GRAND HERITAGE
Lake of nectar
A. SRIVATHSAN
|
Amritsar was not only a religious city but also a flourishing trade centre.
|
PHOTO: PTI
ON THE HOLY LAKE: Harmandir Sahib.
Can you imagine a religious scripture that contains verses of another religion?
Well, that is the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs. Verses of about 13 Hindu bhakti saints from Kabir to Namdev can be found in the Granth Sahib.
Guru Nanak preached equality, tolerance, and amity. The idea of equality can be seen in the creation of the Langar or community kitchen.
Sacred city
Amritsar is a sacred city and an important pilgrimage centre for the Sikhs. The city takes its name from the holy lake - lake of nectar - where Harmandir sahib or the Golden temple is located. The tank was excavated by the third Sikh guru Amardas and completed by the fourth guru Ramdas. It is said that the land adjoining the sacred lake was bought and a settlement established. Guru Arjun conceived and constructed the temple in the 17th century. It is also believed that, on his invitation, the foundation for the temple was laid by a sufi saint from Lahore.
The Harmandir Sahib has a distinctive mix of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. The fluted domes, chatris or domed pavilions at the end of the parapet and ornate walls reflect the receptive attitude of Sikhism to other faiths. In the 19th century, Maharaja Ranjith Singh embellished the Harmandir. The ground floor of the temple had marble while the upper floors had the decorative golden plate. The temple since then came to be known as Golden Temple. Inside the temple, under a canopy, the holy Granth is installed.
Amritsar was not only a religious city but also a flourishing trade centre. Guru Ramadas who initiated the settlement, was also keen that trade flourish in the city. He invited different groups of people especially traders to live in Amritsar. This initiative was later expanded by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and soon Amritsar developed into a thriving commercial hub.
When the town came under British rule, a town committee administered it in 1858 and then by a municipal committee in 1868.
Amritsar massacre
Amritsar was in the centre of freedom struggle. The infamous Amritsar massacre or Jallainwala Bagh massacre took place on April 13, 1919, on Baisakhi day. Many Indians who had peacefully gathered in Jallianwala Bagh were shot under the orders of Brigadier-General Dyer. The official estimate put the death toll at 379, but many claim that it was much more. After independence, Jallianwala Bagh was commemorated and in 1961, a memorial designed by an American architect Benjamin Polk was built.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Young World
