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Harmandir Sahib or '''Darbar Sahib'''(also '''Hari Mandir''', '''Harimandar''' and other variants; , located in Amritsar , Punjab , India . It is widely known as the '''Golden Temple''', but its true name is Harmandir Sahib. Literally, Harmandir means "the Temple of God", 'Har' being a term for God and 'Mandir' meaning Temple. Sikh devotees from all over the world come to the Temple to enjoy its blissful environs and offer their prayers. In addition, the sacred shrine is increasingly becoming a tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world. The Temple is located in India at . HISTORY The Amritsar area Amritsar is located in the Majha region of the Punjab. Majha is also known as the Bari Doab , since it is the Doab or (fluvial) tract of land which lies between two of the five great rivers of the province, the Ravi and the Beas . As such, Majha lies in the heart of the ancient Punjab region. Besides Amritsar, it also comprises Gurdaspur and Taran Taaran . Amritsar is one of the most ancient and legendary sites in the Punjab. The origin of the place where the Sri Hari Mandir stands is shrouded in mystery. Some trace its origin to the pre-historic, Vedic -epic period as a place of considerable religious importance in the form of an Amrit Kund (Spring of Nectar). But the site seems to have lost its eminence under the sway of the Buddhist movement, which swept away most of the important Hindu holy places. According to popular belief – Valmiki wrote his celebrated epic, the Ramayana , near around this hallowed site of the "Pool of Nectar". It was here, too, that Sita stayed during the period of her ''vanavasa'' (banishment). Here again, the twin sons of Sri Rama , were taught the Ramayana. Yet another legend identifies the site of this pool with the place where the whole of Sri Rama's army was destroyed by his sons, Lava and Kusha , and relates how at that time a jug of nectar descended from heaven to restore the soldiers to life. The construction of the Harmandir Originally during 1574 , the site of the temple was surrounded by a small lake, in a thin forest. The third of the six grand Mughals , emperor Akbar , who visited the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das at the neighbouring town of Goindval , was so impressed by the way of life in the town that he assigned the revenues of several villages in the vicinity to the Guru's daughter, Bhani as a gift on her marriage to Ram Das Sodhi, who later became the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das . He enlarged the lake and built a small township around it. The town was named after Guru Ram Das as 'Guru Ka Chak','Chak Ram Das' or Ram Das Pura It was during the leadership of the fifth Guru ( Guru Arjan Dev , 1581 - 1606 ),the son of Guru Ram Das that the full fledged Temple was built. A Sufi saint Hazrat Mian Mir of Lahore in December 1588 initiated the construction of the building by laying the foundation stone. It was completed in 1601 . The temple was later attacked by the Afghans under Ahmed Shah Abdali and had to be substantially rebuilt in the 1760s . The Golden Temple Complex and areas in its vicinity Valmiki's ashram, it is said, lay within a short distance of the renowned "Pool of Nectar". In Valmiki's time, the area was a thick forest. There were around Valmiki's ashram some more tanks with historical associations. One such hexagonal tank, Ram Tirth, is at a distance of around 1.1 kilometres from Amritsar; the others are Ramsar, Santokhsar, Ram Talai and Durgiana. Guru Ram Das must have known-the legendary importance of the place when he sanctified the pool of nectar in the sixteenth century. The temple is 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( Gurdwara s) in the world follow this traditional rule that everyone is welcome to enter. ART Much of the present decorative gilding and marblework date from the early 1800s . All the gold and exquisite marble work were conducted under the patronage of Ranjit Singh , Maharaja of the Sikh Kingdom of the Punjab. The legendary warrior king was a heavy donor of wealth and materials for the shrine and is remembered with much affection by Punjabis in general and the Sikh community in particular. RECENT EVENTS On July 6 , 2005 the SGPC decided to install Closed Circuit Television Cameras around the Harmandir Complex and will be adding more security due to other Attacks In India On Other Religious Areas . OPERATION BLUE STAR See Also: Operation Blue Star , after Operation Blue Star .]] In June 4 - 6 , 1984 Prime Minister Of India Indira Gandhi ordered Operation Blue Star, a military assault on the Golden Temple, which had been occupied by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale . 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 many killed and injured. Many Sikhs were outraged at the desecration of their holiest shrine and their alienation had deep and dramatic consequences: on October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh . The temple and the surrounding complex, was later repaired to correct the damage made by the militants and the military. Common people helped in that by acting as Kar Sevas . IN FILM AND TELEVISION
NOTABLE VISITS
DIWALI CELEBRATIONS AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE being celebrated at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.]] Diwali usually occurs in October/November, and is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited festivals of India. Hindus , Jains and Sikhs alike regard it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social relationships. Sikhs celebrate Diwali to commemorate the laying of the foundation stone for the Golden Temple in 1588. It is also known as Bandi Chhorh Divas ('The Day of the release of the captives'). The Mughal emperor Jahangir , had the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Gobind arrested and imprisoned in the city of Gwalior (in present day Madhya Pradesh , Central India ). Later Jahangir relented and released the Guru. The Guru insisted that he would walk out of the prison only if 52 rulers from different parts of India, who had been imprisoned in Gwalior by Jahangir along with him, were also released. To this, Jahangir agreed. Guru ji had a gown made with 52 pieces of string for the rulers to hold as he walked out of prison. To the joy of the Sikhs, the Guru returned to Amritsar on Diwali and it prompted his disciples to celebrate the day with joy and happiness. On the day of Diwali, early in the morning, Sikh pilgrims take a dip in the sacred tank surrounding the Golden Temple while reciting the Japji Sahib ,the great morning prayer of the Sikhs, and then pray at the Temple. Circumambulation of the tank(''Parikrama'') is done. In the evening, the Harmandir Sahib is illuminated with Deewé or ''Diyas'' (earthen oil lamps) or candles. There is also ''Aatishbazi''(fireworks display). EXTERNAL LINKS
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