10 Best Facts about Samadhi of Ranjit Singh

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10 Best Facts about Samadhi of Ranjit Singh

The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh is a 19th-century building in Lahore, Pakistan that houses the funerary urns of the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780 – 1839). It is located adjacent to the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque, as well as the Gurdwara Dera Sahib which marks the spot where the 5th guru of Sikhism, Guru Arjan Dev, died.

Its construction was started by his son and successor Maharaja Kharak Singh after the ruler’s death in 1839 and completed nine years later. It overlooks the Hazuri Bagh, which was built by Ranjit Singh, to its south.

A historical enclave exists in the heart of Lahore, with its countenance mainly constituting the iconic Badshahi Mosque and the elegant Minar-e-Pakistan. However, if you stand close to the eastern wall of Aurangzeb’s architectural marvel, it is easy to notice the gleaming golden minar atop a white dome – the minar of the Samadhi (mausoleum) of the infamous “Sher-e-Punjab,” Ranjit Singh. Read on for 10 best facts about Samadhi of Ranjit Singh.

1.  The Samadhi is the Musoleum of Ranjit Singh

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Ranjit Singh is a figure of paramount importance amongst Sikhs. By signing treaties with the Englishmen, defeating the Afghans and consolidating the 12 Sikh misls (clans), Ranjit Singh formed a Sikh Empire in Northern Punjab (1801-1839), which he ruled until his death.

Due to his stabilizing influence in the period, after Ahmad Shah Abdali wreaked havoc in Punjab, he managed to develop a prosperous state. The construction of his mausoleum was started by his eldest son, Kharak Singh, in the early 19th century, and it was eventually completed in 1848 by his youngest son, Duleep Singh.

2. Samadhi of Ranjit Singh Design is a Blend of Styles

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This Samadhi, no doubt, is a masterpiece and a beautiful blend of Hindu, Sikh and Muslim architectural styles. The Samadhi has gilded domes and cupolas and a complex railing around the top.

The domes glitter during the day and with illumination mesmerise during the night too. The dome is heavily decorated with Naga (serpent) hood designs, a rich and fitting tribute to Hindu craftsmanship. The wood panels on the ceiling are covered with stained glass work and the walls have rich floral designs.

The ceilings are decorated with glass mosaic work. Maharaja Ranjeet Singh’s ashes are contained in a marble urn in the shape of a lotus, sheltered under a marble pavilion inlaid with pietra dura, in the centre of the tomb.

3.  It Contains Funerary Urns of Ranjit Singh

Image by Katja Fissel from Pixabay

Ranjit Singh’s ashes are contained in a marble urn in the shape of a lotus, sheltered under a marble pavilion inlaid with pietra dura, in the centre of the tomb.

The Maharaja does not lie alone there he is surrounded by smaller knob-like urns, which are the ashes of four sati queens (burned alive on the pyre with their husband) and seven slave girls. The ashes of two pigeons, burnt while flying over the pyre, also have their place in the Samadhi. So the Maharaja has his beloved queens, slave girls and pigeons

The funerary urns were removed from the marble pavilion and were replaced by a simple slab around 1999. This was done as part of the preparations for the Khalsa Tricentenary and the visit of Sikh dignitaries from India.

4. Samadhi of Ranjit Singh is Surrounded by Associated Monuments

Two small monuments to the west of the main building commemorate Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s son Maharaja Kharak Singh and grandson Nau Nihal Singh, along with their wives. The building is located adjacent to Gurdwara Dera Sahib, the place where the martyrdom of Guru Arjun took place.

Gurdwara Dera Sahib is located just outside of the Walled City of Lahore, and is part of an ensemble of monuments which includes the Lahore Fort, Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, Hazuri Bagh quadrangle, Roshnai Gate, and the Badshahi Mosque

5.  Samadhi of Ranjit Singh is a Sikh Holy Site

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This is a functional prayer and holy place of Sikhs and some also reside there. The prayers are holy rituals of the Sikhs are regularly held there and hundreds of Sikh pilgrims also visit this place from all over the world.

The Sikhs living inside this place are very hospitable and welcoming and if by any chance you are there at the time of Langar (free food distribution) they will offer you to taste it.

Within the area of this Samadhi long bearded Sikhs will be found reading the Granth, or the Sikh scriptures, over which is reverentially waved a fan of peacock feathers, an emblem of sanctity.

6. Samadhi of Ranjit Singh was Originally Built on 8 Pillars

Historic accounts state that the Samadhi was originally built on eight pillars but over a period of time cracks appeared in the pillars and the British government, under the orders of Sir Donald Macleod, late Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab erected thick iron rings around all the old pillars and to raise eight additional pillars.

The building is now supported by sixteen pillars but is still an amazing structure beyond belief. Presently the langarkahan is also being extended to accommodate the increasing number of Sikh devotees.

7.  Samadhi of Ranjit Singh is Building Material from Mughal Buildings

Image by QASIM REHMANI from Pixabay

Historic references indicate that some of the materials used in the building were taken from the Mughal buildings. The large marble door frame of the main entrance the Samadhi ornamented with pietra dura work corroborates that it was taken from the Sheesh Mahal of the Lahore Fort.

About 21 other marble door frames at different places in the building apparently also came from some other Mughal structures in the Fort. This is also proved by the fact that while building the Huzoori Bagh Pavillion, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh got many pieces from Jahangir’s tomb in Shahdra.

Mohammedan designs can be seen on the pillars on all four sides, adding merit to a claim of potential plundering by Ranjit Singh of the Lahore Fort, for the construction of his own dwellings.

8.  To Enter Samadhi of Ranjit Singh you must Wash your Feet

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Observing Sikh tradition, it is customary to leave footwear at the entrance. Next, one comes across a quadrangle of pristine water, surrounded by marble embankments. After submerging both feet inside the water for purely sanitary purposes, you head towards the polished brown doors standing under a white alcove.

Here, you have to don a bandana-like cloth to cover your hair- an imperative obligation for Sikhs as it is considered a necessary prerequisite for maintaining equality and showing respect.

9.  Visiting  the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh  is Free of Charge

Every place has its own culture and funeral customs. To learn more about this area’s approach to the afterlife, have a look at Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

This tomb site is among the best free attractions in Lahore. If you’re eager to adventure beyond Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, also stop by Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore Fort and Lahore Zoo.

10.  Samadhi of Ranjit Singh was damaged by an earthquake in 2005

Image by Waqas Afzal from Wikimedia

On October 8, 2005, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake shook the Kashmir region (a disputed territory controlled in part by Pakistan and India), along with sections of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. More than 80,000 people perished as a result of the quake, while an estimated 4 million others were left homeless.21 Aug 2018

The earthquake was also felt in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, India and the Xinjiang region. The severity of the damage caused by the earthquake is attributed to severe upthrust.

The Samadhi was damaged by the earthquake in October 2005. In May 2006, following concerns about the state of the Samadhi, the Indian Minister for Tourism and Culture, Ambika Soni wrote to Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and expressed her concerns. It was then repaired.

Ranjit Singh’s permanent role in shaping the history of the subcontinent is ultimately what his Samadhi symbolizes. There is bad blood historically between Muslims and Sikhs but the walls of this ancient mausoleum narrate a different conclusion; they lecture on mutual respect rather than animosity.