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Summary of Question:	Harmandir Sahib Amrit And Using The Title 'Golden Temple'
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Friday, 10/12/2001 10:17 AM MDT

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

I would just like to say something which is my personal opinion I think using the title 'Golden Temple' is wrong. This is because it basically means gold house which is degrading and unjustified. However, I can understand why people use the term especially in western society.

Secondly, I was reading one of your articles about Harmandir Sahib's pool of amrit. I read that is removed and replaced every 50 years. Therefore I would like to know when it is going to be replaced next?

Thank you.

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal. You are right that the word "temple" doesn't do justice to all that Sri Darbar Sahib IS, but for non-Sikhs who don't understand it anyway, calling it the "Golden Temple" is accurate from a technical point of view. (1) it IS gold and (2) temple is the non-Sikh word in English used to describe Sikh places of worship. Let's not be fanatic about this as a Panth! We have much more important matters to spend time on!

That 50 years is a new one for me; I have often wondered how often the nectar tank is cleaned of silt, which is why it is drained in the first place. BTW, it is filled by a natural water source, not by hoses pumping water from some city water source. Sluice gates are opened on one end of the complex to drain it (and closed on the other end). I believe it was last cleaned in Spring of 1984 or sometime in 1984 before the assault, so the next time would be 2034, if the 50 year timing is accurate. There is a 'coffee table' book I have seen called "Harimandir Sahib" or "The Golden Temple" (in English) and all this is explained in it.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK