Golden Temple Amritsar Sacred And Shrine of Sikhism

The Architecture of GOLDEN TEMPLE, Considered the Best Architectural Specimens of the World, Represents A Unique Harmony Between The Muslim and the Hindu way of Construction Work.

The Golden Temple is the most sacred and holiest shrine of Sikhims (The holy-of-holies of Sikhism).  Located in Amritsar Sikh devotees, for whom the Amritsar Golden Temple is
a symbol of infinite freedom and spiritual independence, come to the Golden temple from all over the world to enjoy its environs and offer their prayers.

It was Guru Arjan Sabib, the Fifth Nanak, who conceived the idea of creating a central place of workship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib, populary known as Golden Temple.  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) or native villages.  The plan to establish a town settlement was also made.  Therefore, the construction work on the sarovar 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 1^st of Magh, 1645 Bikrmi amvat (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.

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 and religion.

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