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| [[Image:gtbss001.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Golden Temple]] | | #redirect [[Golden Temple]] |
| ''Harmandar Sahib'' or ''Harimander Sahib'' is the name of the most famous [[Sikh]] temple or [[Gurdwara]]. It is also called the Golden Temple in English because of the gold plating that covers most of its surface. This Gurdwara is found in the holy city of [[Amritsar]] in [[Punjab]] in North West [[India]] and is the sacred and the most visited of the many historic Sikhs shrines found in [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. This beautiful building was built by the [[Guru Arjan]] Dev, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs.
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| The foundation stone of the historic building was laid by a non-Sikh. The Guru gave the task of initiating the building to a Muslim Saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore in December 1588. This is like asking a Jew to lay the foundation stone of the Vatican in Rome! Thus the Guru showed the world the true message of religion, which is to promote [[Interfaith]] dialogue and interaction.
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| The main temple building is surrounded by a pool or [[Sarover]]. The building complex has 4 doors facing East, West, North and South. These 4 doors signify the warm welcome to this shrine of all different classes and types of people from all walks of life. People of all religions are welcomed to this temple.
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| During the 1400, this site was a small lake, surrounded by a thin forest. Travellers and holy people used the site for meditation and rest. These visitors recognised it for its special sense of tranquillity and its pure and sweet water.
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| The lake was enlarged and a small community was established during the leadership of the fourth Sikh Guru (Guru Ram Das, 1574-1581). It was during the leadership of the fifth Guru (Guru Arjan, 1581-1606), that the Golden Temple was built. It was completed in 1601.
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| ==External Links==
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| * [http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/Amrita.html MSN Encarta]
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| [[category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]
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