Upholding the virtues of brotherhood and equality stand the most revered pilgrimage centre for the Sikhs, the Sri Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden temple. Surrounded by the holy lake and dazzling in its golden aura, the place exudes beauty and serenity. Harmandir Sahib was built as  a place for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to come and worship God equally. It was designed and built by Guru Arjan Sahib, the fifth Guru and the foundation stone was laid by Hazrat Mian Mir on 28 December 1588. The gurdwara was completed in 1604. In the mid-18th century it was attacked by the Afghans. It was then rebuilt in 1764 by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia with the help of other Sikh Misls.

Location Punjab, Amritsar, Chandigarh

Legend

Guru Amar Das had ordered Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh guru to create a nectarous tank as a place for worship for the Sikh religion. In 1578 CE Guru Ram Das excavated a tank, which subsequently became known as Amritsar, and a city that grew around it. Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and the Harmandir Sahib was built in the middle of this tank and became the supreme center of Sikhism.

Architecture

A melange of Hindu and Muslim style, the  Harmandir Sahib holds its own identity with its unique style of Sikh architecture. The art work around the shrine displays the brilliance of the Sikh artists. Gold embossed work and inlay works engraved in marble can be found in the complex. Sri Harmandir Sahib has four entrances . The gurdwara is surrounded by the Sarovar, a large lake or holy tank. The shrine and domes are gold plated and thus its name the Golden temple.   The Adi Granth, the holy scripture, rests on a throne beneath a jewel adorned canopy. The Harmandir Sahib complex is also home to the Akal Takht.

Culture

Amritsar is the spiritual and cultural centre for the Sikh religion.  The city is known for its rich cuisine and culture, and for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 under British Rule.  It is near Pakistan, with the Wagah Border being only 28 km

Picture Courtesy : Wikipedia

Darsan Info

Golden temple timings -  3.00 AM to 10.00PM. The Harmandir Sahib is open to all persons regardless of their religion, colour, creed, or sex.

Darsan Dresscode

Devotees are advised to wear clean and conservative clothing.  Devotees should wear a head covering while inside the complex. The gurdwara provides head scarves for visitors who have don't have one.

Famous Festival

April - Vaisakhi

November - Diwali

Temple Rituals

There is a continuous singing of Gurbani Kirtan at Sri Harimandir Sahib from the opening of its doors to their closing.

After the departure of the Palki Sahib carrying Sri Guru Granth Sahib to The Akal Takhat Sahib, the devotees, accompanied by the Gurdwara staff, clean the Sri Harimandir Sahib for one hour. During this process these devotees sing the Gurbani Kirtan in melodious and devotional tones.

After purifying the precincts, the rugs are spread, on which the Peera Sahib is placed to install the Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the early morning. At the completion of the Ardas, Karah Prasad is distributed among the devotees.

Special Rituals

In Harmandir Sahib as soon as Sri Guru Granth Sahib arrives for installation every morning, the priest (Granthi) will unfold the rumalas wrapped around the holy book among reciting of swaiyias (the couplets of bani) of Bhatts. As soon as Guru Granth Sahib is opened, the first hymn on the very left side is read out loudly. This hymn is called order or thought of the day or Hukamnama.

Additional Info

 

The Langar offers free food for the devotees.

 Supermarket : Available