir) in the city started simultaneously in 1570. The lake was unearthed in 1577 AD and named “Amritsar”, which means the lake of immortal nectar. This helped to name the city that grew around it (Amritsar). Later, a beautiful Sikh temple, Darbar Sahib (Temple of God) was built in the middle of this lake, which became the capital of Sikhism. Both works were completed in 1577 AD.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji laid the foundation of Golden Temple with the help of Muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir Ji from Lahore, on 1 Magh (December 1588). The construction work was directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib with the help of famous Sikhs like Baba Budha Ji, Bhai Gurdas Ji, Bhai Sahlo Ji and many other dedicated Sikhs. Guru Arjan Sahib built the building on a low level, unlike traditional Hindu temple architecture, where it is usually built on a high roof. The Golden Temple departed from the temple in another direction, by opening on the four sides, rather than having one door for entry and exit. It represented the beginning of a new faith, which accepted people regardless of race, creed, gender and religion. The construction work was completed in 1604 AD and Guru Arjan Dev Ji installed the Adi Granth there. He appointed Baba Budha ji as his first Granthi who recited Guru Granth Sahib. After this event, he got the status of “Ath Sath Tirath”.
Facts About Golden Temple
- Especially in Langar Seva
Sri Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) holds the largest sewa langar in the world. It serves about 100,000 worshipers every day. When the food is served, all worshipers sit in rows on the floor, regardless of their religion, caste or creed. All worshipers are considered equal here.
- located at the basement level
In order, the temple is at a lower level than the ground level as it means that one has to humble himself and come down to the temple of God.
- The golden temple stands in its splendor in the middle of the holy tank called Amrit Sarovar, which is a man-made tank. The boat also boasts a variety of fish. Pilgrims visiting the temple often bathe in the sarovar, which is believed to have special healing powers. The word Amritsar Sarovar translates to “Pool of Holy Nectar”
- The main hall of the Golden Temple contains the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikh religion. It is placed on a raised platform under a canopy filled with precious ornaments. The Sikh scriptures are a collection of many sacred prayers, poems, and hymns written by various Sikh Gurus and Muslim saints.
The following Activities To Do In Golden Temple
Be sure to visit the temple in the afternoon. It is natural to want to visit the Golden Temple when you are in the area. Thousands and thousands of people visit the temple every day. So you have to queue at Guru Bridge. This bridge is a symbol of the journey of the soul after death. You won’t get tired of waiting in line because there are so many things to enjoy. The architecture is amazing and the sound of prayers and bells will fill your heart. During the day, you will see the most sacred text of Sikhism but it is impossible to see it at night. You will also go to the temple at night.
The night air becomes magical and peaceful. You will also see the scriptures of Sikhism and the Golden Temple at night. Peace is increased at night. The swimming pool is beautiful. If you want to relax and get some peace, a night trip is a must. The Langar Hall at the Golden Temple in Amritsar is one of the largest community kitchens in the world. There are 10 large rooms where free meals are served throughout the year. In the Golden Temple grounds, there is a large dining hall, which serves free food. You can enjoy delicious vegetables and other delicious food.
The volunteers inside will direct you to where to sit. The meeting is perfect and you will get one of the most delicious food in the world. If you want to make your stay memorable and comfortable, you can work as a volunteer in the kitchen. It is a very rewarding job. If you want to take full advantage of the Golden Temple you can help in the kitchen as a volunteer. You can help in the kitchen to prepare food or you can help with the dishes. The staff will show you everything.
