Sri Satguru ji had discussions with the senior Sikhs such as Baba Bhudda ji and others. He told them that he wanted to start the building of the Harmandir Sahib, with a strong foundation. When Bhai Gurdas ji heard this, Bhai Behlo ji, Bhai Bhagtoo ji and everyone else, they were really happy: “there will be a mandir inside the Sarovar. Heaven will not be as beautiful as this.” The Sikhs were enthusiastic about this. Karah Prashaad was made. Guru ji stood in the middle of the Sarovar along with Bhai Gurdas ji, Baba Bhudda ji and the craftsmen. Guru ji told the craftsmen about the design that Akaal Purakh ji had explained: “make the Mandir of Hari in this way: make four doors, one for each direction. There should be a bridge to the Mandir that comes from the Darshani Deodi. The base of the Mandir should be strong. The building should be higher than the Sarovar. There should be waterways which would let the water pass under the building. The bridge should be on the west side and on the east, make the Har ki Pauri. There should be a Parkarma (path for circumventing the Mandir) around the building with a strong foundation. The four doors should be built. There should be another floor with balconies. The middle should be open to the ceiling. Make a nice dome on top. There should a place to sit under the dome. The dome should be like a flat lotus flower. Add gold all around the dome.” In this way Guru ji instructed the craftsmen. Baba Bhudda ji was told to do the Ardaas: “do the Simran of all the Gurus and do the Ardaas by standing up. Guru Nanak Dev ji has placed the permanent foundation. The beautiful Mandir should have gems and diamonds. It will be a jewel in the middle of the Sarovar.” Baba Bhudda ji obeyed and did the Ardaas: “Sri Satguru ji, may there be a beautiful Harmandhir here where everyone receives peace and joy. May this foundation be permanent in Kaliyuga. Whoever thinks bad of the Mandir, may they be destroyed. May the Satguru be present at all times. Whoever comes here, may their wishes be fulfilled. Whoever bows their heads here, may their troubles be destroyed. May the glory of this place increase like the moon waxing towards a full moon. May Guru ji sit in the middle and people come from every direction.” In this way Baba Bhudda ji did the Ardaas. Guru Arjan Dev ji set the first brick of the Harmandhir. The brick was to be permanent. The mason was standing right next to Guru ji. The mason wished to show Guru Sahib that he knew better and picked up the brick and moved it a few times to re-set it. Guru Arjan Dev ji noticed this and said: “why did you do this? I thought of the Satguru while placing that brick. This was the permanent brick. From now on, the masons will always re-set the foundation brick after being placed. Whenever a Saint will place a brick, the mason will always move it around and place it themselves. This will be the mason’s tradition after placing.” Guru ji spoke the future as well: “what you had done, just as the Masands used mud and I had said that the steps will be destroyed and re-made, understand this, the building of the Harmandir will be torn and re-made again. My Singhs will come and make a strong building. They will spend a lot of money on the building. The Harmandir and the Sarovar will be beautiful, as the Singhs will be the Kings. The Harmandir will be permanent then.” Guru ji then looked towards the Karah Prashaad and asked Baba Bhudda ji to distribute it amongst the Sangat. Everyone shouted out “Jai Jai.” Many Sikhs did Seva of the building. They made high-quality, fine choona and placed it in one place. They added many other materials to prepare it. The Sikhs did this Seva with great love. Some would continue working during the night. Many Sikhs prepared the bricks near the kilns. Lakhs of bricks were needed. The Sikhs would pick up the bricks and bring them to the bricklayers. Some would carry the choona to them and add it to the building of Harmandir Sahib. Everyone’s Seva was accepted and recognized by Guru ji. Whatever wishes they had in their hearts, they were all fulfilled. The person who had no desires, they were given Brahmgyaan. Guru ji knew everyone’s wishes and so he would give the Sikhs what they wanted. He would give the Sikhs what was impossible and protect what they already had. He took them out of the cycle of birth and death. He blessed his Sikhs who did the Seva.
The beautiful steps of the Harmandhir were made with each side with specified lengths. 500 feet by 490 feet. The base of the Harmandir was made in the centre of the Sarovar. When the base was ready, the rains of Saavan (July/August) began. The water began to gather in the Sarovar. The clouds came ahead of time to fill the Sarovar. White and black clouds came to drop pure water there. It was Guru ji’s command to have the water be filled by the clouds. The rain was very pleasant as it fell. The clouds came rumbling. The clouds were low. The Sarovar was filled. Guru ji watched as the Sarovar filled. The Sikhs saw this and were happy. The glory was great. The Sarovar was without the mud. The Sangat came from afar and visited the Sarovar. Baba Sri Chand ji was called first to bathe in the Sarovar. The sins of many births were washed away of people. The Sikhs circumvented the Sarovar and recited Gurbani Shabads. Whatever wishes they had, they were all fulfilled. They returned home while singing the Guru’s praises. Wherever there was a crowd, people would say: “Guru ji is making a Sarovar to wash our sins. Everyone should go to the Sarovar. It is a beautiful place. It is mesmerizing to look at. Satguru ji is directing the Seva and he says that the reward of bathing here is great.” The praises spread far and wide. The Sikhs heard the praises and came to Amritsar with love. They only wanted to see Guru ji and the Sarovar. They had great faith in their hearts. They came and bathed in the Sarovar. They would see Guru ji and be at peace. They would hear Guru ji’s praises and do Simran of Guru Ramdas ji. They would say: “Guru Ramdas ji will take us across this world. He helps his Sikhs. Harmandir Sahib will help us across. This is a great task for us.” The Sikhs said “Dhan Dhan,” after they bathed. The glory spread far. The water remained for a little while. When the rains stopped, the water was gone.
The Sikhs came to Guru Arjan Dev ji and said with their hands folded: “there is a fault in the Sarovar as the water doesn’t stay. It is bad to make a Sarovar where the water passes through. We spent a lot of money and effort but the water is all gone. It did not stay. What was the use to make this Sarovar then? The land sucked all the water. We have seen many Sarovars like this. The steps will crack. This is a fault of the Sarovar. Your Sarovar has this fault. Please find a solution for this fault. Please find a way for the water to stay. You are omnipotent. You create and destroy the universe.” Guru ji heard the Sikhs and said: “the thirst of this Sarovar is not fulfilled yet. The land is thirsty. It was drinking the water. Go to the Santokhsar Sarovar and bring its dirt here. This Sarovar will be satiated because of the Santokhsar mud. The desire of this Sarovar will be satiated after that. The water will be filled. Take Baba Bhudda ji along with you. Only go once. Bring as much as you can and put it in Amritsar. The Amritsar Sarovar will be content then (Santokh).” The Sikhs heard Guru ji and went to Santokhsar with Baba Bhudda ji. They took the mud from the Sarovar of Santokhsar and brought it back to Amritsar. They poured it in and around the Sarovar. There was dirt from Santokhsar all over the Sarovar. Guru ji directed the task. Till today, the Amritsar Sarovar has never dried up. It is always full of water. The Sikhs were in bliss. They bathed in it and washed their sins away.