SRI HARI MANDIR SAHIB
(PICTURE 2: Early morning at the Golden Temple. The sky just starting to become light.)
Whatever the version about the acquisition of the land, it appears that, originally, the site on which the temple stands was under the ownership of the zamindars of Tung village and later it was acquired by the Sikhs Gurus either on payment or free of cost.
It is certain, however, that the land of the Hari Mandir was revenue-free land. The papers of the land settlement of Amritsar of the British period dated A.D. 1865 record the land of Darbar Sahib Guru Ram Das as revenue-free grant.
The program of the new project was chalked out by Guru Amar Das and told to Ram Das. The latter was instructed to acquire funds for expenditure from Baba Buddha Ji. Some experienced, devout, elderly Sikhs were instructed to join Ram Das in carrying out the new project.
The plan was executed by Ram Das under the counsel of Baba Buddha Ji. The inauguration was in traditional Indian style, with distribution of sweets after prayers. The Guru made his abode by the site. Laborers were engaged. Many Sikh devotees came to work for the project. Before the regular excavation work of the tank began, a sort of village settlement had grown. First of all, a boundary line of the settlement was laid on 5 Har Vadi 18, Samvat 1627 BK, A.D. 1570' and it was named Chak, Chak Guru, Guru Ka Chak, Chak Guru Ram Das, Ram Das Pura. These were the previous names of Amritsar. Kilns were laid and a number of hutments were built. Members of over 50 caste-groups from Patti, Kasur and Kalanur were called to settle here, to assure a regular supply of essential commodities. A market called Guru-ka-bazar was established. Wells were dug and a good many rich sarafs (bankers) and banjaras (traders) came to the growing town.
(PICTURE 1: The Mulmantra in Gold above the main doorway to the Golden Temple.)
The construction work of the tank and the town proceeded smoothly. But, while the work was in progress, Ram Das had to rush back to Goindwal at the call of the dying Guru Amar Das. The work was resumed on his return, after his pontification in A.D. 1577, and the construction of both the tank and the town was completed the same year.
Then the Guru called the khatris (business community) and told them to take charge of the holy place. But they pleaded their inability to perform religious duties and requested the Guru to engage some brahmins and fakirs (mendicants) to perform the ceremonies. But the khatris sought the blessings of the Guru for kirt and barkat to pursue their professions.
The Guru and his disciples were overjoyed on the completion of the new pilgrimage center. Guru Ram Das composed beautiful verses in the glory of the sarowar, making an injunction upon his followers to take bath in this holy tank and meditate here on Hari Nam (the name of God).
Soon after its foundation, Amritsar became the center of Guru Ram Das's missionary activities and the headquarters of the Sikh faith.
All Photographs Copyright © 1999 Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa - http://www.sikhphotos.com - (Unless specified explicitly)
All Text Copyright © 1977 Marg Publications, Army & Navy Building, Fort, Bombay. Published by J.J. Bhabha for Marg Publications - Vol XXX , Number 3, June 1977