'Martyrdom of the Akal Takhat'

[Freed]

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh !

Dedicated to all the Shaheed Singh Singhneean of the Panth

Yogi Bhajan described the army attack on the Harimandir Sahib as the 'Martyrdom of the Akal Takht' in a lecture he described the Akal Takht as voluntarily offering itself for sacrifice.

(Gurdwara lecture July 1 1984)

As a mark of respect to all those who gave their lives in June 1984 here is a collection of images of the 'Sri Takht Sahib Akal Bunga Ji' - The Siri Akal Takht Sahib.

P S Arshi 's description and map of Siri Akal Takht Sahib

Early 1900s

W. Carpenter's watercolour 'The Akal Takht' - 1854

In 1967 - during the Punjabi Suba Morcha

In the late 1960s early 1970s

The intricate marble floors infront of the Akal Takht

The interior in the 1970s

Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Display of Shasters

Frescoes in the Akal Takht - now lost

Guru Sahiban

Bhai Bidhi Chand - a fresco depicting Bhai Bidhi Chand presenting Guru Hargobind Sahib with 'Dilbagh' and 'Gulbagh' - horses a Sikh had wanted to present to Guru Sahib , but they were seized by the Governor of Lahore - Bhai Bidhi Chand recovered the horses from Lahore - the first horse was recovered by Bidhi Chand while he was disguised as a hay seller, he recovered the second horse disguised as an astrologer.

A panorama of The Darbar Sahib in the early 1970s

Akal Takht in the early 1980s

After the Army Attack

The interior of the Akal Takht after the army attack and the 1984 'Sarkari' repairs

The dome of the Akal Takht in 1986 during the 'rebuilding'

The original Minars of the Ramgarhia Bunga

A poem by Guru Das Singh - written about the 1984 attack on Amritsar and being prevented from visiting Amritsar

Sri Akal Takhat Sahib - today

Pictures taken from ;

* The History of the Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere - SS Shanti Kaur Khalsa - SDP - 1995

*Sikh Architecture - P S Arshi - I P H - 1986

*The Golden Temple - Patwant Singh - ETP - 1988

*Marg - Vol XXX No.3 June 1977

*Khalsa Panth - Khushwant Singh - Tricolour - 1984

*Indian Temples and Palaces - Michael Edwardes - Hamlyn - 1969

*Sikhism - W Owen Cole Piara Singh Sambhi -Ward Lock - 1973

*Guru Nanak's Birthday - Margaret Davidson - Pergamon - 1982

*Des Pardes Weekly - No 787 - 13 July 1984

Bhul Chuk Maaf

Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

[Kam1825]

The piece by Yogi Harbhajan Singh is interesting in the way that i can think of many families that became sikhs and took amrit following the events of Operation blue star. And the people that i am talking about are not radicals but those who live according to the ideals of the Guru and the rehit given to them by the 5 beloved.

Before 1984 many had never repeated the Lords name or recited the Sri Jap Sahib