Amritsar Golden Temple. Golden temple is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in India. Considered as the ultimate place of the Sikh faith, the Golden Temple of Amritsar attracts a large number of devotees every year. Sikh devotees, for whom the Golden Temple is a symbol of freedom and spiritual independence, visit the Temple from all over the world to offer prayers. The Golden temple is also known as Harmandir Sahib, which means "the Temple of God".
Akal Takht:- The Akal Takht was begun by the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Gobind as a symbol for political sovereignty of Sikhs. It stood as a symbol of political and military resistance against the tyranny and cruelty of the rulers in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 18th century, Ahmed Shah Abdali led a series of attacks on the Akal Takht and Harmandir Sahib. On June 4, 1984, the Akal Takht building was heavily damaged during Operation Bluestar launched by the Indian Army on orders of controversial Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to evict a group of heavily armed Sikh Revolutionaries that had fortified the buildings as they had got an inside information that Indian Army is attacking Harimandir Sahib on orders of the Prime Minister.
Akal Takht and Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab, India.Khande-Bate-Dee-Pahul or the initiation with the sword, initiated by Guru Gobind Singh, continues to be routinely performed at the Akal Takht. Hari Singh Nalwa, a General under Maharaja Ranjit Singh the leader of the Sikh Kingdom, wished to make the Akal Takht resplendent with gold and had donated a part of his wealth for this purpose.
GURUDAWARA RAMSAR:- Gurudwara Ramsar stands on the bank of the Ramsar Sarovar, near Chativind Gate, on the southeastern side of the walled city. After the completion of the Harimandar, Guru Arjan undertook the compilation of Adi Granth, the Holy Book, now revered as Guru Granth Sahib. For this task, he chose a secluded site. The spot selected was then a shady nook, one km away from the bustle of the town. To make the surroundings more agreeable, he had a tank dug which was named Ramsar after Guru Ram Das. Here, Guru Arjan composed his famous Sukhmani, the Psalm of Peace, and with Bhai Gurdas as his scribe compiled the Adi Granth during 1603-04. The present Gurdwara Ramsar, a small marble-lined hall topped by a gilded, fluted lotus dome built-in 1855, marks the site of the Guru's labors.
Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Shaheed:- The great Sikh scholar and martyr Baba Deep Singh was mortally wounded here when in 1762 the Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Abdali ordered the Harimandar Sahib blown up and the Sacred Tank filled in. Baba Deep Singh, the greatest Sikh scholar of his time, took up the sword on a mission to restore the sanctity of the Sikh's most revered Temple. He along with five thousand faithful Sikhs fought against the Muslim forces of Jahan Khan. Although heavily outnumbered the Sikhs fought bravely. Baba Deep Singh was fatally wounded in the neck but had vowed to die in the precincts of the Golden Temple. Although mortally wounded Baba Deep Singh was able to continue fighting until he was able to make his way to the Amritsar (sacred pool) where he finally expired. Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh is located outside Chatiwind Gate in Amritsar. It commemorates the unrivaled martyrdom of Baba Deep Singh Ji who fought valiantly and dauntlessly along with thousands of Sikhs, whom he had famously dared to cross his line drawn in the sand, in 1757 to liberate Harimandir Sahib from the defiled clutches of Afghani invaders. Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia constructed a memorial to the famed martyr. In the 19th century, Akali Phula Singh replaced the memorial platform into a magnificent Gurdwara. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee enlarged and developed this important Gurdwara into the present complex in the early 1920s.
DAY 02:-
Gurudwara Chheharta Sahib:-, 7 km west of Amritsar is named after a well that Guru Arjan (1563-1606) had sunk. The well was so wide, and the water supply so abundant, that six Persian wheels installed around the interior of its circumference could operate simultaneously. Hence its name Chheharta lit. Having six (chhe) Persian wheels (hart or harta).
The well has now been covered, but its water is still pumped to feed the main tank of the Gurdwara. Now developed as an industrial township, Chheharta falls within the revenue limits of Vadali Guru, a village one km to the south, where Guru Arjan stayed during 1594-97.
Gurdwara San Sahib:- Is situated in the village of Basarke in Amritsar District, Punjab, India. Guru Amar Das ji was named next Guru by Guru Angad Dev Ji, but Datu Ji the son of Guru Angad Dev was, like Guru Nanak's son, sure that as the Guru's son he should be appointed the Guru. He forced Guru Amar Das Ji to leave Goindwal Sahib. Guru Amar Das is a humble person, returned to his family village of Basarke.
Here the Guru shut himself up in a small hut with a note on the door. The note said, "He who opens this door is no Sikh of mine, nor am I am his Guru." When a delegation of Sikhs leads by Baba Buddha ji found the hut they were perplexed as to what to do. Finally, Baba Buddha decided to make a hole in the wall so as not to go against the Guru's instruction.
Once inside they pleaded with the Guru to return to Goindwal Sahib as only he was their true beloved Guru and the Sikhs could not live without him. Guru Amar Das finally relented and returned with the Sikhs. The hole in the wall is still preserved today inside the Gurdwara Sahib. Gurdwara Sahib is situated on the Amritsar-Chaubal Road.
Gurdwara Baba Budda Sahib: - is situated on Chaabal Amritsar road. BABA BHUDA JI spends many parts of his life here. GURU ARJAN DEV JI also visited this place. Mata Ganga Ji desired her to wish for the son which GURU ARJAN DEV JI suggested she pay homage to BABA BHUDA JI and ask for putar di daat, Mata Ji got delicious food prepared and visited Baba Ji here. But Baba Ji refused to accept the food. Later Mata Ji herself prepared Missi roti and an onion (pyaag) and visited Baba Ji. BABA BHUDA JI blessed Mata Ji with son and told her that her son would be a great warrior and he will crush Muslim's head as he crushed the onion. And Later Mata ji and SHRI GURU ARJAN DEV JI were blessed with putar SHRI GURU HARGOBIND SAHIB JI.
Gurudwara Bir Baba Buddha in the revenue limits of the village of Thatta, 20 km south of Amritsar, commemorates Baba Buddha (1506 - 1631), the venerable Sikh of the time of Guru Nanak who lived long enough to anoint five succeeding Gurus. He spent many years looking after the bir, lit. A reserved forest used for cattle grazing, said to have been offered to Guru Arjan by Chaudhari Langah of Patti out of his private lands. According to Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi, it was here that Mata Ganga, the consort of Guru Arjan, received from him on 21 Assu 1651 Bk/20 September 1594, the blessing for an illustrious son, the future Guru Har Gobind.
Gurudwara Taran Tarn Sahib: - is a Gurdwara established by the fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev. It is situated in the city of Tarn Taran Sahib. It has the distinction of having the largest Sarovar (Water pond) of all the gurudwaras. Also, it is famous for the month gathering of pilgrims on the day of Amavas (No moon night). It is near Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar.
GURUDWARA GOINDWAL: - the first-ever place of Sikh pilgrimage so designated by its founder, Guru Amar Das. This, in fact, was the spot where the ancient east-west highway crossed the River Beas. With the renovation of the highway by Sher Shah Suri, the Afghan ruler of north India (1540-45), this ferry site became an important transit point. This led one Goinda or Gonda, a Marvaha Khatri trader, to plan to establish a habitation at the western end of the ferry. Thwarted in his endeavor by natural calamities which Goinda attributed to evil spirits, he repaired to Khadue to seek Guru Angad's blessing. The Guru deputed his devoted disciple, (Guru) Amar Das, to help Goinda. Amar Das, who knew that track very well as he had been carrying river water from this place to Khadue daily for his Master's ablutions, laid the foundation of a village that was named after Goinda. After his appointment as Guru in 1552, Guru Amar Das shifted from Khadur to Goindval. In 1559, Guru Amar Das commenced the digging in Goindval of a baoli, i.e. a well with steps descending to water level which, when completed, attracted pilgrims from far and near. Goindval also became, in the time of Guru Amar Das, the center of an annual fair on the occasion of Baisakhi. Even after Guru Amar Das's successor. Guru Ram Das had built up Amritsar and made it his permanent seat, devotees continued to visit Goindval to have a dip in the sacred baoli and pay homage at other local shrines.
GURUDWARA KHADUR SHAHIB: - Khadur Sahib is situated close to Goindwal and is only 19 kilometers from Taran Taran. The place is historically important as eight Gurus of Sikhs (link with ten gurus) visited it. It was the family home of Guru Angad Dev Ji. On the advice of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Angad Dev Ji spent his life at Khadur and made it a religious center. It is a place where second Master Guru Angad Dev Ji spread the message of God. Guru Angad Dev Ji introduced Gurmukhi lipi (script) as a medium of language at Khadur village. Gurudwara Khadur Sahib is constructed at a raised platform. Climb up the stairs to enter the abode of God. Gurudwara is built in white marble. Just after climbing stairs, you reach a verandah in black and white check theme.
GURUDWARA BABA BAKALA:- Before death at Delhi on March 30, 1664, Guru Harkrishan uttered these words 'Baba Bakala', thereby meaning that his successor was to be found at Bakala village in Amritsar. In Bakala many men then claimed to be the Guru's successor. This was the first time a Guru had not selected his successor in person. This created some anxiety in the Sikhs.
