Kudrati Chamatkar
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Kudrati Chamatkar (Gurmukhi: ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਚਮਤਕਾਰ,[1][2] meaning "natural miracle") is a claimed miracle that occurred at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab during the colonial-period as per Sikh folk-legend.[3] On 30 April 1877,[4][5] it is claimed in a popular folk-legend that the shrine was planned to be auctioned by the British but the appearance of ball lightening within the precincts of the shrine complex during amritvela that was witnessed by 400 Sikhs[6][7] ended the plan. This event is believed by Sikhs to be a miracle attributed to Guru Ram Das to preserve the shrine while the British thought the ball lightning's appearance was a good omen for the rule of Queen Victoria.[8][9][10][11][12] The lore was published in John Campbell Oman's work Cults, Customs and Superstitions of India (1908).[13] The legend was later recounted in the works of Giani Kirpal Singh and Sahib Singh.[1]
Inscription
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The story is inscribed in English and Punjabi (Gurmukhi) within the shrine complex, with the full inscription being as follows (recorded by John Campbell Oman):[13]
It should be generally known that a wonderful event took place lately in the Golden Temple. This building was erected by the great Guru Ram Dass King of Kings and incarnation of Ram who gives blessings and receives worship from all creatures. The following is an account of what occurred on the 30th of April 1877 at 4.30 a.m. about 400 persons according to ancient custom were praying in this Sri Durbar Sahib and listening to psalms whose music was almost drowned by the roar of thunder Suddenly a flash of lightning fell from heaven and entered the holy place by the northern door close to the singers and musicians a ball of fire of about two seers in weight burst in the temple shining with dazzling and terrible brightness. Then immediately after shining before the holy book it returned to the sky through the southern entrance and although it fell with such awful violence and so loud a report yet there was no injury caused to the durbar Sahib or to human life. Therefore all who were assembled joined in ascribing this miracle to Ram Dass who dedicated this temple to Hari. We think it is also a sign of the great prosperity of the British rule also we are thankful to the Empress of India we pray to the creator of all things for a daily increase in their happy influence and for the destruction of all the enemies of her Imperial Majesty. The government inspector waited on the Comr. and informed him of this remarkable event. The following gentlemen viz the Commissioner Rajah Surat Singh Sardar General Gulab Singh Bhagowalia Sardar Mangal Singh Ramgharia and all the worshippers agreed :—That money being collected by friends of the Golden Temple half should be given towards the support of the sacred edifice and half to pay for a dinner to the poor Sufficient money was gathered to pay for seven readings of the Granth Sahib and to feed some thousands of poor people who all expressed their gratitude. This notice is also intended as a memorial of the superintendence of Sardar Mangal Singh over the Sri Darbar Sahib of Hari and as a remembrance of the miracle of Guru Ram Dass and the prosperity of our rulers which we pray may last to the end of time B.K
— Inscription documenting the event at the Golden Temple, recorded by John Campbell Oman in Cults, Customs and Superstitions of India (1908), pp. 99–100
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Srī darbār sāhib ca kudratī camatkār" ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਚ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਚਮਤਕਾਰ [Natural miracles at Sri Darbar Sahib]. Sikhnama (in Punjabi). Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Singh, Gurinderpal (1996). Yātarā tapa-asathāna Srī Hemakuṇṭa Sāhiba ਯਾਤਰਾ ਤਪ-ਅਸਥਾਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹੇਮਕੁੰਟ ਸਾਹਿਬ [Journey to the Place of Meditation Sri Hemkunt Sahib] (in Punjabi). Sacha Sauda Gurmat Parchar Society. p. 27.
- ↑ Mitra, Sarat Chandra (16 October 2025). Channa, Subhadra M.; Lobo, Lancy (eds.). Sacred Ecology: Cosmologies, Ecologies and Rituals in Colonial India (1886-1936). London: Routledge. pp. 67–78. doi:10.4324/9781003622727. ISBN 9781003622727.
- ↑ The Sikh Review, Volume 18, Issues 186-195. Sikh Cultural Centre. 1969. p. 55.
- ↑ Arshi, Pardeep Singh (1989). The Golden Temple: History, Art, and Architecture. p. 113. ISBN 9788185151250.
- ↑ "Folk-lore". Folk-lore. 19. Indian Folk-lore Society, Indian Publications: 101. 1978.
- ↑ Oman, John Campbell (1971). Cults, Customs, and Superstitutions of India: Comprising Studies and Sketches of Interesting Peculiarities in the Beliefs, Festivals and Domestic Life of the Indian People; Also of Witchcraft and Demoniacal Possession, as Known Amongst Them. Vishal Publishers. p. 98.
- ↑ Kohli, Surindar Singh (2001). "Ball-Lightning in Hari-Mandir". Strange But True in Sikhism. Delhi: National Book Shop. pp. 11–18. ISBN 9788171162963 – via Internet Archive.
- ↑ "The Golden Temple of Amritsar: Reflections of the Past (1808-1959)". Kashi House. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "The Miracle: Reviving the Sikh Panth". SikhNet. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Sohi, Jasmin (3 February 2026). "Returning to One's Roots: A Trip to India". The Science Survey. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "Miracle saved panth". Sikhnet.com. 21 December 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- 1 2 Oman, John Campbell (1908). "The Golden Temple of the Sikhs". CULTS, CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS OF INDIA: BEING A REVISED AND ENLARGED EDITION OF "INDIAN LIFE, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL" Comprising Studies and Sketches of interesting peculiarities in the Beliefs, Festivals and Domestic Life of the Indian People; also of Witchcraft and Demoniacal Possession, as known amongst them. Philadelphia: George W. Jacobs & Co. pp. 99–100 – via Internet Archive.
