Divine glory
By Varinder Walia

"DITHE Sabhe Than Nahin Tudh Jeha" (Of all places that I have seen, none compare with you), wrote Guru Arjan Dev, the Fifth Sikh Guru, on the completion of Harmandar Sahib — the abode of God.

These words of the Guru reverberate in the ears when one bows one’s head at Harmandar Sahib (Amritsar). Founded in 1588 A.D., Harmandar Sahib acquired the name of Golden Temple when its upper portion was covered with gold-plated copper sheets during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (in the 1830s) at an approximate cost of Rs 65 lakh.

Since Harmandar Sahib was planned to be an abode of God — a place open for everyone without any discrimination — its foundation stone was laid by a Muslim saint, Sain Mian Mir. The plan was to have a temple blooming amidst the Amrit Sarovar (pool of nectar) from which the present city of Amritsar drew its name.

Sri Harmandar Sahib is held in great reverence because this is one of the few places visited by six of the 10 Gurus. The Ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadar, was born a few yards away from the Golden Temple complex.

Since the gold put up by Maharaja Ranjit Singh about 170 years ago had started losing its sheen, experts felt the need of regilding the shrine. The task of regilding (with approximately 500 kg of gold) the domes and upper portion was entrusted by the SGPC to the UK-based Guru Nanak Sewa Jatha — an apolitical organisation headed by Baba Mohinder Singh in June, 1994.

However, the work was started on February 3, 1995. by Panj Pyaras (five beloved ones), including Bhai Narang Singh, Prof Manjit Singh (the then acting Jathedar Akal Takht), Giani Kewal Singh, Head Granthi, Golden Temple, and Sant Baba Labha Singh, Mukh Prabandhak, Kar Sewa, Anandpur Sahib.The Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) is one of the major Sikh organisations of the world with an international membership of over 1 million devotees. The organisation was founded by Sant Baba Puran Singh, with the help of Bhai Narang Singh, who left for their heavenly abode in 1983 and 1995, respectively. The leadership of the jatha is now entrusted to Bhai Mohinder Singh.

The first phase of the task of renovation of the Golden Temple has been completed ahead of the schedule. The jatha was asked to complete the target before April 13, 1999, to coincide with the tercentenary of the foundation of the Khalsa Panth. The jatha has also been given the task of re-development of Anandpur Sahib.

The holy project entailed four years of multi-disciplinary work like gold-gilding, gold-plating, marble work, fresco painting by artisans and craftsmen from different parts of India. The aim of this project was to restore the splendour of the Sikh shrine.

According to Bhai Mehnga Singh, supervisor of the jatha, care had been taken to retain the intricate embellishments which had left devotees awestruck since the past two centuries.

The traditional skills required were varied and complex in nature. The "of gypsum and water, is applied to the surface onto gach", a paste which intricate floral and stylistic designs are etched. Later, these are painted and inlaid with gold leaf. "Tukri" work requires painstaking cutting and inlaying of thousands of mirrors and semi-precious jewels into the "gach".

Bhai Mehnga Singh said the level of deterioration was immense and the original gilded domes and copper plates had to be replaced. "However, all-out efforts were made to retain the 170-year-old original designs. We could have done this by using machines as suggested by a foreign designer and architect. However, we preferred the age-old traditional methods of gilding", he said.

During gilding, the gold bars pressed into strips of ribbon are cut into less than one square inch sections, placed in a leather-bound book and pounded by hand into the gold leaf. For greater durability, the original gilding of approximately 12 layers of gold leaf has been increased to 24 layers of 24-carat gold leaf. Finally, polishing with hakik (a natural stone) brought the glittering gold in all its glory.

Earlier, the gilding work was done by Mohammad Yar Khan Mistri under the direct supervision of Bhai Sant Singh Giani during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. After the death of Bhai Sant Singh, his son, Bhai Gurmukh Singh Giani, supervised the work. The entire work which continued for about 25 years was completed in 1830 AD.

Devotees from all over the world donated gold ornaments and cash for completing the first phase of the regilding. After regilding, the temple stands dazzling in all its glory.