Editing Religious art (section)

=== Sikh Art and Architecture during Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Reign ===
[[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh's]] reign (1801-1839) holds prime importance in Sikh history. He was a great patron of art and architecture and sponsored the construction of many magnificent forts, palaces, temples, [[gurdwara]]s, precious jewels, clothes, colorful paintings, minting of coins and luxury tents and canopies.<ref name="OUP Oxford">{{cite book |last1=Kaur Singh |first1=Nikky-Guninder |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |date=2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780191004117 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7YwNAwAAQBAJ&q=sikh+art |access-date=2023-03-20}}{{pn|date=February 2024}}</ref> The most significant of these were the golden throne built by [[Hafez Muhammad Multani]] and the bejewelled canopy for the [[Guru Granth Sahib]].<ref name="OUP Oxford"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kaur Singh |first1=Nikky-Guninder |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |date=2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780191004117}}{{pn|date=February 2024}}</ref>

[[Ranjit Singh|Ranjit Singh's]] most remarkable contribution was the refurbishment of the [[Golden Temple|Harmandir Sahib]]. He invited skilled architects, artists, wood carvers and other craftsmen to [[Amritsar]] for the renovation. He also hired a technical expert for the gold plating of the [[Golden Temple|Harmandir Sahib.]]<ref name="OUP Oxford"/> The [[Golden Temple|Harmandir Sahib]] is now embellished with semi-precious stones like [[Lapis lazuli|lapis lazulli]] and [[onyx]] along with its [[marble]] walls on the exterior. The walls also boast [[Arabesque]] and [[Kaleidoscope|kaleidoscopic]] designs. The interior is lined with mirrors and colorful glass and its upper part is covered with gilded copper plates.<ref name="OUP Oxford"/>
Besides the [[Golden Temple|Harmandir Sahib]], Ranjit Singh also contributed to the embellishments many other gurdwaras, drawing spectacular imagery from the [[Guru Granth Sahib]], the lives of the Gurus and the [[Janamsakhis]].<ref name="OUP Oxford"/> He also contributed to temples and mosques, with one of the most significant ones being expensive silver doors at a Hindu temple of [[Kali|Goddess Kali]]. Under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, cities like [[Lahore]], [[Amritsar]], [[Multan]], [[Sialkot]], [[Srinagar]] and [[Patiala]] thrived as centres of the arts.<ref name="OUP Oxford"/>