Abstract

Amongst all the religions of the world, Sikhism is the youngest one. It was
founded by Guru Nanak, followed by nine Gurus, who guided this religion. Sikh
Gurus scripted their thoughts which are incorporated in a holy scripture known as
Guru Granth. It contained Gurbani- the verses of Gurus. The thought of Sikh
Architecture emerged from the first Guru, Guru Nanak, but formally, final shape
was given by fifth Guru - Arjandev with construction of Harmandar Sahib, located
in Amritsar where Guru Granth was installed for the first time in 1604.

The topic of research is- An Architectural Evolution of Sri Harmandar

Sahib- Amritsar. The idea of selection of this topic was to understand the design
and evolution of Centre of Sikh faith- Sri Harmandar Sahib. The whole thesis has
been divided in 5 chapters. It starts with Introduction; Literature review;
Harmandar Sahib- A perspective; Art and Craft in Harmandar Sahib; and Findings
and Further Research on Harmandar Sahib.

The study comprise of chapter-1, an introduction to study area- defining

need for study, scope and limitations, aims and objectives, construction of
hypotheses (The form and Function of Sri Harmandar Sahib played a great role for
spatial changes in itself and immediate surroundings; There would have been a
specific measuring unit used for construction of Sri Harmandar Sahib; There would
have been a very close relationship between structure of Sri Harmandar Sahib and
that of Sri Guru Granth; as both were simultaneously constructed and edited
respectively by Fifth Guru- Guru Arjandev). These hypotheses lead to generation of
research questions as-

1. How did Sri Harmandar Sahib and surroundings would have been evolved
during various time periods since Guru Period?
2. What would have been the measuring unit/ module of Sri Harmandar Sahib?
3. Is there any relationship between Structure of Sri Harmandar Sahib and that
of Sri Guru Granth (Holy Scripture)?
The study was undertaken for finding suitable answer to the research
questions mentioned above with both qualitative and quantitative research methods
reviewing historical facts thorough literature (secondary sources) and primary
surveys in terms of detailed architectural documentation of sanctum sanctorum and
the causeway.
The Unit-2 comprises of literature review containing facts and figures taken
from secondary sources, historical texts, drawings, texts, paintings, photographs,
etc., collecting history of Sikhism and Sri Harmandar Sahib, Identification of
authors/ historians who has worked on Amritsar and Sri Harmandar Sahib,
Various theses made as part of folk or written vocabulary of Architecture, and
studying various architectural elements w. r. t. other pre-existing architectural
vocabularies and their geometry. All the spaces to be used as socio-religious
purposes are based on specific functional zones, which are further based on the
spatial philosophies that describes for how the spaces are to be designed. The basic
design philosophy in any religion for designing of religious structures is pre-defined
with set of rules and regulations. The study tries to find various inter-relationships
of events, acts, spatial changes in terms of architectural evolution.
The Unit-3 contains study of the order of Chronological development of Sri
Harmandar Sahib, and associating it with spatial forms with respect to time and
space. In this unit the detailed explanation of documentation of Sri Harmandar
Sahib, Causeway (the bridge), and Darshni Deorhi (an entrance gateway) has been
compiled. It also covers the site and topography and design philosophy of space and
hermeneutics. Simultaneously it contains geometrical analysis of the structure and
its resemblance to structure of holy scripture- Guru Granth and reveals the
evolution of sanctum sanctorum- Sri Harmandar Sahib. It is established that there is
a strong relationship between Gurbani (the verses/ Paath) and the structure, which
proves the hermeneutical approach would have been followed by fourth and fifth
Guru to design first Sikh shrine and a masterpiece- Sri Harmandar Sahib. The scope
of research is contained within the footprint of building façade of Bungas (the rest
houses of Sikh confederacies in Misl Period). The study emphasizes the evolution of
Sri Harmandar Sahib since Guru Period till now. It explains the change in spatial
form since inception of sanctum sanctorum.
The Unit-4 discusses detailed study of Art and Craft work existing in Sri
Harmandar Sahib. It explains various architectural embellishments existing in
sanctum sanctorum, concluding that this is the only structure in which all art forms
are blended- Like Gach (Stucco work), Tukri (Mirror inlay work), Jaratkari (stone
inlay work), and Mohrakashi (Fresco paintings and Kalamkari. All these art works
contained various categories- namely- Floral (Gulkari), Natural painting
(Mussawari), Calligraphic (Khattati) Geometric (Chitsaali) and Human and other
forms. The idea of making the structure inside the pool of nectar would have been to
give fourth dimension, as reflection of structure over the water surface, to the
sanctum sanctorum.
The Unit-5 comprise of various parameters of spatial analysis i.e. Axial
Orientation; Three dimensionality, Volume and Depth; Simultaneous vs. linear or
Partial viewing; Interaction of Spaces and Volumes; Light and Colour; Proportion
and Scale; Surface, Contour, Transitions; The treatment of the Ornamented Areas;
Relationship of the Composition to the Frame, Multiple views; Stylistic Techniques;
those are used to analyse the structural form. It marked a foundation of new
architectural school of Sikh architecture. The Study suggests a few areas of further
research as; the study on structural health analysis of completely load bearing
masonry can be undertaken; the study on type and composition of Bricks, mortar,
plaster, those were used for construction of Sri Harmandar Sahib; the study on
interrelationship of Sri Harmandar Sahib with other Sikh shrines on the basis of
Sikh theology can be carried; the detailed analysis of Sikh Art work needed to be
done based on Sikh philosophy; the making of Bungas (the rest houses of Sikh
confederacies) surrounding Sri Harmandar Sahib, their form, function and character
needs to be researched about.

The study proves that:-

1. Sri Harmandar Sahib and surroundings evolved and changed in due course
of time since inception i.e. Guru Period
2. The measuring unit/ module of Sri Harmandar Sahib was 715mm-
represented as 1 Gaz (Yard)
3. There was strong relationship between Structure of Sri Harmandar Sahib and
that of Sri Guru Granth (the Holy Scripture).

The study reveals that the example of Sikh school of Art and Architecture- Sri
Harmandar Sahib is a unique in form and needed to be studied, understood, and
researched in more detail, about as quiet little has been researched so far.