Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple)

In news: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar visited Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar.

The Golden Temple:

• Sri Harmandir Sahib is also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple.
• The Golden Temple was founded in 1574 by the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das and was completed in 1604.
• Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib.
• The temple is built on the lower level and unlike Hindu Temples having only one gate for the entrance and exit, it is open from all four sides.
• It opens on to the causeway or bridge that leads to the main building. The bridge is connected with the 13 feet wide ‘Pardakshna’ (circumambulatory path).
• The ceiling of the temple is made with gold and precious stones.
• On the top of this room stands the low fluted ‘Gumbaz’ (dome) having lotus petal motif in relief at the base inverted lotus at the top which supports the “Kalash” having a beautiful “Chhatri” at the end.
• The Temple organises the largest ‘langar sewa’ (or community kitchen) in the world.

Operation Bluestar:

• Operation Blue Star was the codename of a military operation which was carried out by Indian security forces in 1984 in order to remove Damdami Taksal leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers from the buildings of the Golden Temple, Amritsar.
• The decision to launch the operation rested with the Prime Minister of India, then Indira Gandhi.
• Operation Blue Star was planned on the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev, the founder of the Harmandir Sahib.

Source: Indian Express

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Building ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of (2019)

1. Chalukya
2.  Chandela
3. Rashtrakuta
4. Vijayanagara