The Beauty of The Golden Temple in Amritsar Essay Example
The Harmandar Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, is a magnificent and unique piece of architecture located in northern India near the border with Pakistan. This beautiful structure can be found in the city of Amritsar, Punjab province, India. Amritsar, formerly known as Ramdaspur, is considered a holy city (Bhatti, 2013 p.).
15). Understanding the history of Sikhism in the Indian state of Punjab is crucial to comprehend the foundation of this city and its stunning golden temple, which appears to float on water. This exquisite structure was constructed using white marble, amrit adorned with gold leaf, and golden plates. It serves as a convergence point for religion, culture, and architecture.
The geographic and urban composition of The Golden Temple is significant in establishing its unique identity within a national and global context. The temple and its surroundings offer various landscapes, including urban hills
...and ravines, which have undergone continuous changes over time. Moreover, the landscape has been transformed into a religious, ecological, and habitable space. On a larger scale, the natural landscape becomes an activated landscape. The architectural style is influenced by specific values and social requirements, going beyond mere aesthetics. Various practical considerations come into play, such as the choice and implementation of materials, structural design, and the intended use of the building.
Meyer argues that sustainability holds significant advertising value, serving to appease our ecological consciences as consumers. To achieve sustainability in architecture and landscape, simply painting them green is enough. In India, the ideal material for primitive architecture is stone, intricately carved with traditional Indian imagery. This, combined with the absence of structured spaces, categorizes these works as sculptural rathe
than architectural. The visual impact is connected to the landscape's varying views and their effects on individuals.
Sustainable architecture is concerned with the long-term impact of buildings like the Golden Temple and its surrounding landscape. This includes considering factors such as construction, use, and cultural effects. The ecological corridors and community activities around the Golden Temple promote it as a public space. This has been the case ever since it was built, alongside the city of Amritsar's green spaces and waterways. Sustainability is important in building design and construction to protect the environment, citizens' health, and economic viability. Meyer argues that a designed landscape like the Golden Temple should go beyond being visually appealing and decorative. Instead, it should encourage recognition and concern for the environment.
The temple was built on a landscape surrounded by a lake in the middle of a forest, which remains green all year round, creating a natural and fresh atmosphere. The surrounding landscapes underwent conversion in the 15th century to become a small town. Amritsar, located approximately 300 kilometers from New Delhi, offers a resort with museums, historical plaques, and entrances. In addition, the city boasts a variety of upscale hotels. It has gained recognition as one of the most renowned spiritual destinations globally.
The definition of landscape is very broad, but many people associate it with a specific interpretation. When we think of landscape, we usually imagine beautiful places like beaches, forests, gardens, and mountains during a sunset. These images highlight the connection between beauty and nature in the concept of landscape. However, this narrow understanding of landscape only focuses on its visual and aesthetic aspects, disregarding other important factors (Meyer 2008
p.8). It is often overlooked that we all live within landscapes and are shaped by them in our daily lives. Meyer aims to address this misconception and shed light on the diverse dimensions of landscapes that are often ignored.
The author highlights that a landscape goes beyond its visual appeal or being a panoramic view of nature. It also encompasses social, cultural, and personal aspects that can give different meanings to the same space. The beauty of a landscape is particularly significant in urban areas where the development of residential and recreational spaces heavily impacts the environment (Deming ; Swaffield, 2011 p.29).
Elizabeth Meyer argues that beauty plays a crucial role in landscape development, especially considering its impact on the environment, quality of life, and social relationships. Consequently, natural elements are once again gaining importance in urban areas (Meyer 2008 p.6). Meyer's research examines how architectural beauty contributes economically, socially, and environmentally, emphasizing the significance of parks and gardens for cities.
The Golden Temple is not just a beautiful attraction that brings people from all walks of life together in prayer, but it also represents unity and tourism. In addition to its religious significance, the temple promotes unity through its Langar, or kitchen. The Langar signifies equality and unity among all religions. As a tradition, all gurdwaras have a Langar where people from different races, genders, and religions are warmly welcomed and served a free meal. Inside the Golden Temple, the sacred book of the Sikhs is kept at the center of their worship. This book advocates for unity among people by encouraging respect, peace, love, and resource sharing.
Through the langar, the respect for both the facilities and
the people is a fundamental norm. The food provided is both free and vegetarian, and it is distributed in shifts to accommodate up to three thousand individuals. The tradition of Langar was initiated by Guru Nanak with the core principle of treating all individuals equally, regardless of their religion, social status, beliefs, age, gender, or race. Moreover, Langar reflects the values of solidarity, sharing, community, and the unity of all people. Its significance represents the profound historical heritage of Amritsar city and India as a whole.
It reflects the life of Guru Nanak and his beliefs and principles which are practiced today both in the temple and across India and the center of pilgrimage for millions of people throughout the year.
References
- Meyer, E.K., 2008. Sustaining beauty. The performance of appearance: A manifesto in three parts. Journal of Landscape Architecture, 3(1), pp.6-23.
- Bhatti, S.S., 2013. Golden Temple: Marvel of Sikh Architecture. Dorrance Publishing.
- Deming, M.E. and Swaffield, S., 2011. Landscape architectural research: Inquiry, strategy, design. John Wiley & Sons.
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