Golden Temple: Difference between revisions

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The '''Golden Temple''' (also known as the '''Harmandir Sahib''', {{lit|abode of God}}, {{IPA-pa|ɦəɾᵊmən̪d̪əɾᵊ saːɦ(ɪ)bᵊ}}, or the '''Darbār Sahib''', 'exalted court', {{IPA-pa|d̪əɾᵊbaːɾᵊ saːɦ(ɪ)bᵊ|}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=McLeod|first=W.H.|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Historical_Dictionary_of_Sikhism/xajcAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA146&printsec=frontcover|title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism|date=11 June 2014|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=9781442236011|pages=146|quote=The latter name was attached to it after Maharaja Ranjit Singh gilded the upper two stories, and it became known as the Suvaran Mandir, or the Golden Temple|author-link=W. H. McLeod}}</ref>) is a [[gurdwara]] located in the city of [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab, India]].<ref name=eos>{{cite encyclopedia|url= https://archive.org/details/TheEncyclopediaOfSikhism-VolumeIiE-l/page/n253|title= Harimandar|last1=Kerr|first1=Ian J.|editor=Harbans Singh |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University Patiala|access-date=1 July 2018|pages=239–248|year=2011}}</ref>{{sfn|Eleanor Nesbitt|2016|pp=64–65, 150}} It is the preeminent spiritual site of [[Sikhism]]. It is one of the [[Holy place|holiest sites]] in Sikhism, alongside the [[Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur]] in [[Kartarpur, Pakistan|Kartarpur]], and [[Gurdwara Janam Asthan]] in Nankana Sahib.<ref name=eos/><ref name="Harmandir-Sahib">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Harmandir-Sahib |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|year=2014| url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Harmandir-Sahib}}</ref>

The man-made [[Temple tank|pool]] on the site of the temple was completed by the fourth Sikh Guru, [[Guru Ram Das]], in 1577.{{sfn|Louis E. Fenech|W. H. McLeod|2014|p=33}}{{sfn|Pardeep Singh Arshi|1989|pp=5–7}} In 1604, Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, placed a copy of the [[Adi Granth]] in Harmandir Sahib and is the prominent figure in development of gurudwara who built it in the 16th Century.<ref name=eos/><ref name="Cole2004p7">{{harvnb|W. Owen Cole|2004|page=7}}</ref> The Gurdwara was repeatedly rebuilt by the Sikhs after it became a target of [[Persecution of Sikhs|persecution]] and was destroyed several times by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] and invading [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] armies.<ref name=eos/><ref name="Harmandir-Sahib"/><ref name=runion70/> Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]], after founding the [[Sikh Empire]], rebuilt it in [[marble]] and [[copper]] in 1809, and overlaid the sanctum with [[gold leaf]] in 1830. This has led to the name the Golden Temple.{{sfn|Trudy Ring|Noelle Watson|Paul Schellinger|2012|pp=28-29}}{{sfn|Eleanor Nesbitt|2016|pp=64–65}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Jean Marie Lafont|title=Maharaja Ranjit Singh: Lord of the Five Rivers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zjduAAAAMAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-566111-8 |pages=95–96 }}</ref>

The Golden Temple is spiritually the most significant shrine in Sikhism. It became a centre of the [[Singh Sabha Movement]] between 1883 and 1920s, and the [[Punjabi Suba movement]] between 1947 and 1966. In the early 1980s, the Gurdwara became a centre of conflict between the Indian government and a movement led by [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies|last1=Fenech|first1=Louis E.|year=2014|pages=30–31|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-969930-8|quote=But this strategy backfired in the spring of 1984, when a group of armed radicals led by Bhindranwale decided to provoke a confrontation with the government by occupying Akal Takhat building inside the Golden Temple complex.|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Sikh_Studies/8I0NAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=the+oxford+handbook+of+sikh+studies&printsec=frontcover}}</ref> In 1984, [[Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]] sent in the [[Indian Army]] as part of [[Operation Blue Star]], leading to deaths of over 1,000 soldiers and civilians, as well as causing much damage to the Gurdwara and the destruction of Akal Takht. The Gurdwara complex was rebuilt again after the 1984 damage.<ref name="Harmandir-Sahib"/>

The Golden Temple is an open house of worship for all people, from all walks of life and faiths.<ref name=eos/> It has a square plan with four entrances, and a circumambulation path around the pool. The four entrances to the gurudwara symbolises the Sikh belief in equality and the Sikh view that all people are welcome into their holy place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nature and importance of Harmandir Sahib - Pilgrimage - GCSE Religious Studies Revision |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z3b42hv/revision/2 |access-date=17 March 2022 |work=BBC}}</ref> The complex is a collection of buildings around the sanctum and the pool.<ref name=eos/> One of these is [[Akal Takht]], the chief centre of religious authority of [[Sikhism]].<ref name="Harmandir-Sahib"/> Additional buildings include a clock tower, the offices of the Gurdwara Committee, a Museum and a [[Langar (Sikhism)|langar]] – a free Sikh community-run kitchen that offers a [[Vegetarianism and religion#Sikhism|vegetarian meal]] to all visitors without discrimination.<ref name="Harmandir-Sahib"/> Over 150,000 people visit the holy shrine everyday for worship.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-19/india/32745911_1_phone-jammers-mobile-phones-cell-phones | archive-url=https://archive.today/2013.01.26-201851/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-19/india/32745911_1_phone-jammers-mobile-phones-cell-phones | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 January 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] |title= Soon, Golden Temple to use phone jammers.|date=19 July 2012 }}</ref> The Gurdwara complex has been nominated as a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], and its application is pending on the [[List of World Heritage Sites in India|tentative list of UNESCO]].<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1858/ Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab], UNESCO</ref>

The Harmandir Sahib (Gurmukhi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) is also spelled as Harimandar or Harimandir Sahib.<ref name=eos/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Asher |first=Catherine Blanshard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ctLNvx68hIC&pg=316 |title=Architecture of Mughal India |date=1992-09-24 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-26728-1 |pages=316 |language=en |quote=Situated in the middle of an enormous tank connected to land via a long causeway, the shrine is known as Harimandir.}}</ref> It is also called the ''[[Durbar (court)|Durbār]] Sahib'' (ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ), which means "sacred audience", as well as the Golden Temple for its gold leaf-covered sanctum centre.<ref name="Harmandir-Sahib"/> The word "Harmandir" is composed of two words: "[[Hari]]", which scholars translate as "God ",<ref name=eos/> and "[[mandir]]", which means "house".{{sfn|Louis E. Fenech|W. H. McLeod|2014|p=146}} "[[Sahib]]" is further appended to the shrine's name, the term often used within Sikh tradition to denote respect for places of religious significance.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McLeod |first=W.H. |title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2014 |isbn=9781442236011 |pages=269}}</ref> The Sikh tradition has several Gurdwaras named "Harmandir Sahib", such as those in [[Kiratpur Sahib|Kiratpur]] and [[Patna]]. Of these, the one in Amritsar is most revered.{{sfn|Henry Walker|2002|pp=95-98}}<ref>{{cite book|author=H. S. Singha|title=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (over 1000 Entries)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gqIbJz7vMn0C&pg=PA97 |year=2000 |publisher=Hemkunt Press|isbn=978-81-7010-301-1|page=97}}</ref>

[[File:Painting of Guru Arjan overseeing the construction of the original Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), circa 1890-95.jpg|thumb|[[Guru Arjan]] overseeing the construction of the original Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), painting from circa 1890-95]]

[[File:A Sikh Guru (Perhaps Guru Arjan Dev) Seated in the Golden Temple at Amritsar, Guler, circa 1830.jpg|thumb|A Sikh Guru (perhaps Guru Arjan) seated in the Golden Temple at Amritsar in the late 16th or early 17th century, circa 1830 Guler painting]]

The growing influence and success of Guru Arjan drew the attention of the [[Mughal Empire]]. Guru Arjan was arrested under the orders of the Mughal Emperor [[Jahangir]] and asked to convert to Islam.<ref name=ps5/><ref name="McLeodp20"/> He refused, was tortured and executed in 1606 CE.<ref name=ps5>{{cite journal|author=Pashaura Singh |date=2005|url=http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal_12_1/3_singh.pdf |title=Understanding the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175032/http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal_12_1/3_singh.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |journal=Journal of Punjab Studies |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=29–62}}</ref><ref name="McLeodp20">{{cite book|title= The A to Z of Sikhism|author= W. H. McLeod|chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vgixwfeCyDAC&pg=PA20 |publisher= Scarecrow Press |year= 2009 |isbn= 978-0810863446|page= 20 |chapter=Arjan's Death |quote=The Mughal rulers of Punjab were evidently concerned with the growth of the Panth, and in 1605 the Emperor Jahangir made an entry in his memoirs, the ''Tuzuk-i-Jahāṅgīrī'', concerning Guru Arjan's support for his rebellious son [[Khusrau Mirza]]. Too many people, he wrote, were being persuaded by his teachings, and if the Guru would not become a Muslim the Panth had to be extinguished. Jahangir believed that Guru Arjan was a Hindu who pretended to be a saint and that he had been thinking of forcing Guru Arjan to convert to Islam or his false trade should be eliminated, for a long time. Mughal authorities seem to have been responsible for Arjan's death in custody in Lahore, and this may be accepted as an established fact. Whether the death was by execution, the result of torture, or drowning in the Ravi River remains unresolved. For Sikhs, Guru Arjan Dev is the first martyr Guru.|author-link= W. H. McLeod}}</ref><ref>Louis E. Fenech, Martyrdom in the Sikh Tradition, Oxford University Press, pp. 118–121</ref> Guru Arjan's son and successor [[Guru Hargobind]] left Amritsar and moved into the Shivalik Hills to avoid persecution and to save the ''Sikh panth''.{{sfn|Louis E. Fenech|W. H. McLeod|2014|pp=146–147}} For about a century after Guru Arjan's martyrdom, state Louis E. Fenech and W. H. McLeod, the Golden Temple was not occupied by the actual Sikh Gurus and it remained in hostile sectarian hands.{{sfn|Louis E. Fenech|W. H. McLeod|2014|pp=146–147}} In the 18th century, [[Guru Gobind Singh]] and his newly founded [[Khalsa]] Sikhs came back and fought to liberate it.{{sfn|Louis E. Fenech|W. H. McLeod|2014|pp=146–147}} The Golden Temple was viewed by the Mughal rulers and Afghan Sultans as the centre of Sikh faith and it remained the main target of persecution.<ref name=runion70>{{cite book|author=M. L. Runion|title=The History of Afghanistan, 2nd Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aZk9XzqCFGUC |year=2017|publisher=Greenwood|isbn=978-0-313-33798-7|pages=69–71}}, Quote: "Ahmad Durrani was forced to return to India and [he] declared a jihad, known as an Islamic holy war, against the Marathas. A multitude of tribes heralded the call of the holy war, which included the various Pashtun tribes, the Balochs, the Tajiks, and also the Muslim population residing in India. Led by Ahmad Durrani, the tribes joined the religious quest and returned to India (...) The domination and control of the [Afghan] empire began to loosen in 1762 when Ahmad Shah Durrani crossed Afghanistan to subdue the Sikhs, followers of an indigenous monotheistic religion of India found in the 16th century by Guru Nanak. (...) Ahmad Shah greatly desired to subdue the Sikhs, and his army attacked and gained control of the Sikh's holy city of Amritsar, where he brutally massacred thousands of Sikh followers. Not only did he viciously demolish the sacred temples and buildings, but he ordered these holy places to be covered with cow's blood as an insult and desecration of their religion (...)"</ref>

* In 1757, the Afghan ruler [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], also known as Ahmad Shah Abdali, attacked Amritsar and desecrated the Golden Temple. He had waste poured into the pool along with entrails of slaughtered cows, before departing for Afghanistan. The Sikhs restored it again.

* In 1762, Ahmad Shah Durrani returned and had the Golden Temple blown up with gunpowder. Sikhs returned and celebrated Diwali in its premises. In 1764, Baba [[Jassa Singh Ahluwalia]] collected donations to rebuild the Golden Temple. A new main gateway (Darshan Deorhi), causeway and sanctum were completed in 1776, while the floor around the pool was completed in 1784. The Sikhs also completed a canal to bring in fresh water from [[Ravi River]] for the pool.

* Shri Harmandir Sahib was attacked by the Afghan forces under Ahmed Shah Abdali in December,1,1764. [[Baba Gurbaksh Singh]] along with 29 other Sikhs lead a last stand against the much larger Afghan forces and were killed in the skirmish.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Harbans |url=https://archive.org/details/TheEncyclopediaOfSikhism-VolumeIiE-l/page/131/mode/2up |title=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism Volume II E-L |publisher=Punjabi University,Patiala |year=2011 |isbn=978-81-7380-204-1 |edition=3rd |pages=131–132}}</ref> Abdali then destroyed Shri Harmandir Sahib for the 3rd time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Hari |url=https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfTheSikhsVol.IiEvolutionOfSikhConfederacies1707-69/page/n229/mode/2up |title=History Of The Sikhs Vol. II Evolution Of Sikh Confederacies (1707-69) |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. |year=2007 |isbn=978-81-215-0248-1 |pages=216}}</ref>

Following the operation the [[Government of India|central government]] demolished hundreds of houses and created a corridor around the compound called "Galliara" (also spelled Galiara or Galyara) for security reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/amritsar/five-years-on-govt-yet-to-announce-closure-of-galliara-project-191665|title=Five years on, govt yet to announce closure of Galliara Project : The Tribune India}}</ref> This was made into a public park and opened in June 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/sgpc-seeks-control-of-golden-temple-galliara-heritage-street-101627674792222.html|title=SGPC seeks control of Golden Temple galliara, heritage street|date=31 July 2021|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/golden-temple-galiara-haven-for-drug-addicts-cops-claim-no-info-2908745/|title=Golden Temple: Galiara haven for drug addicts, cops claim 'no info'|date=12 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/nanhi-chhaan-s-golden-temple-galliara-upkeep-contract-ends-562238|title=Nanhi Chhaan's Golden Temple 'galliara' upkeep contract ends : The Tribune India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-amritsar/20190124/281835759905392|title=|via=PressReader}}</ref>