The temple in the state of Punjab is the holiest shrine in Sikhism.

The man was killed by a mob after jumping over a railing to enter the inner sanctum, the Indian news service NDTV reports.

He then tried to grab a sword that was kept near the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, during daily evening prayers on Saturday.

Avtar Singh Hit, a Sikh politician in New Delhi, has shared TV footage of what appears to be the moment the man tried to jump the railing.

Worshippers who were sitting on the floor are seen jumping to their feet before the man appears to be apprehended off-camera.

Police told NDTV that the man was later killed and that they were checking CCTV footage for more information.

Parminder Singh Bhandal, deputy commissioner of Amritsar police, told the channel: "The man, about 20 to 25 years of age, had a yellow cloth tied on his head and jumped the fence... the people inside held him and escorted him out to the corridor where there was a violent altercation and he died."

Charanjit S Channi, the chief minister of Punjab state, has strongly condemned the incident as an "unfortunate and heinous act to attempt sacrilege".