History of Sachkhand Sri Harmander Sahib
Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) • Amritsar Sahib
Sachkhand Sri Harmander Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, (on account of its scenic beauty and 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 and to pay obeisance at Sri Harmander Sahib in their Ardas.
Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmander 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) 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 1st of Magh, 1645 Bikrmi Samvat(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, sex and religion.
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 Harmander 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.
Architectural Dimensions & Specifications
- Platform & Sanctum: Sri Harmander Sahib is built on a 67ft. square platform in the centre of the Sarovar(tank). The temple itself is 40.5ft. square with a door on the East, West, North and South.
- Darshani Deori & Causeway: The Darshani Deori (an arch) stands at the shore end. The door pane is about 10ft in height and 8ft 6inches in breadth. The bridge leading to main shrine is 202 feet in length and 21 feet in width.
- Circumambulatory Path (Pardakshna): 13 feet wide path surrounding the shrine and leading to Har Ki Paure.
- Three-Storied Structure: Front decorated with repeated cusped arches; roof of first floor at 26ft 9in; central room on third story topped with low fluted Golden Gumbaz (dome) with lotus motif and Chhatri Kalash.
The Sri Harmander Sahib was invaded and destroyed many a times by the Afghan and other invaders. Each and every time the Sikhs had to sacrifice their lives in order to liberate it and restore its sanctity. After the martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh ji in 1737, Massa Ranghar, the Kotwal of Amritsar took charge of Sri Harmander Sahib in 1740 and converted it into a civil court and began to hold notch parties. This act created great resentment among the Sikhs. Two warriors, Sukha Singh and Mahtab Singh avenged the insult by a dare devil act. They entered the temple complex in guise of peasants, severed the head of Massa Ranghar with a single blow of kirpan and fled away with decapitated head on one of their spears.
Now, it was the turn of Lakhpat Rai, a Hindu Diwan of Lahore Darbar as he vowed to finish the entire Sikh Nation. In order to avenge the death of his brother Jaspat Rai, he befouled the Sarovar and desecrated Sri Harmander Sahib in 1746. He even banned the name ‘Guru’. The Mughal forces marched against the Sikhs under the command of Diwan Lakhpat Rai and Yahiya Khan. A fierce battle was fought (the first Ghalughara in June 1746) in which nearly seven thousand Sikhs were martyred.
In 1757, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India for the second time and attacked Amritsar. He demolished Sri Harmander Sahib and filled the Sarovar with garbage. On hearing of the desecration, Baba Deep Singh ji Shaheed, head of Misl Shaheedan, started at once to avenge the insult. A bloody encounter took place at Gohalwar. Baba Deep Singh was mortally wounded, yet gripping his severed head in his left hand and wielding his sword in his right, he reached the holy precincts and laid down his life.
On 10th April, 1762, Ahmed Shah Abdali again invaded Amritsar and Sri Harmander Sahib after the horrible carnage (Wadda Ghalughara). Sri Harmander Sahib was again blown up with gun powder. While the shrine was being blown up, a flying brick bat struck Abdali on the nose, which ultimately proved fatal for him.
In December, 1764, Sri Harmander Sahib was again attacked by Ahmed Shah Abdali. Thirty Sikhs under Baba Gurbax Singh ji gave stiff resistance and were martyred. Before final departure in 1767, Abdali dared not enter Sri Harmander Sahib again, and it remained under Sikh control.
The curtain was finally rung down upon the Gurdwara Reform Movement when the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, vested the control and management of Sri Harmander Sahib in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an elected representative body of the Sikhs.