Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)
Sri Harmandir 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 Harmandir 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 Harmandir 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
