In the Indian state of Punjab, in the center of the small Indian city of Amritsar, which is located in the north-west of the country, there is one of the main attractions of the country - Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple, which is the religious center of the Sikhs. More than twenty thousand people visit it daily.
History
The temple was erected in the center of a man-made lake, which was excavated in 1577 by Ram Das, the fourth Sikh guru who blessed and named Lake Amritsar. This name translates as "the source of the nectar of immortality." Judging by the legend that the locals like to tell, the place for this sacred lake was not chosen by chance. Here, on the shore of a small forest pond, the great Buddha meditated, and after it, the founder of the Sikh faith on the equality of all religions and unity - Guru Nanak - reflected on the essence of being.
The construction of the temple
Having blessed the lake, Ram Das began the construction of the Sikh temple complex. Later, the upper tiers of the grandiose structures were covered with gold. Arjan Dev completed the construction of the magnificent complex, calling it Harmandir Sahib, which translates as “the temple of God.” Very quickly, rumors of an unusual structure spread among the Sikhs. And the pilgrims reached the beautiful complex with an endless stream.
Many remained to live near the temple. As a result, so many residents gathered that on this place a city was formed, which received the same name as the sacred lake. The temple of Harmandir Sahib gained its present shape after the reconstruction carried out in 1764 at the initiative of Sultan Ul Kwama Navab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, a famous spiritual leader of the Sikhs.
In the 19th century, another Sikh leader, the ruler of Maharaja, Ranjit Singh, ordered that the upper floors of the temple be gilded. This served as the appearance of the second name of the Harmandir Sahib temple in Amritsar - the Golden Temple. Today it is the main attraction of the city, state and the whole country.
Harmandir Sahib Golden Temple in Amritsar (India): Description
The temple is built of marble using bronze and gold leaf. The walls and dome are covered with copper plates, and on top are covered with gilding. According to historians, more than four hundred kilograms of precious metal was used to create the dome.
The Harmandir-Sahib temple complex, whose photo you can see below, is located in the center of the lake, whose water is considered healing. Pilgrims, as well as the locals, believe that it includes the elixir of immortality and holy water. A narrow marble bridge, symbolizing the long journey that the soul passes, leaving the mortal body, connects the Harmandir-Sahib temple with the shore of the lake.
How is the temple arranged?
The Golden Temple harmoniously combines elements of the Hindu and Islamic styles, as well as its own unique features. The complex consists of ten different structures with four entrances from the west and east, from the north and south. They symbolize the invitation to the sanctuary of people of various faiths, classes and walks of life.
The walls of the temple are decorated with ornaments and murals, inlaid with precious stones. Before entering the sanctuary, pilgrims perform a ritual bath in the waters of the sacred lake and take off their shoes. Women, men and children, before entering the temple, should cover their heads with a scarf. On each floor of the temple, a trained reader, from sunrise to sunset, reads ancient copies of the Guru Granth Sahib, turning over huge pages. Regardless of religion, anyone can visit Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.
Those who wish can climb to the prayer room. Here, sitting on the carpet, one can, while reading prayers, make personal requests to the Almighty. The Harmandir Sahib Temple is distinguished from many places of worship by its constantly sounding refined accompaniment. This is sung by a gentle flute, stringed instruments and the rhythmic sound of drums is heard. The melody is so bewitching that, according to the people who have been here, it is able to enter into a state of deep trance.
Pilgrims slowly walk clockwise around the temple, periodically dipping into the waters of the lake to cleanse their souls. People come here to pray, to indulge in their own thoughts, to meditate. The entrance to the sanctuary is open for men and women, for the poor and rich, since all people are close to God. An ordinary tourist can enter the temple, provided that he does not eat meat, is completely indifferent to alcohol and does not smoke in the complex.
Interior decoration
Visitors are amazed and delighted by the beauty and extraordinary luxury of the temple. The Golden Temple lives up to its name, as its outer walls are lined with plates coated with gold. Inside the building makes an even greater impression: the walls, decorated with precious stones, covered with wonderful inlays, gilding and ornaments, are in no way inferior to the external appearance.
You can enjoy the beauty of this marvelous place not only during the day, but also at night, when the structure is originally and very skillfully illuminated. Reflected in the smooth surface of the lake, it creates a stunning and bewitching picture.
Charity mission
Undoubtedly, a distinctive feature of this temple is the availability of a free refectory, where all visitors are fed in the main hall. For Sikhs, a joint meal is considered very symbolic. In their opinion, nothing unites people of different faiths, different social status, like a joint meal. Sikhism does not perceive the division into castes that preach Hindu beliefs. This principle is embodied during a joint meal of people who have different status and preach different faiths.
Such principles were laid down in the teachings of the first Sikh guru Nanak back in the 15th century, who was sure that sharing food could equalize people. Harmandir Sahib is the largest canteen in the world, where about thirty thousand people receive free food every day, and this number doubles on holidays and weekends.
The refectory is taken sitting on the floor, as there is no dining room furniture. Volunteers distribute dishes prepared according to national Indian recipes. The most common ones: chapati bread, rice with vegetables and bean soup puree.
Volunteers
One of the main principles of the teachings of the Sikhs is selflessness. Every day, about a thousand volunteers prepare food for visitors, regardless of different faiths, social status, prestigious work and the level of financial income. Among those who volunteer to cook and clean after a meal, you can find a street vendor and a manager of a respectable bank, a seller of a supermarket and a teacher, a doctor and an engineer.
These people go to work in the langar, the so-called refectory of the temple, at the call of the heart, without any compulsion. Donations are not accepted here, relying only on the blessing of the Almighty. Known fact: once the emperor Akbar, while in the complex, wanted to give Guru Amar Das a dish filled with gold coins. But he did not accept the donation, citing the fact that the kitchen is kept by the will of the Almighty.
After the meal, the volunteers clean and wash the main hall. Every temple visitor can be sure that they will not leave him hungry.
Rooms for tourists
The temple complex includes rooms for tourists and pilgrims, where you can stay for the night. Europeans, of course, will not feel comfort here: they will have to sleep on the floor among the same pilgrims and tourists, without basic amenities. But many people believe that it is in these conditions that you can feel the unusually friendly atmosphere that has prevailed here for many centuries.
Hindus and Sikhs, Muslims and people preaching a different religion, come to the temple of Harmandir Sahib, not only to see this stunning beauty, but also to plunge into the atmosphere of understanding and selflessness with which this building is filled.