HISTORY
OF HARMANDIR SAHIB
The Sri Harmandir Sahib was invaded and destroyed many a times by the
Afghan and other invaders. Each and every time the Sikhs had to
sacrifice their lives in order to liberate it and restore its
sanctity. After the martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh ji in 1737, Massa
Ranghar, the Kotwal of Amritsar took charge of Sri Harmandir Sahib in
1740 and converted it into a civil court and began to hold notch
parties. This act created great resentment among the Sikhs. Two
warriors, Sukha Singh and Mahtab Singh avenged the insult by a dare
devil act. They entered the temple complex in guise of peasants,
severed the head of Massa Ranghar with a single blow of kirpan and
fled away with decapitated head on one of the their spears. After this
incident the security around the Sri Harmandir Sahib was further
tightened and the temple was locked.
Now, it was the turn of Lakhpat Rai, a Hindu Diwan of Lahore Darbar
as he vowed to finish the entire Sikh Nation. In order to avenge the
death of his brother Jaspat Rai, he befouled the Sarovar and
desecrated Sri Harmandir Sahib in 1746. He even banned the name
'Guru'. The Mughal forces marched against the Sikhs under the command
of Diwan Lakhpat Rai and Yahiya Khan. A fierce battle was fought( the
first Ghalughara in june 1746) in which nearly seven thousand Sikhs
were martyred. Three thousand of them were put to death publicly at
Lahore, (the site is now called Shaheedganj).
After this hollowcast, the Sikhs under the efficient leadership of
Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia retaliated back and recaptured both the
city and Sri Harmandir Sahib killing Salabat Khan in March, 1748. They
celebrated Vaiskhi with great enthusiasm by clearing the holy Sarovar
and restoring the daily Maryada at Sri Harmandir Sahib. They also held
'Sarbat Khalsa'. The Dewali festival of 1748 was also celebrated
enthusiastically.
In 1757, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India for the second time and
attacked Amritsar. He demolished Sri Harmandir Sahib and filled the
Sarovar (tank) with garbage. On hearing of the desecration, Baba deep
Singh ji Saheed, the head of 'Misl Shaheedan', started at once to
avenge the insult. A bloody encounter took place at the village
Gohalwar near Amritsar. Baba Deep Singh was mortally wounded. He
gripped and supported his severed head with his left hand and
with the right, he went on mowing down the enemies. Thus fighting,
this unique warrior reached the holy precincts and laid down his life
for the cause of maintaining sanctity of Sri Harmandir Sahib.
On 10th April, 1762, Ahmed Shah Abdali again invaded Amritsar and Sri
Harmandir Sahib, after the horrible carnage of the Sikhs at Kup
Harira. On this occasion thousands of armed and unarmed Sikhs had
gathered at the temple for a holy bath. Countless Sikhs laid down
their lives in defense of their beloved shrine. Sri Harmandir Sahib
was again blown up with gun powder and the holy tank was also
desecrated. It is said that while the building of the shrine was being
blown up, a flying brick bat struck the Shah on the nose. This wound
proved fatal for him.
In December, 1764, Sri Harmandir Sahib was again attacked by Ahmed
Shah Abdali with the sole object of destroying the entire Sikh Nation.
But before his arrival the Sikhs abandoned the city and to his
surprise he found only thirty Sikhs in the vicinity of Sri Harmandir
Sahib, who under the command of Baba Gurbax Singh ji gave him stiff
resistance and all were martyred. Abdali, again pulled down the newly
constructed structure of the Shrine and leveled the holy tank.
Before the final departure from India in 1767, Ahmed Shah Abdali
again attacked Amrtisar but he dared not enter Sri Harmandir Sahib,
and it remained under the control of the Sikhs ever afterwards. (In
June, 1984 it was attacked by the Indian Army, under operation Blue
Star in which several hundred innocent Sikh pilgrims were killed).
After the Martydom of Bhai Mani Singh ji Sri Harmandir Sahib was
collectively managed by the Sikh misls and many Bungas( Mansions) were
constructed. Whenever the Sikh leaders visit Amritsar, they did not
interfere in the affairs of the temple. All the general gatherings
were held on Akal Takhat Sahib only in the presence of Guru Granth
Sahib. During the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh the administration of
Sri Harmandir Sahib went under the control of the State. Maharaja took
keen interest in the development and beautification of Sri Harmandir
Sahib.
During the British period, Sri Harmandir Sahib passed under the
control of one man the 'Sarbrah' (Manager), a nominee of Deputy
Commissioner of Amritsar. The Deputy commissioner of Amritsar also
made a committee of so-called sikh Sardars and Raises. The Pujaries,
Mahants, Ragis and other functionaries began to receive their
customary share of offerings at the Temple. On the other hand immoral
acts were practiced by them within the precincts of the temple with
the connivance of Sarbrah. Great resentment prevailed among the Sikhs
and outcome of this was Sikh Gurdwara Reform Movement. Now again the
Sikhs had to sacrifice their lives for the cause of Sri Harmandir
Sahib and other Shrines. The Shiromani Akali Dal became the spear head
of the struggle for the reform of the places of worship.
The curtain was finally rung down upon the Gurdwara Reform Movement,
when the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, vested the control and management of
Sri Harmandir Sahib in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, a
representative body of the Sikhs elected by adult franchise.
