Editing Samadhi of Ranjit Singh

{{short description|Building in Lahore, Pakistan}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2007}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox Monument
|monument_name = Samadhi of Ranjit Singh
|native_name   = '''ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਸਮਾਧੀ'''<br />{{Nastaliq|رݨجیت سنگھ دی سمادھی}}
|image         = File:Tomb of Ranjit Singh, Lahore.jpg
|caption       = The Samadhi was built next to [[Badshahi Mosque]] and [[Gurdwara Dera Sahib]]
|location      = [[Lahore]], Punjab<br />{{flag|Pakistan}}
|designer      = 
|type          =
|length        =
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|begin         =
|complete      = 1848
|open          =
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The '''Samadhi of Ranjit Singh''' ({{langx|pa|{{nq|رݨجیت سنگھ دی سمادھی}}}} {{small|([[Shahmukhi]])}}, ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਸਮਾਧੀ {{small|([[Gurmukhi]])}}; {{Langx|ur|{{nq|رنجیت سنگھ کی سمادھی}}}}) is a 19th-century building in [[Lahore]], Pakistan that houses the [[Urn|funerary urns]] of the [[Sikh Empire|Sikh Maharaja]] [[Ranjit Singh]] (1780 – 1839). It is located adjacent the [[Lahore Fort]] and [[Badshahi Mosque]], as well as the [[Gurdwara Dera Sahib]], which marks the spot where the fifth guru of Sikhism, [[Guru Arjan Dev|Guru Arjan]], 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]], built by Ranjit Singh, to its south.

==History==
[[File:Badshahi Mosque (King’s Mosque) by ZILL NIAZI 2.jpg|thumb|The shrine was built at the northeast corner of the [[Badshahi Mosque]].]]
Construction of the mausoleum began in August 1839 but its completion was delayed due to infighting within the Sikh Empire between different factions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Lot 427: The mausoleum of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, Lahore, by a British artist, April 1914 |url=https://www.bonhams.com/auction/18950/lot/427/the-mausoleum-of-maharajah-ranjit-singh-lahore-by-a-british-artist-april-1914/ |access-date=18 December 2024 |website=Bonhams |quote=Work on the samadhi began in August of the same year [1839], though after initial &#91;sic&#93; progress the work became bogged down, largely as a result of internecine faction fighting. By 1849 it had fallen to the British to put up the money to complete the building, which after some delay they did, and the work was completed in 1851. See F. S. Aijazuddin, Lahore: illustrated views of the 19th Century, Ahmedabad 1991, pp. 87-92.}}</ref> Construction of the building was started by his son, [[Kharak Singh]] on the spot where he was [[cremation|cremated]], and was completed by his youngest son, [[Duleep Singh]] in 1848.{{fact|date=September 2024}} The new British-rulers of Punjab, having annexed the Sikh Empire in 1849, undertook repairs of the mausoleum, which was completed in 1851.<ref name=":0" />

===Modern era===
The funerary urns were removed from the marble pavilion and were replaced by a simple slab around 1999.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} This was done as part of the preparations for the [[Khalsa]] Tricentenary and the visit of Sikh dignitaries from India. It has been kept well by [[Government of Pakistan|Pakistani government]]. The Samadhi was damaged by an [[2005 Kashmir earthquake|earthquake]] in 2005 but was repaired soon.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

==Architecture==
[[File:SORS1.jpg|right|thumb|The [[samadhi]] combines Hindu, Islamic, and Sikh motifs.]]

===Building===
The building combines elements of [[Sikh architecture|Sikh]], [[Hindu architecture|Hindu]], and [[Islamic architecture]].<ref>[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/01/16/features/samadhi-of-ranjit-singh-a-sight-of-religious-harmony/ Samadhi of Ranjit Singh – a sight of religious harmony, Pakistan Today. JANUARY 16, 2016, NADEEM DAR]</ref> Portions of the building are believed to have been plundered from the adjacent Lahore Fort.<ref>[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/01/16/features/samadhi-of-ranjit-singh-a-sight-of-religious-harmony/ Samadhi of Ranjit Singh – a sight of religious harmony, Pakistan Today. JANUARY 16, 2016, NADEEM DAR]</ref>

The building has gilded fluted domes and [[cupola]]s, and an ornate [[balustrade]] around the upper portion of the building. The front of the doorway has images of [[Ganesh]], [[Devi]] and [[Brahma]] that are cut from red sandstone. The dome is decorated with [[Nāga]] (serpent) hood designs - the product of Hindu craftsmen that worked on the project.<ref>[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/01/16/features/samadhi-of-ranjit-singh-a-sight-of-religious-harmony/ Samadhi of Ranjit Singh – a sight of religious harmony, Pakistan Today. JANUARY 16, 2016, NADEEM DAR]</ref> The wooden panels on the ceiling are decorated with stained glass work, while the walls are richly decorated with floral designs. The ceilings are decorated with glass mosaic work.

===Funerary urns===
[[Ranjit Singh]]'s ashes are contained in a marble [[urn]] in the shape of a [[Indian lotus|lotus]], sheltered under a marble pavilion inlaid with [[pietra dura]], in the centre of the tomb. Surrounding him, in smaller urns, are the ashes of four [[Hindu]] [[sati (practice)|sati]] queens and seven concubines.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/sunday-special/kaleidoscope/-sati-choice-before-maharaja-ranjit-s-ranis/99411.html 'Sati' choice before Maharaja Ranjit's Ranis, Kanwarjit Singh Kang, 28 Jun 2015]</ref>

==Associated monuments==
[[File:Gurdwara Dera Sahib and Samadhi of Ranjit Singh.jpg|thumb|The [[Gurdwara Dera Sahib]] is adjacent to the samadhi, and commemorates the spot where Guru Arjan Dev Ji died.]] 
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 of [[Guru Arjun]]'s martyrdom.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Samadhi of Ranjit Singh & Sikh Temple -Damn Cruze.png
File:"Samadhi of Ranjit Singh at Sunrise.".jpg
File:Shrine_of_ranjit_singh.jpg|Samadhi of Ranjit Singh in 2015
File:Samadhi Ranjit Singh circa 1860.jpg|The Samadhi of Emperor Ranjit Singh in 1880s.
File:Samadhi Ranjeet Singh.jpg|A view of the Samadhi.
File:Samadhi Ranjit Singh.jpg|Samadhi Ranjit Singh
File:Samadhi of Ranjit Singh 123.jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Ranjit Singh]]
*[[Sikh Empire]]
* [[Evacuee Trust Property Board]]
*[[List of mausolea]]
*[[Walled City of Lahore]]
{{col div end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Samadhi of Ranjit Singh}}
*[http://www.web.virginia.edu/asianarc/public/lahore/badshahi04.jpg A photo of the tomb] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051205192838/http://www.web.virginia.edu/asianarc/public/lahore/badshahi04.jpg |date=2005-12-05 }}
*[http://www.harappa.com/hawkshaw/41.html An older photo of the samadhi]
*[http://www.punjabheritage.org The Latest News on the Heritage of the Punjab]

{{Sikhism}}
{{Walled City of Lahore}}
{{Lahore}}

{{coord|31.5893|74.3113|type:landmark_region:PK|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samadhi Of Ranjit Singh}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Lahore]]
[[Category:Sikh Empire]]
[[Category:Sikh architecture]]
[[Category:Sikhism in Lahore]]
[[Category:Walled City of Lahore]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Lahore]]
[[Category:Shrines in Lahore]]
[[Category:Samadhis]]
[[Category:Sikh places]]
[[Category:Ranjit Singh]]