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The temple Harmandir Sahib or Hari Mandir (Punjabi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) is the most sacred shrine in all of Sikhism. It was previously known as the Golden Temple but was renamed in March 2005 by the SGPC. Located in Amritsar, Punjab, India, this beautiful building is the most important sacred shrine for the Sikhs, who travel from all parts of the world to pay their respects to this, their most important historic site. In addition, the sacred shrine is increasingly becoming a tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world.

Originally, the site of the temple was a small lake, surrounded by a thin forest. The lake was enlarged and a small community was established during the leadership of the fourth Sikh Guru (Guru Ram Das, 1574-1581). It was during the leadership of the fifth Guru (Guru Arjan, 1581-1606), that the Golden Temple was built. The land on which it was built was gifted to Guru Ram Das by the Mughal emperor Akbar. A Muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore in December 1588 initiated the construction of this wonderful building by laying the foundation stone. It was completed in 1601. The temple was later sacked by enemy forces and had to be substantially rebuilt in the 1760s.

The temple is now surrounded by a pool of water, known as the Sarovar. There are four entrances to the temple, signifying the importance of acceptance and openness. Anyone who wants to enter the Golden Temple may do so, irrespective of religion, colour, creed or sex. The only restrictions are that the person must not drink alcohol, eat meat or smoke cigarettes or other drugs while in the shrine. All Sikh temples in the world follow this traditional rule that everyone is welcome to enter.

Much of the present decorative gilding and marblework dates from the early 1800s. All the gold and exquisite marble work were conducted under the patronage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The legendary warrior king was a heavy donor of wealth and materials for the shrine and is remembered with much affection by the Sikh community and Punjabi people.

Operation Blue Star

In June 5 through 6, 1984 Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi ordered Operation Blue Star, a military assault on the Golden Temple, which had been occupied by Sant Jarnail Singh and his militant supporters with a heavy cache of arms. Gandhi ordered the army to fight its way into the main shrine where Sikh militants had established their headquarters. The army unit involved was headed by Major General Kuldip Singh Brar, GOC, 9 Infantry Division. The occupiers refused to depart from their holiest shrine and a firefight ensued, with 83 soldiers and 493 occupiers – including the leaders – killed, and many more injured.

Sikhs everywhere were outraged at the desecration and their alienation was deep and had dramatic consequences: on October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh.

In film and television

• The temple is one of the locations of Bride and Prejudice (2004).
• The temple is also in the Indian serial Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin (2005).
• The temple is also one of the places visited by BBCs Michael Palin for Himalaya (2004)

Notable visits

• Prime Minister of Canada—Jean Chretien—October 2003
• Indian President—A.P.J. Abdul Kalam;August 2004
• Indian PrimeMinister—Manmohan Singh;September 2004
• British Foreign Secretary—Jack Straw—February 2005

External links

• Sikhs.org
• AllAboutSikhs.com
• Sikhnet.com
• Info-sikh.com
• SacredSites.com
• Sgpc.net
• SriGuruGranthSahib.org

• Sikhism
• Gurdwaras
• Punjab (India)
• Buildings and structures of India