The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-09-06
The Indian Temple at AmrItsar.

As to the golden temple at Amritsar,
called Hari-mandir, or sometimes Dur
bar Sahib, it may be said to rank next to
the Tai at Agra as one of the most strik-
ing sights of India. To form an idea of
the unique spectacle presented by this
sacred locality one must picture to one
self large square sheet of water, bor-
dered by marble pavement, in the CEN
ter of picturesque Indian town.
Around the margin OF this artificial lake
are clustered numerous fine mansions,
most of them once the property of Sikh
chiefs, who assembled here every year
and spent vast sums on the endowment
of the central shrine. One of the houses
is now occupied by Sirdar Mangal Sinh
Ramgharia, well known and much es-
teemed member of the Sikh community.
It has two lofty towers, from one of which
enjoyed q grand panoramic view of the
lake and its vicinity-one of those rare
sights seen at intervals during life which
fix themselves indelibly on the memory.
In the center of the water rises the bean
tiful temple with its gilded dome and
cupolas, approached by marble cause
way, and quite unlike any other place of
worship to be seen throughout India. In
u
compromise between Hindoo temple
and Mohammedan mosque, reminding
one of the attempted compromise be-
tween Hindooism and Islam, which was
once a fayorite idea with both Kabir and
Nanak.
In point of mere size the shrine Is not
imposing, but its proportions strike one
as nearly perfect. All the lower part is
of marble, inlaid, like the Tai, with
precious stones, and here and there over
laid with gold and silver. The principal
entrance facing the causeway looks to-
ward the north. The interior is even
more gorgeous than the exterior. On
the ground floor is well proportioned
vaulted hall, its richly gilded ceiling or
namented with an indefinite number of
small mirrors, and its walls decorated
with inlaid work of various designs,
flowers. birds and elephants. Four short
passages, entered by carved silver doors,
one on each of its four sides, leads to
this vaulted chamber, giving it shape
not unlike that of q Greek cross. All
around on the outside is narrow corri-
dor. In the interior. opposite the princi-
pal entrance, sits the presiding Guru-
his legs folded under him on the bare
ground, with the open Granth before him.
He is attended by other officials of the
temple, who assist him in chanting the
sacred texts. And be it observed, that al
though the temple is conspicuously free
from images, and is dedicated to the one
Supreme Being under his name Hari),
a visible representation Of the invisible
God is believed to be present in the sa-
cred book. The Granth is, in fact, the
real divinity of the shrine, and is treated
as if it had veritable personal exist
ence. Every morning it is dressed out
in costly brocade, and reverently placed
on low throne under a jeweled canopy,
said to have been constructed by Ranji
Sinh at cost of 10000 rupees. All day
long crowries are waved over the sacred
volume, and every evening it is trans
ported to the second temple on the edge
of the lake opposite the causeway, where
it made to repose for the night in a gold
en- bed within consecrated chamber
rallied off and protected from all profane
invasion by bolts and bars. C0ntena-
porary Reriess for August.