Akal takht
The Akal Takh, initially called Sri Akal Bunga, or the abode of the Lord,
represents both, a building structure for the camera and an institution for the
'faithful'. When plunderers and invaders, like Ahmad Shah Abdali, pulled down
the building structure, the Akal takht, the institution, functioned as before
from its debris. Nothing ever changed as regards the functioning of the Akal
Takht. It was still, and in every eventuality, the venue of Sikhs' highest
assemble, the Sarbat khalsa. Here congregated masses on Diwali and Baisakhi; the
appointed ones held diwans on special occasions; and, the 'wisest' fe met to
deliberate and find solution to issues confronting the faith or the community.
It was here that norms of social conduct and codes of personal living were
formulated; Gurmat, or the resolutions made in the presence and by the approval
of the Guru, were made. Hukamnamas, the unfailing writs or edicts, were issued,
justice was administered charging and chastising erring ones, homage was paid to
martyrs, guests were received and felicitated, pahul was administered baptizing
new entrants to the faith, and, the strategy of defense and community uplift was
chalked out. Though a constituent of Sri harimander complex, yet the Akal Takh
always enjoyed an independent status. It has, in the political and temporal life
of Sikhs, the same significance, as Sri Harimandar Sahib has in their religious
life.
Three Ber Trees and their Associated Shrines
Three premises of Sri Harimander Sahib have three bers, or jujube trees, the
Lachi Ber, the Ber Baba Buddha ji and the Dukh-Bhanjani Ber, which are the
oldest inhabitants of the Temple complex. They were there before Sri Harimander
came into being and are not only the silent spectators of the journey of the new
faith across the 400 years, but are also its active participants and
benefactors. Had it not been for the charismatic role of Dukh-Bhanjani Ber,
there would not have been, perhaps, the Amrit-sarovar, the town of Amritsar or
even the Sikhs' holiest shrine. It was largely because of the unique curing
ingredients of the pond water around the Dukh-Bhanjani Ber that Guru Amar Das
had suggested his son-in-law and successor, Guru Ram Das, to develop this spot
as the Sikhs' spiritual capital and the epicenter of their faith. It was in
consideration of its ability to dispel all ailments and suffering that Guru Ram
Das called it Dukh-Bhanjani Ber, that is, the Ber that dispelled sorrows. In the
Sikh tradition, it was after it cured Ranjani's leprous husband that the
Dukh-Bhanjani Ber began acquiring its significance. The Dukh-Bhanjani Ber stands
in the centre of the eastern plank of the Amrit-sarovar.
The Ber, revered as the Ber Baba Buddhaji, that stands on tank's northern
bank, is not as legendary as the Dukh-Bhanjani Ber, but its role is as much
significant. When Baba Buddhaji supervised the tank's construction, this Ber
extended over his head its umbrella-like leafy branches for protecting him from
parching summer and roaring clouds. Thus, though humble, the Ber Baba Buddhaji
served Guru's cause in its own way. The Lachi Ber, which flanks the Darshani
Deorhi on its northern side, played a dual role, the transcendental and the
material. When Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji supervised tank's construction, it served
as canopy over him, not allowing even an isolated sunray to pierce across and
disturb the 'Divine'. Things changed. The local Muslim chief Massa Ranghar
occupied the Temple and desecrated it. Mehtab Singh Mirankotia, a veteran Sikh
from Buddha Jauhar in rajasthan, reched here to punish the intruder. The Lachi
Ber preceded all others in assisting him. Besides giving him inspiration the
Lachi Ber gave to his horse shelter and safety to rest, as it was to this tree
that his horse was roped.
Two of these Bers, the Lachi and the Dukh-Bhanjani, have associated with them
small but independent Gurdwaras with the Holy Birs enshrining them and regular
granthis and sewadars in attendance. The Ber baba Buddhaji has around it a
marble podium, which also has the status of a shire. But, irrespective of their
associated shrines, these three Bers have earned for themselves the sanctity of
shrines. They lachi Ber provided spiritual strength. It now serves all temple
visitors with the karah-prasad, the source of energy, the physical as well as
the intrinsic. The Dukh-Bhanjani Ber yet dispels ailments and the Ber baba
Buddhaji yet protects from the parching sun. Every head that enters the Temple
complex bows in reverence to Baba Buddha ji, every arm takes a handful of
amrit from the Dukh-bhanjani Ber and sprinkles it over person and every hand
extends towards the lachi Ber for receiving Guru's benevolence in the form of
karah-prasad. This three-trio extends its blessing perpetually and for all.
Gurdwara Thara Sahib
The Gurdwara Thara Sahib, a small shrine, is dedicated to the Ninth Guru Teg
Bahadur, and commemorates his visit to Sri Harimander. It is a simple
conventionalized structure cast like a rounded platform with twelve sides. On
parapet level there is on each angle a small minaret with a kiosk surmounting
it. The main entrance is on its east and a baradari adorns its apex. It has a
basement chamber, which is known as Bhora Sahib and is one of the most suitable
place for meditating in peace and quietude. The Gurdwara Thara sahib is situated
towards the northwest of Sri Harmander and close tot he Akal Takht in the midst
of bazaar Thara Sahib. As the tradition has it, after his ascendance to the
Gurugaddi, Guru Teg bahadur came to pay homage to Sikhs' highest seat, Sri
Harimandar which was then under the control of Sodhi Harji, the grandson of
Prithi Chand. Instructed by him, the pujaris and mahants on duty forbade the
Ninth Guru from entering the temple premises. It is said the peace-loving saint
did not dispute and returned. before he left, he rested for a while here on a thara,
literally an earthen platform. Later, Sikhs built over the earthen
platform this Gurdwara known popularly as Gurdwara Thara Sahib.
Athsath Tirath
The Athsath Tirath, a marble platform cast in the shape of a manji, is only a
minor member of the architectural commune of Sri Harimander, but it abounds in
as much sanctity. It is said bathing once at the Athsath Tirath is as auspicious
as the pilgrimage of the 68 holy places in India. The Athsath Tirath is situated
opposite the har Ki Paureey in the center of the eastern bank of the
Amrit-sarovar. It stands close to the Gurdwara Dukh-Bhanjani ber. It is said Sri
Guru Arjan Dev ji, while supervising excavation of the tank, used to sit here.
After Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji was able to obtain from Baba Mohanji the Holy Pothi,
containing Bani, it was brought from Goindwal first at the Athsath Tirath.
Manji Sahib
The Manji Sahib is a huge congregational hall used for lectures and mass
religious activities. This hall is situated beyond the eastern entrance to the
Golden temple complex, opposite the Langar building and adjacent to the Mata
ganga Niwas on its north. Sant Bishan Singh initiated the construction of the
Manji Sahib. It seems, before the Amrit-sarovar developed into a square form,
its eastern bank was its functional side and fell on the highway leading to
Peshawar and beyond. Hence, when day's work was over, Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji sat
here on a manji, or cot, and distribute provisions and wages to the labor
engaged in the construction of the tank. Later the spot was developed into a
proper garden, the Guru Ka Bagh, dedicated to Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji. The Udasi
sadhu Gopal Das made outstanding contribution in developing the Guru ka Bagh.
The Manji Sahib is built using the larger part of the Guru Ka Bagh. A beautiful
marble platform of the hall commemorates this Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji on the manji,
his seat. In as adjoining chamber, there enshrines the Holy Sri Guru Granth
Sahib.
Langar Ghar
The langar, or the community kitchen, is situated opposite the Manji Sahib.
It is a simple functional building consisting of a number of colonnaded large
halls, flanking verandahs and open marble clad spaces for dining and some
smaller rooms for various other purposes. The Langar-Ghar is structurally a
three storey building with the basement extra. Of the three floors, Only two
floors are functional. The upper floor consist of a domed structure, which is
more or less decorative in character. It lay in the center of a large terrace.
From outside it appears to consist of a single floor, but inwardly it is divided
into two floors. Different from most other buildings in the Golden Temple
complex, which are either marble-covered or painted in white, the Langar-ghar
has a brick-red facade, although its domed surmounting structure is the same
milky white. the basement, which opens on the main building's north, house
stocks of eatables. This northern wing of the Langar has an administrative
office, which records and controls all receipts and dispatches and assures
smooth functioning of the Langar. This hind part of the langar provides for
cooking, cleaning of utensils and other related activities.
Har ki Pauri and Darshani Deorhi
The early morning worshippers now step out of the Harimandir, walk on the inner
par karma that encircles it, and stop on its southern side at the Har ki Pauri.
Here, marble steps descend into the sarowar, so that visitors may cup the water
of the sacred pool into their hands and sprinkle it on their heads. Some take a
small sip of it as well. Tradition has it that Siri Guru Arjan Dev himself gave
this place its name.
Continuing around the Harimandir, on the inner parikarma, the devotees once more
bow in the direction of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, then make their way back
over the causeway, through the Darshani Deorhi and onto the main par karma. As
they proceed along the par karma, towards the stairs by which they had entered,
some pause by the Ber Baba Buddha, popularly known as the Tree Shrine. Baba
Buddha, the first head priest of the Harimandir Sahib, is said to have sat under
this tree as he supervised the construction of the Harimandir Sahib.
Before leaving the Darbar Sahib, once more the early morning worshippers turn to
face the Harimandir with folded hands and touch their foreheads to the marble
floor of the par karma in farewell. As they ascend the stairs on the way out,
they feel renewed, invigorated and reinforced by the knowledge that the hand of
the Divine will guide them through the day.
Causeway
The 202 feet long and 21 feet wide causeway connects the Darshani Deorhi with
the main shrine. The balustrades of fretted marble, intercepted by ten marble
pillars supporting on them golden lanterns on each side, border and guard the
causeway. On its northern side, a small marble pillar, ahead of the fifth one
from the Darshani Deorhi, bears on it a sun-dial. The tire causeway is floored
with colorfully laid marble and is divided by brass railing for up and down
passages. It is said the fretted marble balustrades were brought by Maharaja
Ranjit Singh from the tomb of Jahangir at Shahadra near Lahore. Another
tradition attributes it to Sardar Jodh Singh Ramgarhia, the son of Jassa Singh
Ramgarhia.
Shrine of Baba Deep Singh Ji
Close to the southern entrance, there is, in the Parkarma, a semi-circular
stepped marble podium with a donation box attached to it. This structure is
known as the the shrine of Baba Deep Singh ji, which commemorates his unique
sacrifice for the Panth. Baba Deep Singh ji, the founder of the Shahid misl and
the Damdama School of Sikh Learning, laid his life defending the Holy Temple
from the intruding forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali led by one of his generals, Jahan
Khan. It was near Ramsar that the forces of Baba Deep Singh and Jahan Khan
confronted. The Sikh forces fought with unique valor but could not prevail over
the intruder. Baba Deep Singh Ji's head had been severed, but he held it in his
left arm and, wielding his khanda with his right, chased the intruders and
attained shaheedi on this spot.
The Two Towers
The two granite-clad imposing towers, towards temple's eat-north, are
popularly known as Bungas Ramgarhia. They are typically Islamic in their
architecture, though are incorporated here for an absolutely different purpose.
They are essentially watch-towers. Initially these towers had a spiral apex as
they have now. It seems, during an invasion or earthquake, these towers were
toppled down and when reconstructed, they were modeled differently, much like
Lahore's Bashahi Masjid, with flat roof atop. Till 1984, these towers had the
same flat terraced apex with balustrade all around it, but when they were
reconstructed after 1984, they were once again modeled with the spiral apex,
such as they originally had.
The Northern and the Southern Gateways
On all four sides, beyond the Parkarma, Sri Harimandir sahib complex has a
chain of building lying in a straight symmetrical line. They align on all four
corners into right angles and constitute a perfect square. These building
represent a blend of various building styles of Indian and Islamic origin with
elements of Rajput and Mughal architecture dominating. They are used as the
residences of the Temple staff, various offices , stores and two large areas
accommodate the Central Sikh Museum and the reference Library. This chain breaks
on its west for accommodating the towering Akal takht and on its east, north and
south for portals for visitors' entry. The eastern gateway is comparatively an
humble structure but those on the north and the south are massive three-storied
towering buildings befitting one of the world's most visited shrines. Both, the
northern and the southern gateways are identical in their architecture, yet they
northern one constitutes the main entrance to the shrine. these portals and
aligning buildings are the late entrants into the family of the Golden Temple
building complex.
The northern gateway, the earliest of the three, evolved in 1862, when the
British Government built here, after demolishing the Bunga of kanwar Nuanihal
singh and the Attari of Rani Sada kaur, both highly revered by the Sikhs, a
Victoria style clock tower. This act of the British grievously hurt Sikh
sentiments. hence after the Temple management came under the Sikh control in
1926, this clock tower was pulled down and a lofty entrance was erected in its
place. Its southern counterpart evolved under the principle of symmetry and
beautification of the entire complex. the eastern one, it seems, has not been
given the towering height of the other two portals, lest it obstructed the
passage of morning sun, which illuminates the Temple to its utmost splendor.
SGPC offices
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The headquarters of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee are located in the Teja Singh Samundri Hall near the Harmandir Sahib. The Gurdwara Act 1925, transferred the control of the historical Sikh Shrines in the Punjab to the SGPC. It is a representative body of the Sikhs elected by the Sangat. |
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Akal Takht Jathedar's Office
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The term "jathedar" literally means "captain" and it can be used to refer to the leader of any group of Sikhs. Most commonly, however, it is used as the title of a Sikh political leader. The "chief jathedar" is the highest ranking at Akal Takht and his religious decisions are treated as binding for Sikhs around the world. |
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