Golden Temple is an architectural religious building that got its name from the use of gold in its decoration. There are three such famous temples in the world, one is located in India in the city of Amritsar, the other is on the island of Sri Lanka, the third is in Kyoto, Japan.
Therefore, the answer to the question in which country the Golden Temple is located will not be unambiguous, moreover, this name is used not only for architectural structures located in different countries, but also as the title of a book published in 1956. Japanese writer Yukio Mishima.
Harmandir Temple in India
The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) in the Indian state of Punjab in the city of Amritsar, located on the border of India and Pakistan, is an ancient architectural monument of the 16th century. It is also famous for the historical events that took place here in the 20th century. during the Sikh uprising.
Amritsar, a city with a million people, which means small by Indian standards, is the center of the cultural and religious history of the Sikhs, and the temple located here is considered a spiritual shrine for 20 million of this people settled throughoutthe world.
Its construction began in 1589 at the direction of the ruler guru Arjan Deva Jia. The construction of the building was supervised by the Sikh emperor Ranjit Singh himself, and the financing was provided from the funds of the city of Punjab. According to the builders' calculations, it took 100 kg of precious metal to cover the copper plates with gold.
The sacred temple stands on an island surrounded by the waters of the "Lake of Immortality" (Amrita Sarae), in which, according to the Sikhs, the water has healing properties. There are red fish and carps in the lake. Many visitors try to swim in the lake to heal from diseases.
The photo of the Golden Temple shows that the building itself can be approached via the bridge, passing through the guarded gate. Inside it is kept the sacred book Guru Granth Sahib, which is a collection of religious hymns. They were composed by 10 gurus of three faiths: Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus, and are performed throughout the day to the accompaniment of musical instruments.
Architecture of Harmandir is a mixture of Hindu and Islamic trends, it also contains original features of its own, its golden dome in the shape of a lotus symbolizes the desire of the Sikhs to live without vices and transgressions. A snow-white marble temple is located along the perimeter of the lake, the lower part of the walls of which is a mosaic with images of plants and animals.
It is believed that the temple is open to people of all faiths and skin colors, so symbolically it has 4 entrances to the cardinal points. The firstthe guru, who here considered himself a wise mediator, sincerely preached the equality and brotherhood of all peoples.
Legend of the "Lake of Immortality"
An ancient tale about the Golden Temple and the lake next to it tells of a proud princess whose father chose a groom. However, she did not agree with him and did not want to get married, so her father decided to marry her to the first man they met on the road. The bridegroom turned out to be a vagabond covered with ulcers, whom the girl led to this lake and left.
The groom returned to the bride already a handsome man, but the princess did not believe him and claimed that he became the murderer of her husband. But then an accident prompted the girl to answer: 2 black swans sat on the water of the lake, when they took off they turned out to be white, and then the princess believed that her fiancé was miraculously healed from the sacred water.
The sacred temple and the bloody 20th century
Historical events of the 20th century. were quite gloomy and bloody, accompanied by the killing of people. In 1919, a bloody massacre took place on Jallianwalabagh Square in the central part of Amritsar, which became one of the shameful pages of British colonization in this country. On April 13, 1919, many pilgrims came to the city to celebrate the Sikh Vaisakhi, and the British General R. Dwyer ordered the troops to shoot everyone, according to some reports, about 1 thousand Indian Sikhs died. After these events, Gandhi and his like-minded people led the Non-Cooperation Movement, which began the struggle for the independence of India, which began with a nationwidestrike.
The next military events with a bloody outcome took place here in 1984, when the Sikh leader J. Bhindranwale and his associates occupied the Golden Temple in Amritsar and announced this as the beginning of the struggle for the independent Sikh state of Khalistan. The Prime Minister of India, I. Gandhi, ordered the destruction of the separatists, which was carried out by the Indian army using tank troops. The consequence of this was a surge of Sikh terrorism, and then I. Gandhi was killed by her bodyguards, who were also Sikhs by nationality.
As a result of these events, the sacred temple was half destroyed, but over time it was able to be restored. Knowing where the Golden Temple is located, many pilgrims come here to touch the religious sacraments, make a ritual circle around the lake or swim in it to heal the body.
Now it is constantly open to all visitors, the monks living here constantly sing and read texts from the holy book of the Sikhs, which is transmitted through loudspeakers throughout the complex. The Museum of Sikhism is open upstairs, which presents an exposition on the history of the oppression of this people by the Mughals, the British and I. Gandhi.
Dambulla Golden Cave Temple
Another answer to the question in which country the Golden Temple is located is on the island of Sri Lanka. It is a shrine for Buddhist pilgrims and tourists. This temple cave complex includes the oldest Golden Temple in the world, dating back over 22 centuries.
The history of the temple tells of King Valagambach, who in the 1st c. BC e. was driven here by his enemies and lived in a cave with the local monks. After 14 years, he re-occupied the throne, and here he ordered the creation of a cave temple, as evidenced by an inscription in the Brahmin language, located at the top near the entrance. Since then, temples in Dambulla have gained popularity as a place where Buddhists from all over the country come to worship.
For 2,000 years, the rulers of the island made many changes on the territory of the complex, including:
- in the 12th c. King Nissankamalla ordered that all 73 Buddha statues be covered with pure gold, hence the name of the Golden Cave Temple;
- in the 18th century. local artists and architects made architectural changes in the temple, which continues to this day: the periodic restoration of various murals using persistent dyes, the recipes of which are kept in great secret;
- in the 20th century. a colonnade and pediments were completed to cover the temple from strong winds.
What to see in Dambulla temple
The answer to the question "To see the Golden Temple, which country should I go to?" will be - to Sri Lanka in the city of Dambulla. One of the most ancient religious buildings of the island has been preserved here.
The complex includes the Golden Temple, 5 cave temples and many more small caves (about 70), in the construction and reconstruction of which almost all the rulers of the island of Ceylon participated. It is located on the top of a mountain 350 m high on 20 hectares of area, recognized as an objectUNESCO World Heritage Site.
These religious buildings introduce pilgrims and tourists to the history and art of Sri Lankan masters over the past centuries. As in all Buddhist temples and monasteries, when visiting it, travelers feel the harmony of their inner world, which helps to overcome stressful conditions and enjoy the contemplation of beauty.
The decoration of the temple is a collection of Buddha statues, which has been collected for 2 millennia, as well as paintings, the theme of which are various milestones of his life.
Almost all Buddha statues are located in cave temples, mostly in a pose of deep meditation, there is also a statue of King Valagambahi made of wood. In one of the caves you can get acquainted with a natural miracle - water flowing upwards, which then flows into a golden bowl.
In another cave is a stupa used as a safe for the royal wife's jewelry, which was looted. In the cave, painted in the 18th century, there are about 1,000 images of Buddha on the walls and ceiling, as well as more than 50 statues of him in sitting and lying positions, including one of the statues measuring 9 m. The youngest of the caves, which was restored at the beginning of the 20th century, is the most colorful, because the colors have not faded in 100 years.
Temple in Japan: history
Another architectural structure, called the Golden Temple in Japan, is located in the ancient capital of Kyoto on the territory of the Chinesemaden temple complex. In Japanese, its name is "Kinkaku-ji", which intranslated means "Golden Pavilion".
The Japanese consider it the most beautiful building in their country, the Golden Temple is even more ancient than the Indian one - built in 1397 as a villa for the rest of the ruler Yoshimitsu, who abdicated and lived here until his death. Now it is a place of storage of Buddhist relics.
The name "Golden" reflects not only the appearance, but also the building material, because the 2 upper floors of the temple are covered with sheets of real gold. The building stands on the shore of the lake, which very beautifully reflects its golden radiance, stones lie around the perimeter in order to emphasize its we alth and grace.
The temple, from the point of view of the Japanese, is perfection, which is beautiful, original and restrained beauty: having soared above the surface of the Mirror Lake, it fits very harmoniously into the surrounding park. Architecture and nature here are equivalent for creating an artistic image. In the center of the man-made lake are the islands of the Turtle and the Crane.
The combination of the temple and the lake evoke an idea of solitude and silence, peace and serenity, the reflection of heaven and earth is the highest manifestation of natural properties.
Kyoto Temple Structure
In the middle of the 20th century. one of the monks, mad, and in order to fight beauty, set fire to the shrine, but he was able to restore it in its original form. The building is surrounded by a magnificent Japanese garden, paved with paths and decorated with small ponds and streams, which is considered one ofthe most beautiful in Japan.
Each floor of the Golden Temple in Kyoto has a purpose:
- on the first one, called the "Temple of purification by water" (Hosuyin), surrounded by a veranda protruding above the surface of the pond, there is a hall for guests and visitors, the interiors are made in the style of aristocratic villas;
- on the second, reminiscent of a samurai's dwelling and called "Surf Grotto" (Teonhora), richly decorated with Japanese paintings, there is a hall of music and poetry;
- the third floor is the cell of a Zen Buddhist monk and is called the “Peak of Beauty” (Kukyocho), it has two beautiful arched window openings built in the style of 14th century Buddhist architecture, religious ceremonies are held in it, from inside and outside the side of this hall is covered with leaves of gold on a black background;
- there is a Chinese Phoenix statue on the rooftop.
In the garden there is a Gingasen (Milky Way) spring from which Shogun Yoshimitsu drank. The most valuable treasure is the Fudodo Hall, which houses the Buddhist deity Fudo Myoo.
Book by Yukio Mishima "Golden Temple"
This book "Kinkaku-ji", translated into many languages of the world, including Russian (translated by B. Akunin), was written in 1956 and tells about the real events of the fire in the temple, when in In 1950, a novice of the monastery set fire to this most beautiful building. The author of the novel is the Japanese writer Yukio Mishima, recognized in the country as a famous and significant creator of the second half of the 20th century.
Thanks to this novel and its popularity, many learned aboutwhich country the Golden Temple is located and how a terrible event occurred, as a result of which the temple was burned and destroyed.
The protagonist of the novel is the son of a poor priest, Mizoguchi, who was captivated by his father's stories about the beauty of the Golden Temple from childhood. After his death, he went to his friend Dosen, who served as the abbot of this temple, and entered the school at the Buddhist Academy. Being ugly himself and having a defect in the form of a stutter, he often came to the sacred building, bowing to its beauty and begging to reveal its secret.
Over time, the main character enters the university and dreams of becoming the successor of the abbot, but his unseemly and cruel deeds forced Dosen to change his mind.
Gradually, Mizoguchi's internal torment and spiritual hesitation acquire a strange goal: out of love for the beauty and grandeur of the temple, he decides to burn it down and then commit suicide. Choosing the right moment, he sets fire to it and runs away.
Mishima interprets the Golden Temple as the embodiment of the ideal beauty of the world, which, according to the protagonist, has no place in our ugly world.
The fate of Yukio Mishima
The fate of the writer of the "Golden Temple" Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) was also tragic. Being one of the most famous Japanese writers of the post-war period, Mishima was nominated for the Nobel Prize 3 times, he wrote several novels that have become popular and famous all over the world: “Kyoko House”, “Shield Society”, “Sea of Abundance”, etc. His literary activity and orientation of workschanged during his life: the first novels were devoted to the problems of homosexuality, then he was influenced by aesthetic trends in literature. Mishima's novel The Golden Temple was written just during this period, it describes a deep analysis of the inner world of a lonely person and his mental suffering.
Then, "Kyoko House" was released, which was a reflection of the very essence of the era, causing opposite critical assessments: some called it a masterpiece, others - a complete failure. This was the beginning of a turning point and deep disappointment in his life.
Since 1966, the author of the "Golden Temple" Yukio Mishima becomes far-right, he creates a paramilitary group "Shield Society", the purpose of which proclaims the restoration of imperial rule. With 4 of his associates, he tries to make a coup, which he came up with in order to effectively frame his suicide. Having captured the military base, he makes a speech for the emperor, and then makes himself hara-kiri, his associates complete the ritual by cutting off his head. Such was the tragic end of the life of the famous Japanese writer.
So how many Golden Temples are there in the world?
Existing in various countries, the Golden Temples, built in ancient times, are religious buildings, each of which has become a place where many pilgrims and travelers aspire to. They want to immerse themselves not only in history, but also in the world of religious ideas that preach the desire for a pure and sinless life, for harmony.environment and inner world of every person of any religion.
The history of these temples is full of ambiguous and contradictory events, sometimes incredibly tragic. Some of them are reflected in well-known literary works: one of them is the novel "Golden Temple"Yu. Mishima.
