Golden
Temple, Amritsar The
Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib, situated in Amritsar,
Punjab, is the most sacred temple for Sikhs. It is a
symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh
people all over the world. In the evolution of the Darbar
Sahib, is entwined the history and ideology of Sikhism.
In its architecture are included, symbols associated
with other places of worship. This is an example of
the spirit of tolerance and acceptance that the Sikh
philosophy propounds. The history of the Darbar Sahib
starts with Guru Amar Das, who took the first steps
towards building a shrine. Around the Golden Temple,
the holy city of Amritsar came into being. His successor,
Guru Ram Das, came to live near this tranquil and peaceful
site, and started building the pilgrimage centre around
the small pool, (later to become the Sarowar) which
had intially drawn Guru Amar Das. |
The
Temple's Architecture
The temple's
architecture draws on both Hindu and Moslem artistic
styles yet represents a unique coevolution of the two.
During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839),
Hari Mandir was richly ornamented with marble sculptures,
golden gilding, and large quantities of precious stones.
Within the sanctuary, on a jewel-studded platform, lies
the Adi Grantha, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs.
This scripture is a collection of devotional poems,
prayers, and hymns composed by the ten Sikh gurus and
various Moslem and Hindu saints. Beginning early in
the morning and lasting until long past sunset, these
hymns are chanted to the exquisite accompaniment of
flutes, drums, and stringed instruments. Echoing across
the serene lake, this enchantingly beautiful music induces
a delicate yet powerful state of trance in the pilgrims
strolling leisurely around the marble concourse encircling
the pool and temple. An underground spring feeds the
sacred lake, and throughout the day and night pilgrims
immerse themselves in the water, a symbolic cleansing
of the soul rather than an actual bathing of the body.
Next to the temple complex are enormous pilgrims' dormitories
and dining halls where all persons, irrespective of
race, religion, or gender, are lodged and fed for free.
Amritsar, the original name of first the ancient lake,
then the temple complex, and still later the surrounding
city, means "pool of ambrosial nectar." Looking
deeply into the origins of this word amrit, we find
that it indicates a drink of the gods, a rare and magical
substance that catalyzes euphoric states of consciousness
and spiritual enlightenment. With this word we have
a very clear example of the spirit, power, or energetic
character of a particular place becoming encoded as
an ancient geographical place name. The myth is not
just a fairy tale. It reveals itself as a coded metaphor
if we have the knowledge to read the code: The waters
of Amritsar flowing into the lake of the Hari Mandir
were long ago - and remain today - a bringer of peacefulness. |
