SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, August 7, 2021 (SF Chronicle by Gary Kamiya): One of the most exotic-looking buildings in San Francisco stands on the southwest corner of Filbert and Webster streets, in the decidedly un-exotic neighborhood of Cow Hollow. A strange mélange of Eastern and Western design elements, the building features a spectacular arcaded balcony with Mogul arches supported by Moorish columns on Doric bases, topped with a profusion of weird and wonderful towers, including a European castle-like crenellated tower, a double bulb shaped dome that recalls Bengal temples, and a dome in the style of the Taj Mahal.
The architecture of this eye-catching building, known as the Old Temple, reflects the spiritual beliefs of those who built it. It was built in 1905 by the Vedanta Society of Northern California, one of a number of Vedanta Societies established across the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. The Vedanta Societies were based upon the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, a 19th century Indian monk who practiced Vedanta, the most prominent of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. Ramakrishna’s version of Vedanta, known as Advaita Vedanta, proclaimed the oneness of God. He believed that all religions were ultimately seeking the same truth.
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