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Golden Temple

17 January 2009 19 Comments

Contd from Jalianwala Bagh.. ..

Our next stop was Golden Temple, just 400 meters from this place.

golden temple amritsar @lemonicks.com

Our next stop was Golden temple; we walked up to the place. The road leading to it is full of regular shops on either side selling famous Amritsari papad-wadiyan, Jutti and souvenirs.

From outside, the temple with a clock on the tower, gives an illusion of any heritage building hosting some museum or so but once you deposit your shoes, cover your head (it is compulsory), dip your feet in water and descend those white marble steps, the Golden temple is revealed to you in all its glory. You are in a different pious world altogether.

golden temple amritsar @lemonicks.com

Name- Sri Harmandar (Punjabi pronunciation for (Hari + Mandir)) Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple and is named after Hari (God) the temple of God. The Sikhs all over the world wish to pay visit to this temple and pay obeisance (mattha tekna) at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas.

There is something special about this temple. Unlike erecting the structure on the higher level, a common tradition in Hindu temple architecture, it got built on a lower level and unlike most Hindu temples having only one gate for the entrance and exit, Guru Sahib got it opened from all four sides though for security reasons not all of them are open now.
Also, unlike many orthodox temples, he made it accessible to every person without any distinction of caste, creed, sex and religion thus creating a symbol of new faith, Sikhism.

golden temple amritsar @lemonicks.com

The main central structure of Sri Harmandir Sahib is a three-storied building and the front faces the bridge which connects it to the 15 feet wide circumambulatory path. The path runs round the main shrine and it leads to the ‘Har ki Paure’ (steps of God).
The third storey, in the form a single room, rises exactly on the top of the central hall of the main sanctuary and a regular recitation of Guru Granth Sahib is held here. The dome of this room is in the shape of inverted lotus on top of which is a Kalash having a small umbrella.

golden temple amritsar @lemonicks.com

What I noticed was that the architecture of the temple represents a unique harmony between the Muslims and the Hindus way of construction. It is said that this architecture has created an independent Sikh school of architecture in the history of art in India.
The temple has been damaged many a times. It bears the scars of the violence of partition, the atrocities of Jalianwala Bagh and operation Bluestar. Yet each time the city has rebuilt its shrine with unshakable determination.

The temple has quaint captivating magic that results in an overwhelming atmosphere of devotion. Make your parikrama of the Harmandir Sahib, sit alone meditating, dip for a holy bath, partake of the langar and move on reassured of the faith in humanity.

golden temple amritsar @lemonicks.com

We had limited time with us, still I wanted to visit it again after dark.. .. to see its immense beauty in night. The shining façade of this graceful gurudwara is accentuated not only by hundreds lights but by the faith and devotion it commands from its followers, many of whom are not even of the Sikh faith.

golden temple amritsar @lemonicks.com

We saw all kinds of people there, all with a different hope and faith. Will write small stories about them later.

Hari = God
Mandir = temple
Ardas = Prayers

Our next stop was Wagah border. To be contd.

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19 Comments »

  • Abhi said:

    Amazing pics, specially the night one… :)

    # 17 January 2009 at 8:15 PM
  • Kanan said:

    Cuckoo, those are beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.

    # 18 January 2009 at 12:03 AM
  • Bhavesh Chhatbar said:

    Very good photographs!

    # 19 January 2009 at 11:49 AM
  • ~vagabond~ said:

    Loved reading your narrate…would love to visit it someday. *sigh*
    Oh, and lovely photos! :)

    # 21 January 2009 at 3:32 AM
  • Trotter said:

    Wow! This is gorgeous! Much more stunning than what I saw in Delhi. But that was my fault; I should have got a resident as a guide… ;) )

    # 23 January 2009 at 9:45 PM
  • Shantanu said:

    Interesting note on the architecture; it does have distinctive lines. Great pictures too.

    # 26 January 2009 at 7:37 AM
  • thyme said:

    I love the marble mosaic floor. What a beautiful skyline. Really special.

    # 27 January 2009 at 1:32 AM
  • PN Subramanian said:

    Was not able to access your site due to the net server going slow/down.
    This is the kind of presentation I love to see and read. This gives enough to the reader as a first hand information about the place written upon. The photographs are nice and speak for themselves. Thank you.

    # 28 January 2009 at 10:32 PM
  • Vands said:

    Wow @ the pics and im sure u had a wow experience :)

    # 1 March 2009 at 8:18 PM
  • A said:

    Very pretty pictures. My wife loved them. We have been there few times but pictures are amazing.

    # 16 May 2010 at 8:32 AM
  • Nisha said:

    A,
    Thank you. We have some more pictures of this place. Will post some other time.
    Nisha´s last [post] ..Come and have a look My ComLuv Profile

    # 16 May 2010 at 2:07 PM
  • Bikram said:

    WOW.. bahut hi wadhiya article .. and the pictures are beautiful.. its been ages since i last visited Darbar sahib was on my sisters wedding 1999 .. been so long…

    I can remember how soothing it was, calm Very goood .
    Thanks for sharing…

    BIkram

    # 22 June 2010 at 7:43 PM
  • Nisha said:

    Bikram,
    First, welcome to my site.

    Shukriya ji.
    Yes, it is one of those places where I want to go again & again.

    # 23 June 2010 at 10:19 PM
  • girlsguidetosurvival said:

    Harmandar= Hari + Mandir

    Harmandar is not a a Punjabi pronunciation it is Har + Mandar/Mandir

    Hari could be a particular God but Har is the stealer/reliever, healer of pain, desire, fear and so on. The word Har emnates from the second/nabhi chakra helps with entangling physical limitations and opening up the consciousness.

    Mandir is Hindi proper (vishudh Hindi with Devnagari script) in local dialects across north India Mandar has wider usage.

    Peace,

    Desi Girl
    girlsguidetosurvival´s last [post] ..Desi Parents- What Do You Know About Your Single 30 Something My ComLuv Profile

    # 27 July 2010 at 1:34 AM
  • Dinesh said:

    Thanks, Nisha, for dropping by on WSJ and letting me know about your wonderful effort here.

    I was in the Golden Temple last year. Like many other man-made religious structures in India this one also mesmerizes visitors. Mesmerized me. One thing that I have found particularly amazing in gurdwaras is the spirit of voluntarism. And that spirit can be tasted (great- almost always) in the form of langar.
    Dinesh´s last [post] ..Inside the Tirupati Balaji Temple ComplexMy ComLuv Profile

    # 17 September 2010 at 5:41 PM
  • Nisha said:

    Desigirl,
    Your info is quite detailed, thanks for sharing it. :)

    Dinesh,
    I have decided one day I will also volunteer there. It’s such an inspiring place.
    Waiting for an opportunity.

    Thanks for your visit, keep coming.

    # 19 September 2010 at 11:01 PM
  • Nisha said:

    Just loved the pics.. amazing! Know what, i haven’t been there being a Muslim but, i really wish to visit now.. i’ve always in fact :)
    Nisha´s last [post] ..Yahoo mail not being received, and its latest versionsMy ComLuv Profile

    # 16 July 2011 at 3:10 AM
  • Arti said:

    Superb, have been wishing to be here for quite some time now! I can feel the peace and quietness even by watching it through your captures…Brilliant!
    Arti´s last [post] ..Diwali Celebrations in the Badrinath TempleMy ComLuv Profile

    # 22 July 2011 at 1:59 PM
  • Nisha said:

    @Arti,
    Do visit it when time permits. Very soothing place. :)

    # 26 November 2011 at 8:00 PM

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