Atma - A Romance

There was fear of Evil Influence, pestilence and death in the country,

and as the time of new moon drew near, propitiatory sacrifices were

prepared. A number of the courtiers of Golab Singh declared their

intention of visiting sacred places and offering gifts. Many who abjured

these rites went also as to a festival. On such an errand many supposed

Lal Singh to be gone, although his prolonged absence led to unspoken

surmisings among those who looked on him as the emissary of a political

party, but at the close of a fierce contest men are chary of speech, and

none spoke his suspicions. At all events he had disappeared the day

after the events of our last Chapter.

Atma resolved to take this opportunity of attempting to communicate with

the Maharanee, and intimated his purpose of resorting to the Well

designated by Nama. It was of course on the southern border of Kashmir,

and entailed a long pilgrimage. Bertram, tired of splendour, would

accompany him. Together they set out on horseback, followed by

attendants who bore gifts for the Shrine. They rode forward, leaving

their retinue, and conversed as was their wont.

Atma fain would know why his friend so devoutly went on pilgrimage.

"I suppose," said Bertram laughing, "that the Nawab would tell you,

though the ass goes to Mecca he becomes not a pilgrim thereby. But Atma

Singh, if I mistake not, your own creed does not recognize the rites we

are to witness; I ask, then, in my turn, why, since our mission is

meaningless, does your choice of a destination lead us to the most

distant of the sacred places?"

"I do not say that the Shrine is without sanctity to me," replied Atma

evasively, "and the place is one of great attractiveness, while the

journey thither, though longer, is more agreeable than other routes. But

your jesting challenge reminds me of what once befel the holy Nanuk, the

founder of the Sikh religion. He slept in the heat of the day on a

grassy bank with his feet turned westward. A Mohammedan priest finding

him, struck him and demanded how he dared direct his feet towards the

sacred city of Mecca. 'How dare you, infidel dog, to turn your feet

towards God?' he demanded. The wise one responded: 'Though past the highest heaven of heavens I rise,

Though cowering in the deep I hide mine eyes,

I roam but through the Mosque his hands have wrought,

Show me, O Moulvie, where thy God is not!'"

"Your wise man spoke a great truth," said Bertram. "The earth is a

Temple, it was designed for a House of Prayer, and in it God has placed

not a sect nor a nation, but all mankind. Many a Holy of Holies has man

raised within this temple, and vainly have the builders sought by every

device of loveliness, sensuous or shadowy, to achieve for their

inventions the Beauty of Holiness. Your Nanuk was divinely taught, for

leaving alike the Material and the Ideal, he grasped the True."