Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib)
The golden temple is often just seen as a place of worship. The golden temple represents the identify and heritage of that Sikh’s a very proud of. It is located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab in India. However, it is much more than that it is a place of full and enriched with history, legends, spirituality and equality. Here race, gender and religion have no meaning. Everyone is seen as a human with a soul gifted by god. The history of the golden temple first started when a Sikh Guru started digging the Amrit Sarovar (pool of water) in 1577 AD. Which was later brick lined on December 15, 1588.
The architecture of the Golden Temple has just as much value and a significant symbol. There are four entrances leading into the Gurudwara (Golden Temple) signifying that all people of every walk of life are equally valued and welcomed. Inside the Golden Temple there is a hall where 10,000 volunteers cook meals for thousands of pilgrims.
The golden temple is mostly identified and known around the world for the gold that surrounds the temple. The temple was made of copper and marble in 1809 and in 1830 Maharaja Ranjit Singh replaced it with gold. Which was donated by King Ranjit Singh and Hukum Singh Chimni they also donated marble to decorate the temple. It is known and recognized as the heart of Sikhism.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji made the decision to build the golden temple at a lower level than the city of Amritsar to highlight humility. The architectural decision surrounding the Golden Temple were all made with a significant symbolism in mind.
In 1984 under the direction of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi the golden temple was targeted and penetrated by the Indian army. During this attack thousands of people were violently murdered. Several families to this day are suffering from the tragedy they were forced to endure that day. The stories of that day are passed on from generation to generation reminding the youth what their elders fought for and appreciate the sacrifices they made. This is not the only time that the Golden Temple was targeted and damaged. It has been destroyed numerous times by Afghan invaders.
Gurdwaras all around the world can be easily identified from the distance by tall flagpoles with an orange flag of the Khanda on it. This shrine attracts more than 3 million people a month who come from various countries around the world. The visit is said not be describable in worlds but is often associated with peace and full of serenity.