Harimandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, is the most important Sikh shrine and has emerged as the spiritual capital of the Sikh faith. Because of its unique role in Sikh history and psyche, it has become the symbol of the Sikh community’s undying faith and religious fervour. The temple was designed by Guru Arjan Dev who chose to provide four doors, one in each direction, signifying its accessibility to people from all the four directions, irrespective of their caste or creed. The guru invited a well known Sufi Saint, Mian Mir of Lahore, to lay the foundation of the Golden Temple. The construction of the sacred tank and the temple was done through voluntary labour and cash contributions of devotees from far and near. When Ranjit Singh became the Maharaja of Panjab, he commissioned well known artisans and craftsmen who decorated the temple with stone inlay work as well as beautiful floral patterns and covered the temple with gold-plated copper sheets. From then on it came to be known as the Golden Temple. This perhaps is the only temple in the world which was designed by the founder in such a way where the sanctum sanctorum floats like a lotus in the sacred tank. Through pictures and stories the book tries to capture the glory and grandeur of the Golden Temple and the central role that the shrine plays in the life of the Sikhs all over the world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mohinder Singh
Mohinder Singh is a renowned climber and mountaineer award winner. Civil Engineer by professional and retired as Commandant (G.D.) after having served in ITBP for 35 years. Born on 12-03-1944 at village "Raj Pur Bhayan" in the foothill of shivalik ranges. Dist. Hoshiarpur (Punjab State) India. He has done extensive trekking in Indian Himalayas for continous 25 years and also climbed in Alps (Europe). He has the distinction of being successful leadership of the First every climb of "Mount Everest", 29028 ft. from the route of North-Col Tibet (Chine) side in the year 1996 (pre honoured with the covered title "Khan Grid" by government of Mongolia in 1995 under the Culture Exchange Programme between India & Mongolia. He has rendered commendable services many years in the mountain area of Leh-Ladakh (J & K), Uttar Pradesh (Garhwal & Kumaon), Himachal Pradesh extending from Karakoram to Kumaon Himalaya. Few of the mountain achievements and adventures are mentioned below: Special rock climbing course, 1966, Basic mountaineering course at H.M.I. Darjeeling, 1967, Leader of Gangotri / Badrinath trek-king expedition via Kalandikhal 19995 ft. high peak (Garhwal Himalaya) in 1968. Climb of ferry peak (Sikkim), Advance mountaineering guide and rescue course at Australia (Europe) and climbed 03 peaks on "Alps" (Europe) 1971, Dy. Leader of Neelkantha 1974. Set a world record by his first ascent tovirgin peak. “Saser-Kangri-I in 1973 on 7th June. Climb of Trishul peak (7120 mtrs.) in 1970, unnamed peak (6065 mtrs.) in Kakbhusand range (Garhwal) and Pancha-Chulli-I (6037 mtr.) both in 1972. He has been pioneer to establish mountaineering & Ski-ing Institute at ITBP Auli (Joshimath) and worked as Training Officer and later on as Principal / Commandant of this Institute. He has been with foreign joint expeditions such as: Tunni peak in 1975, Gangotri peak, 1976, Nanda Devi (Main) two times in 1978 and 1979, Bhagirathi-I 1980, Nandakot 1981, East-Nanda Devi-1982. Participated Seminars and International Mountaineering Camps, Administrative officer duty in IMF 1991, leader successful expedition to Mt. Bamba Dhura (6355 mtrs) 1991, leader of successful team to Mt. Un-named peaks 6172 mtrs. & 6075 mtrs. In (H.P.) State 1992, Liaison officer and member of Indo-Ukraine (Russia) expedition to Mt. "Kangchen Junga" April-June 1993, overall leader of joint successful expedition Indo-Mangolia to Mt. "Joanli" (21760 ft.) in November 1994, Summiteer of peak, "Mana, 23860 ft. in August 1995, Summiteer of three unnamed peaks, 6725 mtrs. 6489 mtrs. & 6449 mtrs. In Leh-Ladakh in November 1995. Mohinder Singh has been awarded more than fifteen Commendations / citation, appreciations different occasion of challenging / special assignments. He has carried out meticulously mountain rescue works many times. He has been decorated with Indian Police Medal (IPM) for meritorious services in 1997 and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Award by Punjab State Government in 1998.
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