Thread by @HindooHistory

San Francisco Call, 1908

"DEDICATE UNIQUE TEMPLE TO HINDUS"

"First to Be Erected in New World is Consecrated in San Francisco"

"Architecture is After Famous Taj Mahal With American Eagle as Crown"

#HindooHistory

"The first Hindu temple in the western world according to the San Francisco Vedanta society, was dedicated last evening in the new building at the corner of Webster and Filbert streets"

"The edifice ois unique in a western city, being modeled after the great Taj Mahal of India, one of seven wonders of the world, the famous temple of Benares, of Shiva, and after some of the old European castles"

On account of this being the first Hindu temple in America the appreciation of this fact is shown by carrying the architectural art of the temple, the sushumna-- the main channel of spiritual illumination-- up to an American eagle..."

"The building was brilliant with lights at the dedication ceremonies, which were conducted by Swami Trigunatita, who first gave an address on 'Spirit and Matter,' in which he stated that the two were diametrically opposite..."

"The edifice was decorated with callalillies, carnations, red and pink, and similax, which formed fostoons over full length portraits of famous swamis which hung on the walls. Music was rendered by three voices, a soprano, a contralto and a tenor, and violin and flute duos"

"The auditorium was crowded from platform to outer doors and an overflow meeting strung its way fairly to the sidewalk"

"The scene was picturesque and unusual and the outside of the building with quaint Moorish balconies, mysterious symbolic lights and four round squat towers encircled with glowing lights and colors might have made one fancy himself in that land of mystery-- India..."