Gurudwaras Built By Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Gurudwaras built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh

At the Harmandir Sahib, much of the present decorative gilding and marblework date back from the early 19th century. The gold and intricate marble work were conducted under the patronage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Punjab. He was a generous patron of the shrine and is remembered with much affection by the Sikhs. Ranjit Singh also sponsored protective walls and water supply system to strengthen security and operations related to the temple.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh deeply loved and admired the teachings of the Tenth Guru of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in whose memory he built two of the most sacred temples in Sikhism. These are Takht Sri Patna Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, the meditation place of Guru Gobind Singh Ji since SatYug, and where Guru Gobind Singh Ji merged himself with the universal energy i.e. God, in Nanded, Maharashtra in 1708.

At the Harmandir Sahib, much of the present decorative gilding and marblework date back from the early 19th century. The gold and intricate marble work were conducted under the patronage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Punjab. The Sher-e-Punjab (Lion of the Punjab) was a generous patron of the shrine and is remembered with much affection by the Sikhs. Maharaja Ranjit Singh deeply loved and admired the teachings of the Tenth Guru of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh Ji, thus he promoted the teachings of the Dasam Granth (the Tenth Granth) and built two of the most sacred temples in Sikhism. These are Takht Sri Patna Sahib, the birth place of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, the place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji took his final rest or mahasamadhi, in Nanded, Maharashtra in 1708.

Samadh of Maharaja Ranjit Singh:
(1780-1839) Lahore : This mausoleum of the powerful ruler of the Sikh dynasty is situated just opposite the Lahore Fort. His Samadh occupies the spot where he was cremated. The architecture is mixture of Mughal and Hindu styles. This building was built in 1848 A.D by Kharak Singh son of Ranjit Singh. The square roof with a central fluted dome is crowded around with Naga hood designs. The interior of the chamber is elaborately decorated with fresco pertaining to Sikh gurus etc. In the center of the sepulchral chamber is a small four column domed marble pavilion beautifully decorated with pietra aura work. In this pavilion is a marble urn in the form of lotus containing ashes of the Maharaja. Eleven smaller knobs hold ashes of four queen and seven slave girls. Kharak Singh, the successor of Ranjit Singh, died in 1840 and their ashes rest side by side with his son Naunihal Singh in the domes of Ranjit Singh’s mausoleum.