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Q. When was the Hari Mandir (Golden Temple)
constructed, and what is its importance?
A. The foundation stone
of Hari Mandir (also known as Darbar Sahib, or Golden Temple) was
laid by Hazrat Mian Mir (a Sufi Faqir), on a request from Guru Arjan
Dev, on January 3, 1588 in Amritsar. The Amrit Sarovar (sacred lake)
is 500 ft. long, 490 ft. wide and 17 ft. deep.
The only bridge that connects Hari Mandir with the outer walkway
(parikarma) is 240 ft. long and 21 ft. wide. Maharaja Ranjit Singh
got the building of Hari Mandir adorned with gold leaf in 1830,
that is why the name Golden Temple.
Riply has beautifully written in his "believe it or not",
that the Hari Mandir was constructed in order to install Guru Granth
Sahib there. According to this view, this building should be the
most expensive cover for a book in the world.
The installation of Guru Granth Sahib (then known as Pothi Sahib)
was done here by Guru Arjan Dev on August 30, 1604.
Describing the uniqueness of Hari Mandir, Professor Puran Singh
has written: " It is said that it took nine years for 22,000
laborers to construct the Taj Mahal; but for Hari Mandir's construction
innumerable devotees voluntarily came and worked to complete it.
Reaching here, a Sikh considers that he/she has reached his/her
own home-town. The foundation of Hari Mandir is standing on love,
devotion and contentment. Witness accounts state that the earth
dug from Santokh Sar (another lake in Amritsat constructed by Guru
Arjan Dev), meaning the lake of contentment, was used for the foundation
of Hari Mandir.
Hari Mandir has four doors (towards the four directions) which
signify the one-ness of humanity (to all four castes) irrespective
of color, creed or geographical origin. Actually the geographical
directions are aligned towards the four corners of the building.
Thus each door is in the middle of two corners representing two
geographical diredtion.
The door at "Har ki Pauri" towards South-East,
the door towards Shaheed Bunga (where the Sikh reference Library
used to be prior to the 1984 Holocaust, towards South West;
The door towards "Darshani Deorhi" faces North West and
the door towards the clock tower (Sikh Museum) faces North East.
This even the discrepancy regarding East or West have been eliminated
(Some religions consider East more sacred while the others consider
West more sacred). The building of Hari Mandir sits at the level
of the lake water. To an observer it looks as if a lotus flower
is in blossom and floating on water. Every ones heart blossoms on
entering Hari Mandir.
The lower level of Hari Mandir's compared to its surroundings and
its relatively flat domes symbolyze humility. The dome of Akal Takhat
is upright and is symbolic of integrity and valor. There is an inverted
lotus flower on the dome of Hari Mandir which depicts the continuous
flow of Amrit and the Maya (the wealth and the comforts of this
world) follows those who possess the Name of the Lord.
Hari Mandir depicts scenes of life (carved in its marble walls
with semi-precious stones). There are pictures of elephants, galloping
horses, flying birds, bird-laden blanches and meditating sadhus.
On the contrary, in Taj Mahal, not a single wall carving depicts
life. On observing this and tourist exclaimed, " Hari Mandir
is full of life while Taj Mahal is of death".
The construction of Hari Mandir is such that one does not sweat
in summer or shiver in winter. The bridge from Darshani Deorhi to
the door of Hari Mandir is 84 steps long which signifies that there
is only one "Dharma" (duty of all humanity). Whoever comes
here with humility and devotion to Gurus' word, he/she will not
have to go through the transmigration of 84 lakh (8.4 million) births.
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