DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0188
176 ' The Sikh Sect.
known and much esteemed member of the Sikh community.
It has two lofty towers, from one of which I 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 and cupolas, ap-
proached by a marble causeway. It is quite unlike any other
place of worship to be seen throughout India, and in structure
and appearance may be regarded as a kind of compromise
between a Hindu temple and a Muhammadan mosque, re-
minding one of the attempted compromise between Hinduism
and Islam, which was once a favourite 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 Taj, with precious stones, and
here and there overlaid with gold and silver. The principal
entrance facing the causeway looks towards the north. The
interior is even more gorgeous than the exterior. On the
ground-floor is a well-proportioned vaulted hall—its richly
gilded ceiling ornamented with an infinite 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,
lead to this vaulted chamber, giving it a shape not unlike
that of a Greek cross. All around on the outside is a narrow
corridor. In the interior, opposite the principal 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. The Brahmans maintain that God may
infuse his essence into images, but they never make an idol of
the written Veda, which, according to their theory, is divine
knowledge communicated orally to inspired sages, and by
them orally transmitted—not written down. Sikhism, on the
known and much esteemed member of the Sikh community.
It has two lofty towers, from one of which I 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 and cupolas, ap-
proached by a marble causeway. It is quite unlike any other
place of worship to be seen throughout India, and in structure
and appearance may be regarded as a kind of compromise
between a Hindu temple and a Muhammadan mosque, re-
minding one of the attempted compromise between Hinduism
and Islam, which was once a favourite 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 Taj, with precious stones, and
here and there overlaid with gold and silver. The principal
entrance facing the causeway looks towards the north. The
interior is even more gorgeous than the exterior. On the
ground-floor is a well-proportioned vaulted hall—its richly
gilded ceiling ornamented with an infinite 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,
lead to this vaulted chamber, giving it a shape not unlike
that of a Greek cross. All around on the outside is a narrow
corridor. In the interior, opposite the principal 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. The Brahmans maintain that God may
infuse his essence into images, but they never make an idol of
the written Veda, which, according to their theory, is divine
knowledge communicated orally to inspired sages, and by
them orally transmitted—not written down. Sikhism, on the