1949, Golden Temple Amritsar INDIA 12 As watermark

1949, Golden Temple Amritsar India  

Golden Temple Amritsar INDIA 12 As 1949 watermark.

Text:                                                   Golden Temple Amritsar INDIA 12 As 
Condition:                                        Ø = used/cancelled
Stamp Issue Date:                         15/08/1949
Postage Stamp Denomination:12.00
Postal Stamp Serial Number:   0319
Postal Stamp Name:                     GOLDEN TEMPLE, AMRITSAR
Stamp Currency:                           A
Stamp Type:                                    COMMEMORATIVE
Stamp Language:                          English
Indian Stamp's Color:                Multicolour
Basic colour:                              Blue
Michel number:                      201
Yvert number:                              17
Scott number:  
Stanley Gibbons number:     319
Perforation:                             K 13½
Watermark:                             Stars
Luminescence:                             None
Printing:                                    Offset
Buy Now:                            Bid Now:

ON THE OCCASION OF THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE FIRST DEFINITIVE ISSUE OF INDEPENDENT INDIA WAS RELEASED ON 15TH AUGUST 1949 AND FEATURES THE GREAT INDIAN ARCHITECTURE AND SCULPTURE.

The currency used on stamps was Rupia, Anna Paisa & Pies.

This represented the currency arrangements during the transition period upto the establishment of the Indian Republic. The Monetary System remained unchanged at One Rupee consisting of 192 pies.

1 Rupee = 16 Annas

1 Anna = 4 Pice

1 Pice = 3 Pies

Harmandir Sahib^[1] (Punjabi: ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ also Darbar Sahib^[3] (Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ, IPA: [dəɾbɑɾ sɑhɪb]), also referred to as the Golden Temple,^[1] is a prominent Sikh gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. Construction of the gurdwara was begun by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev. In 1604, Guru Arjan Dev completed the Adi Granth, the holy scripture of Sikhism, and installed it in the Gurdwara. In 1634, Guru Hargobind left Amritsar for the Shivalik Hills and for the remainder of the seventeenth century the city and gurdwara was in the hands of forces hostile to the Sikh Gurus.^[4] During the eighteenth century, the Harmandir Sahib was the site of frequent fighting between the Sikhs on one side and either Mughal or Afghan forces on the other side and the gurdwara occasionally suffered damage. In the early nineteenth century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh secured the Punjab region from outside attack and covered the upper floors of the gurdwara with gold, which gives it its distinctive appearance and English name of "Golden Temple".^[4]
The present day Golden Temple was rebuilt in 1764 by Maharaja Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1718–1783) with the help of other Misl Sikh chieftains. Between 1802–1830 Ranjit Singh did the sewa of adding gold plating and marble to the gurdwara, while the interior was decorated with fresco work and gemstones.



Sri Harmandir Sahib - Amritsar Sri Harmandir Sahib - the Golden Temple - at Amritsar is a symbol of the spiritual and historical traditions of the Sikhs. The foundation of the city of Amritsar was laid by the Fourth Sikh Guru Ram DAs in 1577 and the holy tank was constructed simultaneaously. The city was to derive its name later from this "Lake of Nector" - Amritsar. Here the followers of Guru Ram Das meditated on Hari Nam (the name of God). In 1588 the fifthe Sikh Guru Arjan Dev got the foundation of HArmindar Sahib laid by Hazrat Mian Mir, a Sufi Muslim saint of Lahore. The consruction of Harmindir Sahib was completed with devoted voluntary service, "kar Seva". Beleiveing in humility Guru Arjan Dev built the shrine, not on a high plinth, but below ground level, so that devotees had to go down to enter it. The temple was open onall four sides symbolising that the House of God was open to all devotees, irrespective of castes, creed or status. Guru Arjan Dev compose a number of hymns in praise of the sacred tank. He continued to uphold the ideas of Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion; spiritual unification and solidarity, love and service to all and submission to God's will. THe sacred scripture of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, which contains the "bani" (utterances) of the Gurus and the hymns of various saints of different creeds, was first installed in the Harmidir Sahib. The Harmindir Sahib was called the Golden Temple when its upper part was decorated with richly embossed gold sheets during the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1803 A.D. There is fine filgree and enamel work in gold decoration in the central dome of the Temple. The upper storey and the side panels contain coloured stone inlay work and several paintings. Sacred texts also decorate the interiors. Over the centuries devotees of various faiths have been offered exquisite gifts which are preserved even today in the Toshakhana.