The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-03-20
The Indian Temple of Amritsar.

called Hari mandir, or sometimes Durbar
Sahib, it may be said to rank next to the
Tai at Agra as one Of the most striking
sights of India. To form an idea of the
unique spectacle presented by this sacred
locality one must picture to oneself large
square sheet Of water, bordered by mar
bic pavement, 10 the centre Of a pictures
que Indian town. Around the margin Of
this artificial lake are clustered numerous
fine mansions, most Of them once the pro-
perty Of Sikh chiefs who assembled here
every year aud spent vast sums on the en-
dowment Of the central shrine. One Of
the houses is now occupied by Sirdar Man
gal Slim Ramgharia, well.known and
much-esteemed member of the Sikh com
munity. 1t has two lofty towers, from one
of which enjoyed a 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 centre Of the water rises
the beautiful temple with its gilded dome
aud cupolas, approached by marble cause.
way, and quite unlike any other place Of
worship to be seen throughout India. In
structure and appearance it is kind of
compromise between HindoO temple and
Mohammedan mosque, reminding one Of
the attempted compromise between Hin,
dooism and Islam, which was once favor.
ite idea with both Kabir and Nanak
In point Of mere size the shrine is not
imposing, but its proportions strike one a;
nearly perfect All the lower part is oi
marble, inlaid, like the Tai, with preciou,
stones, and here and there oyerlaid will
gold and silver The principal entrance
facing the causeway looks toward the north
The interior is even more gorgeous thar
the exterior On the ground floor is {
well-proportioned vaulted hall, its richly
gilded ceiling ornamented with an infnit,
number of small mirrors, and its walls de
cOrated with inlaid work of various de
signs, flowers, birds aud elephants. Fou
short passages, entered by carved sive
doors, one on each Of its four sides, lead t,
this yaultcd chamber, giving it the shap,
not unlike that Of a Greek cross. AL
around on the outside is a narrow corridor
In the interior, opposite the principal en-
trance, sits the presiding Guru-his leg
folded under him on the bare ground
with open Granth before him. lie is at
tended by other officials Of the temple, VII,
assist him in chanting the sacred texts
And be it observed, that, although th
temple is conspicuously free from image
and is dedicated to the one Supreme BE
ing under his name Hari,) a visible re
presentation Of the invisible God Is be
lieved to be present in the sacred boob
The Granth is, in fact, the real divinity @
the shrine, and is trealed as if il had
yeritable personal existence. Every morn
ing it is dressed out in costly brocade, an
reyercntly placed on a low throne under
jewellcd canopy, said to have been con
structed by Ranjit Sinh, at cos, of so
900 rupees. All day long chowrics ar
waved over the sacred volume, aud ever
evening it is transported to the seeon
temple on the edge of the lake opposit
the causeway, where it is made to repos
for the night 10 golden bed within con
scerated chamber rallied off aud protecte
FROM all profaue invasion by bolts an
bars Contemporary Rerieie,