Punjab Online: The Golden Temple

The Golden Temple

"All places have I seen, none can compare to thee."
-- Guru Arjan

The Sikh Gurus recognized how easily temple worship and pilgrimage can become empty rituals, and he encouraged his followers to seek God where he may always be found - not outside in buildings, but within one's own being. The Name, Nam, dwells within everyone, as does the soundless Word of Truth, why search outside for what can be found within? But provided this is understood as the priority, it does not prevent Sikhs from building shrines to mark important places and events in Sikh history. The Golden Temple, or Harimandir Sahib, built by Guru Arjan in Amritsar, Punjab is the most important gurdwara, or Sikh temple, for the Sikhs.

The Wish of Guru Arjan

Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru, wanted the Golden Temple to be open for worship to all, regardless of caste, color, country, or sex. He declared all occupations sacred and all classes equal, and stated:

"If I go to a temple, I see men boasting;
If I enquire of Brahmins, I find them proud.
O my friends, show me that place
Where only God's praises are always sung."

The Harimandir: The Golden Temple, which was completed in 1601 by Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru, stands at the center of the holy lake of Amritsar and houses the sacred book of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib. In the Punjabi language, the temple is called Harimandir Sahib (House of God).

Taking Langar: The practice of langar, eating a communal meal, is central to the Sikh community and reflects the Sikh ideal of charity and service, where each gives according to their capacity and takes according to their needs. A Punjabi meal is provided free to all who come, regardless of caste or status. Everyone present must sit on the ground, stressing equality.

The History of the Golden Temple: The Golden Temple was first built in 1601, and the Guru Granth Sahib was installed in 1604. Always a political as well as a religious center, the temple has been the scene of many conflicts. Afghan invaders seized Amritsar in 1756 and desecrated the temple. A few years after being rebuilt, in 1762, another Afghan attack from Ahmad Shah destroyed the temple and polluted the sacred lake with the bodies of slaughtered cows. The latest conflict at the temple was in 1984, when there was damage to the temple due to conflict with the Indian government.