THE

IN

BIBLE

INDIA:

ORIGIN

HINDOO
OP

HEBREW

AND

REVEUHON.

CHRISTIAN

FROM

TRANSLATED

"LA BIBLE DANS

L'INDE,"

BY

LOUIS

JACOLLIOT.

I n^^D^CUR

ORDERS

^^BOOKSELLER,
5)

'iOO

FIFTll
NEW

AVE.,

YORK.

K^^^^^
YORK:

NEW

Carleton^ Pttblisher,Madison
LONDON:

J.

C.

MDCCCLXXXIII.

HOTTBI*

Square,

TO

CONTENTS.

AUTHOR'S
THE

PREFACE

OF

VOICES

INDIA

15

PART

I.

RELATION

INDIA'S

TO

ANTIQUITY.

her

Usages, her

CHAP.

I.

India, by her

"

her

Languages,

Historic

and

Laws,

Traditions^ the Civilizer of the World.

.

11.
III.

IV.

Manou,

"

What

"

Brahminical

"

of

V.
VL

"

VII.

"

VIII.
IX.

"

X.

"

Priests

and

the

Minos

and

Greece
and

and

Compar'

primitive Vedism

The

of

Privation

Minutic

of

at

Caste

(diminution

the

Laws

all

Athens

at

"

on

East

69

Egypt

74

87

preserved by

XII.

the

its Castes

of

Devadassis, Virgins

Vestals

of

8"

Rome

Simple Retrospect

Ancient

"

The

India, with

privation of

or

Justinian,and

(Mort civile) of the Code

"

63

their Influence

"

Creation

"

83

Rights) in

XI.

62

Persia

xjn

Capitis

Worth

are

Impera

et

19
60

Paria, the Scape-goat

Manes

Rome

of

Divide

"

the

Zoroaster

"

History

Perversion

Castes

Whence

"

of

lessons

the

Moses

Minos,

Manes,

the

Civil

the civil death

Napoleon
of

the

89

Pagodas

Worships

Pythoness

"

of

"

The

Endor

Customs

esses
Python"

The
93

96

CONTENTS.

PART

MOSES

MOiSE

OR

II.

SOCIETY.

HEBREW

AND

fAGK

CHAP.

I.

Revelations

"

II.

Zeus

"

/II.
IV.

"

Farias of

Moses

"

\ri.

Penal

"

Some

"

IX.

"

X.

XI.

"

108

Bible

the

Chastisements,Massacres,

"

131

Influence,through Egypt,

of

Society

134

Biblical Influence

Authenticityof

the Hindoo

of
Spiritualism

II.

"

Brahma

and

"

The

Awakening

Hindoo

181

III.

Their

"

of Man
Heva

The
Place

Revolt

Creation

"

is

which

or

of the

are

or

cast

188

Demons.

Earth.

First

Man)

completesLife)

assignedthem

OriginalTran^ession

Devas,

Vanquished

(inSanscrit,the

Adima

Ceylon

of

of Rakchasas,

name

Its Role
"

The

"

i8a

Beliefs

Creation

"

(in Sanscrit,that

Island of
"

CHRISTNA.

Brahma

the

"

DEVANAGUV

VIRGIN

THE

ReligiousCosmical*

of

Trinity

IV. --Creation

176
iSo

"

"

into Hell under

III.

169

Books

Sacred

JEZEUS

Zeus

"

World.

the Ancient

the Bible

GENESIS.

Angels

on

the Bible

AND

"

Egypt

128

of
Impossibility

HINDOO

I.

of

121

PART

THE

the model

Societyon

System

Hebrew

Moralityof

"

Moses

SpecialExamples

on

VIII.

103

Destructions

and
VII.

Jesus

Hebrew

of

Balance-sheet

"

lOO

of India

Hebrew

"

"

and

Egypt

founds

and

v.

Isis

Jezeus

"

The

"

Incarnations

"

ccmmi'

"

as

ted

Dwelling
by

Adima

191

CONTENTS.

PAG"

His

"

Wife

Adima

"

Pardon

V/herefore

does

Initiative in
and

VI.

minical

VII.

The

"

VIIL

"

of

195

Woman

the

to

the Woman

"

the Lord--

Redeemer

attribute

OriginalSin

Despair of

"

invokrs

and

him,

Promise

"

Moses

the Women

love of him

the

of the Vedas

of the Bible

201

Deluge, accordingto the Maha-Barata

The

"

consoles

Heva

"

Brahma's

V.

follows from

and

liraft-

Traditions

210

of the Patriarch

Legend

Incarnations

Adjigarta

214

coming of

the

Prophecies announcing

"

Christna

IX.

"

Birth

of

223

the

"

Infancy of Devanaguy
Return

XL

"

Brahminical

and

Veda-Gita
X.

"

"

Baga-

Traditions

Death

her

of

228
Mother

Her

"

Madura

to

Promise

The

the

VirginDevanaguy, accordingto

231

God

of

"

of the

Persecution

of all the Male

Birth

accomplished
Tyrant of

Children

bom

of

Madura

the

on

Christna
Massacre

"

night

same

as

Christna

XII.

Christna

"

"

234

beginsto

Preach

Ardjouna, his

most

the New
zealous

Law

"

His

Coadjutor

Disciples
sion
Conver-

"

of Sarawasta

XIII.

"

Christna's Lessons

Christna's

"

XV.

"

XVI.

"

"

Parable

erman
of the Fish240

PhilosophicTeaching

247

of

name

Cliristna

People
Maxims

Transfigurationof
the

the

to

Thoughts

"

XIV.

237

and

and

Christna

"

His

Disciplesgive

him

Jezeus(pure essence)
the

Holy

two

251

Women,

Nichdali

and

Sarasvati
XVII.

--Christna

His

XVIII.
XIX.

Some

"

"

252

goes to

perform his Ablutions

at

the

Ganges

"

Death
of

Words

Successors

minism

233

of

Explanation

Christna

"

Grandeur

255
and

Decay

of

Brah-

257

CONTENTS.

VUI

PACT

CHAP.

XX.

anl

Ceremonies

"

of

Sacraments

Brahminical

Anciint

266

Worship
XXI.

"

Erahminical

and

Feasts

of

Ceremonies

the

Present

Time
XXII.

Last

"

27a

Manifestation

281

Epilogue. Inutilityand

"

Missionaryin

I.

II.

"

the

Christian
2S2

India

ORIGIN

IV.
THE

OF

CHRISTIAN

IDEA-

287

Simple Explanation
of
Impossibility

"

of

Impotence

PART
HINDOO

doo
Hin-

Earth, according to

on

Books

Sacred

XXIII.

God

of

Life of

the

described

Christ,as

by

the

289

Evangelists
III.
IV.

V.
VI.
VII.

and

Devanaguy

"

Massacre

"

"

Hindoo

"

The

Hindoo
to

VIII.
IX.

"

Christ

"

Constitution

St.

of

Ordination

Magdalen

Christna

the

upon

Rakchasas

"

311

by

the

Apostles

Confirmation

Consecration

the God

"

of

Confession

"

Tonsure

"

on

the
the
"

vestiture,
Cordon-In-

"

"c
X.

"

the

Whence

314
Monks

Hermits

and

Christianity
"

Last

XII.

"

work

of

"

Text

of Manou

XIII.

of

primitive
319

Proofs

XI.

308

309

Institutions
"

or

303

306

of

Prince of

Qmrch

Baptism

"

Judea

John

Brahminical

Christians

299

the Devil

the

of

descent

or

the

encounter

Tempted by

model

in India and

Nichdali, Saravasti,and

Avatar,

Apocrypha of

Christ

and

Transfiguration

Christian

Holy Women,

Earth

Christna

"

the Innocents

and

Tenth

"

of

Mary

321
in
Jesuitism

India

323
,

335

AUTHOR'S

PREFACE.

religiousdespotism, imposing

To

"jlass-legislation,
may
is in

Spain
and

holy

has

Italy

let

"

civil

conscience,

independence,
attempts
bind

to

more

once

consolidation

the

candles

wax

judgment.

our

unity.

of her

Council

General

of nations.

against

intelligence,freedom

Excommunication
and

in

preparing

decay

the

revolution

her

suspend

us

of modern

conquests

of

yet perfected

not

is

Rome

midst

the

water

attributed

be

delusions, and

speculative

denounce

to

of

all

thought, liberty of

"c.

revivify its impotent

to

kings,

emporors,

and

thunders,

people

its

to

yoke.

unity

proscribe

stifles the

followers

The

exists

Poland

The

Czar

And

yet

is

no

hypocrasy
arms,

that

of

name

make

them

Luther

establish

to

powerful

and

"

they

no

of
"

of Ireland.

groans

more,

Muscovite

the

is

name,

sword

realized

has

tiic

Pope.

temple, church,

persecution placed

may

in Allah's

Kosciusco.

enter

that

proscribe

Turkey.

save

Russia

longer

and

oppose

might

[)redictionof dying

It

the

shall

Omar

of

that

reforms

intolerant

in

Colenso.

England

the

that

dogma

of

strive

bishops

English

Mediaeval
ihus

under

the

fanaticism,
the

rummj-ges

still have

or

power

to

Algis
for

arsenals

terrifythe

is

everywhere

mosque,

of

faith
of

God.
is dead
the

people

once

it is

past
more

for

PREFACE.

bended

grovelon

to

in the dust

knees

of

and
credulity

daik

ness.

it is

pruned
is

the

west, from

to

then

hesitate ? who
Is

without

thus

to

its vital

to

arrest

revolution

tutions.
of free insti-

and
divisions,

create

dread

progress.
that surround

rumors

her from

south, does she sometimes

impedes her march ?

is
generation,
young

the

not

advance

to

more

its growth.
"

of force is

north

the

principleof equality

But, wherefore, 'midst all the

east

vigoroustree, and

violence,to the peaceful conquest

self; and
liberty's

of

even

let her

result
unfailing

The

the

possesses

always potent

without

and

and

young

vigorouswill be

more

alone

France
sap

is a
liberty

! but

Yes

what

does

she fear ?
France

New

not

to

seem

ready

to

abjurethe impotence of a past which she will not restore, and

freedom
boldly to follow the onward
flag that shall ensure
within,and respect from without ?
Then, forward !
The

age of

the value
what

pulpitsand
clerical

of

is past ;
religious
agitators
attached
to power,
oligarchies

the principles
of to-da/s success
facility

are

know

we

and

with

repudiatedas

to-morrow.
antagonistic

We

will

And

as

no

place

more
are

we

them

in the curule chair.

rotde, let

en

loyallyand

us

courageously

assist the advance.

'Midst

and
intolerances,
reviving

divide Europe, 1
whose
and
I

to

come

dug by

was

grave

you the life of a people

stillpervade our
civilization,

sacerdotal

hands.

the loftiest
humanity,after attaining
on
reason
regionsof speculativephilosophy,of untrammelled
the venerable soil of India,was
and stifled by the
trammelled
come

to

show

strifes that
religious

lay before

laws, hterature,and morale

whose

all the

you

how

altar that substituted for intellectual life a semi-brutal

of

existence

dreamingimpotence.
The

Council

\Meparingfor

is about
the

to

assemble

; all enemies

great contest, and

rise

to

of

are
liberty

show

whence

XI

PREFACE.

and
derived their holy revelation,

whence
their origin,

of France

the Government

"

Brahminism

heritors of Hindoo

of the sacerdotal

Beware

say to

to

and ended
They, too, began with poverty and abnegation,
with opulence and despotism.
the ancient
Listen to the Catholic MissionaryDubois
on
:
partiality
ness
Justice,humanity,good faith,compassion,disinterested-

Brahmins.
"

; in

by

them

suspect him

cannot

fact,all the virtues

others,both

to

did

by precept

them, and

to

example

and

control, they but

lesson of the past,

is the

India

their success,

assisted

had

princes,who

to

rose

which

by

world's

hence

the divine

sought

succumb

as

let the future

cradle; thence

and

-,

when

in

the

of(

shake

to

Fearful

slaves.

!
profit

it

is,that the

common

to the utmost
sendingforth her children even
originbequeathed
unfadingtestimonyof our

West,

in

mother

the

ples
princi-

same

peoples,by mating

to power
stepping-stone

taught

the

they gain over

precepts of Christna

has

familiar

were

ourselves."

moralityas

Thus

their

of

at least,
nearlythe
profess,speculatively

Hindoos
of

We

us

the

and
legacyof her language,her laws, her morale, her literature,
her religion.
forcingtheir
TraversingPersia, Arabia, Egypt, and even
way

to

the cold

and

their birth ; in vain

their skin may
with

snows

cloudy North,

of the West

brown,

or

; of the

the

of the first ;

the ashes
old ; but

time
of

legible
stamp
Science

now

'*

new

from

civilizations founded
no
new

trace

fail

to

on

contact

by

behind

peoples

cities flourish

I'uin united

and

white

become

and leave
fall,
splendid kingdoms may
few ruins of sculpturedcolunnis ;
some
from

soil of

the sunny

forgettheir point of departure,

they may

remain

far from

may

the

obliterate

them
but
rise

site of

the

ever

origin.

admits,as

Mteurs

des

Inde*

truth

'

needing no

par I'Abbe

further denionstra

Dubois,

t. iL

PREFACt.

jai

tion,tliat all
and

East;

idioms

Ine

thanks

of
the

to

of

labors
found

there

languages have

modern

derived

antiquitywere

Indian

from

the fai

our
philologists,

their derivation

and

their

loots.

It

yesterdaythat

but

was

attention of his class "to

much

our

Latin, since

and

Greek

the

lamented

the

better

have

we

Burnouf

drew

die

comprehension

commenced

the

of

study

of Sanscrit."
do

And

not

we

Germanic

his

and
legislation,

has somewhere

is the

said,

"

abridgedhistoryof

this is not

But

still permeates
spirit

and

Roman
of

economy

the

historyof
philosophyof

their

religion

which

they

"

their

their
to

were

they had

Indian

ophy
philos-

the world."

all.

and

their customs,

whom

the whole

The

emigrant tribes,togetherwith

The

Greek,

and

laws.

European
Cousin

Sclavonic

originto

same

languages?
inspired Egyptian, Hebrew,

Manou

our

assignthe

now

burnt

language,carried

pious memories
see

their laws, their usages,

no

before

more

with

of the Gods
"

of

them

equally

of that home

domestic

those

gods

leavingforever.

to the fountain-head,do
So, in returning

we

find in India all

traditions of ancient and modem

poeticand religious
ples.
peoThe
worship of Zoroaster, the symbols of Egypt, the
of Vesta, the Genesis
mysteriesof Eleusis and the priestesses
the

and
and

propheciesof the Bible, the morale of the Samian

the sublime
teachingsof the philosopherof Bethlehem.

This

book

have

hitherto

those

truths

comes

to

familiarize

all

those

truths

sage,

which

agitatedthe higher regions of thought,

have
which, doubtless, many
perceivedwithout
but

daringto proclaim them.

to
religiousrevelation,transmitted
far as possible,from
the fables
all peoples, disengaged,as
Sacerdotalism
of all times.
of ignoranceand of designing
I am
of the resentment
Aware
provoking,I yet shrini

It

is the

history of

PREFACE.

not

stake,
of

from

the

as

Philip

proclaimed
submit

my

in

We

encounter.

times

the

II.

of

in

Spain

book

to

the

are

Michael

of

atmosphere

an

XUl

reader.

and

Servetus,
free
of

burnt

longer

no

thought
freedom.

Savonarola,
may

And

the

at

be
tl"U6

and

freely
do

THE

VOICES

Ancient

of

Soil

invasions

have

hail, father

May

hail

we

dwelt

have

seeking
and

words

replied
*'

and

is

live

these

three

Brahma.

Brahmins

priests

and

ancient

think,

to

listened

have

and

they
"

pagodas

is

think

to

To

live

all

their

is

to

under

and

the

they

have

to

study God,

who

pundits

and

is all,

turned

"AVliat

then

they

of

sages,

learn,

is

learn

to

forms

to

the

examine

and

fathom

to

tions
manifesta-

innumerable

power."
to

are

philosophers
you

have

on

your

smiled

and

have

said

to

doing here, stationary,

and

years,

always fumbling
And

instruction

perceptible

I have

thousand

the

to

said

have

of celestial

six

of

foliage

the

spirit

my

forests,

is in all."
I

in

temples

lofty nature,

your

midst

To

and

of

of

to

science

mysterious

your

language

whispered

inquired
of

porches

of

of
future

Western

our

brutal

oblivion!

of

and

poetry

murmured

that

Jehova,

Zeus,

have

the

tamarinds

and

in

of

dust

the

love, of

depths

the

airs

evening

banyans

midst

of

under

thy past

of

comprehend

to

the

magic

revival

buried

faith,

of

centuries

whom

Hail,

hail !

humanity,

of

nurse

yet

not

land

cradle

India,

efficient

and

venerable

INDIA.

OF

is

what
knees
in

this

book

them
for

these

words

than

more

that

"

murmuring

you

are

l6

THE

useful

be

to

live is

To

"

which

and

to

heard

have

of

revealed

ciplesas

and

perfumes

in

just

is the word

OF

INDIA.

useful,to live is to be just,and

be

to

VOICES

studyingthis

eternal

wisdom,

Vedas,

the

of

book

leai c

we

principleof prin

the

fathers."

our

the

of

songs

flowers,they

poets
have

two

and

love, beauty,

afforded

their divine

"

instruction.
have

and

of

burning coals,
of

thousands
banks

under

sacred

kneel,
river

of

sources

and

"

the

at

the

of

thorns

of God.
where

Ganges,

the

rising,on

sun's

breeze

the

bed

has

borne

to

me

fields

"The

the

to

Hindoos

of the

these words

smilingat grief on a
spoke to them
Suffering

"

ascended

have

fakirs

seen

are

with rice,and

green

its fruit

let

"

thanks

return

us

the

bends

cocoa-tree

Him

to

who

gave

them."
And

this

yet, maugre

and
philosophers

of

without

abandon,
passions,

vour

seen

sons,

often
of

have

not

heard
that

the

on

grinding

evening air,hoarse

seemed

to

pathways, rivers' banks,

it the

rise from

desert

woody

shades,

or

voice of the past,

returningto
lost civilizationand an extinguished
grandeur?
it the expiringgroan
of Sepoys mowed
Was
Was

mcle

by grape
revolt, by some
panic?
Was

of

virgin daughters,

wealth, your

wailingcomplaint

marshes, sombre
"c. !

bmtish

by

handful

old

poor

liberty.

your

How

complaint to

blood, your

merchants, your

moans

poets, I have

of

Brahmins, of sages,

of

mother, enervated, enfeebled,demoralized

Hindoo

and

instruction

sublime

despite the

these breathingbeliefs,
faith,

earnest

it the

at the cold

Alas !

witness I

with

their

red-jacketswho
wail

of

fearful

down

and

children

thus

revenged

pele
the

a//er
their

own

vainlyseeking sustenance
nurslings,

breast of mothers

what

wives

o'er

weep

"

dead

from

has
sufferings

starvation?

it been

my

fate

tc

VOICES

THE

people smilingin apathy

Jestroysthen;, and

their

wnth

the grave of their ancient

of their independence.*

the

the 'work
to

such

of

cause

die of

of the Vedas

stillI

had

the

enthusiasm

with

saw

before

Him

it was,

alas !

who

gave

but

that these

sadness

beUefs for

an

people
verbal

free vriW of free

men

trace

act

out

this

of
origin

the

hatred

for either
energy
for either virtue or
to

obscuringveil

lift the

sought to

backwards

doomed

actor

!
Divinity

spiritof their sublime

of thought and the

that I

was

without

who

the

on

stohd submission of the slave.

for the blind and

the past, and

the

philosophersand
immortalityof the soul,

sages,

perceived that

freedom
fanaticism,

it

on

failure ?

populationsbend

And
.

bartered

and

and
virtues,

last,however,

Then

their recollections and

and fertilesoil !

sun

empty form.

in such

ended
Brahmins

the

saw

their cloudless
At

of

converse"

the great social

And

joyously digging

myself,has then been

decomposition? Is it simply
destinyof nations,as of man;

is it the

have

poets, "in solemn

on

that

tion
primeval doctrines,the sublime instruc-

still I heard

And

hand

own

hand

?
decrepitude

is it that the

How

iron

the

of
glories,

a' state

time, and

of

under

influence,I asked

sinister

What

17

INDIA.

OF

from

dnng people,

without
affection,

or

vice, seem

his part before

to

personate

an

audience

au

of

Statues.
How

the epoch
glorious

study and comprehension! I

temple'srecess, 1 inquiredof
Vedas

the

thousands
the

of

years,

life

s":ience of

gat'jsor

Babylon

I listened

presenteditself

that then
made

pages

and

whence

long

before

2*

By takingservice

imdei

ruins,I

inquiringyouth
Thebes

traced

from

out

of

the

my

the

tioned
ques-

their existence

count

recitals of those ancient poems

to

speak

and

monuments

whose

the great had

tradition

to

by

imbibed
hundred

their foundations.
which

the invadei ?

were

sung

l8

VOICES

THE

at the feet of Brahma

of

had

Judea

the

those laws of Manou

mins

under

the

tables of the

porches

Hebrew

from
lightnings
And

the

did

then

hei

and

Greece

and

Socrates

to

the world

Rome

to

thunders

This

and

saw

in the
her

living
power

of

expansion of

her

givingher laws, her

Persia,to

to

Devanagny (inSanscrit,crea/ed by God), precede the

Virginof

the

Djeminy and Veda-Vyasa precede

of
the
the
Christna, son
Virgin

and

"

midst

to
religion
Egypt,

saw

Plato,

before

ages

in all the

me

"

her
I

"

and

descended

her progress

and

Sinai.

heightsof

morale

pagodas ages

law had

traced

"

customs, her

of

India appear

originalityI
over
enlightenment

INDIA.

of Upper Egyi t and

sheplierds
I sought to underboni.
stand
which were
administered
by Brah

when

yet been

not

OF

of the

son

Bethlehem,
the

was

epoch

greatness, under

of

regime

the

of

reason.

And

then

approached

I followed

this

upon

the

of decay
footsteps

people who

had

instructed

it their morale

and

their doctrines

that time,which
ineffaceable,
and

Athens

Rome,

entombed

has

has

yet been

not

the

old age

pressed
world, and imwith

Babylon
able

to

seal

and

so

eveh,
Nin-

obliterate

it.
I

saw

voice

Brahmins

and

sacred

and

priestslend

function

to

the sacerdotal

stolid

the

support of

despotism of kings
"

stifleIndia under a coiTupt theocracy

origin,
ignoringtheir own
that would have been
the liberty
that soon
extinguished
which were
of those pb,stglories
its overthrow, as the memory

and

its reproach.

people,after two thousand

troyers
thraldom,were
powerlessto repulsetlieirdesyears of religious
and demand
retribution,
bowing passivelyto the hated
while nightand morning on
domination
of Englishmerchants
And

then

saw

clearlywhy

this

"

bended

knees

imploringthat God

had effected their ruin.

Chandernaoore,

Feb.

25th"1S68.

in whose

name

Sacerdotalism

THE

so

few
Yi'.ry

submitted

few have
her past

is the
of his

to

necessary

the surface

knowledge of
they have even
of criticism

unreasoningconfidence
victims of ignorance.

an

of Sanscrit?"

use

India, vet)

understand

to

cries

And

hidden

wealth

of history,
of
literature,

of

known

to

labors

all libraries
of all the
of

amount

Europe's

that country.

yet, what

The

three-fourths of the

tional
conven-

own

constitute

that

and

Jacquemont,

flippancyproceeds to construct
have copied,which
East which his successors
to-daythe source
adopted, and which is even

knowledge of

made

INDIA.

sought

the labor

to

the easy

them

"What

errors

IN

splendors,lookingonly at

that made

have

have

them, and with

denied

proud

travellers

BIBLE

the world

of

to

be

morale

unveiled
and

What

ures
treas-

philosophy to

be

of Colebrooke,of
Straiige,

Weber, Lassen, and Burnouf, have

thrown

William

Jones,of
lightupon all

some

hope that a succession of Orientalists

an
epoch
may follow,and succeed in completelyreconstructing
which would find nothing to envy in the grandeurand civi!i;;a
these

things. Let

tion of

our

own,

us

and

which

initiated the world

in all the great

of legislature,
of morale, of philosophy,and
principles

gion.
Unhappily it is

almost

mipossibleto

the

retrace

of rcli

infancy of

in it,without
myterious country without domestication
with its mariners,
its customs, and above all v.ithout
familiarity
deep knowledge of Sanscrit,the language of its youth,and of
munication
Tamoul, its livinglearned language,our only channel of comthis

with the past.

My

complaint against many

translators

and

Orientalists,

while

admiring their profound knowledge is, that not having

lived in India,they failin exactness
of expressionand in comprehension
of poeticcliants,prayers and
of the symbolic sense
ceremonies, and
whether
I have

thus

of translation
scarce

found

Englishmen,William

too

often

fall into

material

appreciation.
any but the productionsof

errors,

or

the illustrious

Jones anii Colebrooke, admitted by

Brah

INUIA

be

to

Turns

RELATION

ANTIQUITY.

TO

of
inlerprctatxous

exact

Ihey attributed

the residence

to

their

21

works, a fact which

learned

of these

amongst

men

by their instruct on.

then.,seekingtheir assistance and profiting
obscure as the Hindoos
Few writers are, in fact,
so cloudy and

disengagedfrom an atmosphere of poetic

and religious
invocation, which
ornaiTient, rhetorical llourish,
do not tend to elucidate the subjecttreated.
Again,
certainly
the Sanscrit,for every varietyof image or idea,has numberhave
le."s different forms of expressionwhich
no
equivalentin
their

be

thoughtmust

"

languages,which

only be rendered by great

circumlocution,requiringthat intimate knowledge only to be
ious
customs, laws, and religacquired from the soil,the manners,
traditions of the people whose origin
we
study and \\hose
modern

our

works

translate.

we

To

can

India, all knowledge acquired in Europe

ancient

fathom

avails

naught ;

learns

to

the

read, and

study must

re-commence,

the harvest

is

for lukewarm

distant

too

child

the

as

energies.
brilliant the

But, then,how

view, and

how

Writers
Hindoo

in his

of

le Panda!) ;
(soi/s

his

at

midst

remains

and

come

stand

in their

and

worship.Pundits

his

and

literature the

symbolic architecture

grandeur
extinguished

arrest, for it is the law of

Then
the

you

will have

mother

of

midst

destiny

been

"

the

decay

race

earliest ages,

as

monuments

nothing can

that

of inexorable

"

the

laws of

ancient,

most

fate.

and India will

initiated,

the human

learn

ceremonies, his chants, his

in the Vedas
of

live with the

and

India,come

our

of
still-existing
structures, the legacies

which
an

you

in

will instruct you

; revel

examine
and

shady home

language,assist

Brahmins

Manou

interested

presentedto

last

of pcrhcverance

study Brahma
theologians,

prayers ;
and

ample the reward

Savans

his ancient

spectacleat

cradle

apj^car
all

of

to
our

traditions.
The
to

read

lifeof several
the works

would
generations

that ancient

India

scarce

has

left

suffice
us

on

merely
history,

different sciences, and

moraUy poetry, philosophy,
religion,

Tl/E

22

will

each
medicine; gradually

science

too

faith

possesses

societyin Bengal has

the Vedas.
and trajislating

produce its cor.tribution, foi

move
mountains, and render?
"

to

the mission

assumed

shall discover whence

their

INDIA.

it inspires
capable of the greatest sacrifices.

those whom

We

IN

BIBLE

and

Moses

the

and perhaps restore

Holy Scripture,

which

which

they report lost,but

could

and
possessed,

transcribe

not

collecting

Prophets abstracted

their book
of

am

of

of

Kings,

opinion they never

for their Bible

from

mere

tradition.

said that I make

be

It may

Patience

my

perhaps it is here
the

each

manner

same

step

as

"

tions.
strange proposi-

other.

that the

idea
ruling

of this work

should

It is this :

be declared.
In

with

multipliedproofs will present themselves,

and sustaining
each
redoubling
And

debut

as

modern

poets have

our

societyjostlesantiquityat
and Virgil,
copied Homer
cles
Sopho-

and

Euripides,Plautus and Terence ; as our philosophers

drawn
from Socrates, Pythagoras,Plato and
inspiration

have

Aristotle ;

as

models

as

historians take

our

our

orators

Demosthenes

study Hippocrates,and
so

to

had

self also
antiquity's

copy.

What

an

our

codes

more

peoplesprecede and succeed each

acquired by one nation
edge painfully

not

thousand

die with the

these
It

physicians
Justinian
;

transcribe

our

"

1
logical

Do

other ?

Does

the knowl

confine

itself to its

own

Can
of six
lation,
popu-

Egypt, Persia,Judea, Greece, and

a
stamp as ineffaceable,impressionsas profound, as
?
last have impressed upon
us
is time to disabuse ourselves of those prejudiceswhich
impressed

Rome

Cicero

generationthat produced it?

that the India
any absurdityin the suggestion
with
civilized,
overflowing
years ago, brilliant,

and
territory,
there be

or

and
antiquityto study,to imitate,

simple and

more

tus
Livius,Sallust,or Taci-

Titus

upon

represent the ancients

ated
elaborhaving almost spontaneous!)and moral, the most
ideas,philosophic,
lofty
religious,
that in their naive admiration explainall in
diese prejtidices
as

"

fNniA'S

TY.

ANTIQU

TO

RELATION

JJ
^

the

domain

some

few

And

of

science,arts,

because

have

we

in the

and

great men,

and

letters

without

delusion

tion.
revela-

connectinglinks

and India,is that

so called,
antiquity,
for sjillworshippinga

intuition of

the

by
religion

of

realm

lost the

for ages

by

sufficient

tween
be-

reason

seekingits possible*

solution ?
Have

we

not, in

then carry the

us

the past,

by experiment,by

crucible,refuted occult mediaeval

the scales and

Let

with
disruption

sciences ?

of experiment into
principle

same

the.

let us rejectintuition ! Ra
thought. Philosophers,
let us repudiaterevelation !
tionalists,
if it has not
studied antiquity
I ask of all who have specially
have
twenty times occurred to them that these people must
drunk from some
to us? when
posed by
springPierian unknown
if theyhave not
some
point of historic or philosophicobscurity,
realm

of

twenty times

Libraryhad
the lost
One
what

themselves,

been

burnt,perhapswe

not

of the

secret

! if the

Ah

"

studies

themselves.

have

found

past."

thinkers,our

our

Alexandrian

might there

struck
thinghas always especially

formed
the

said to

But

Egyptian,of Moses,

our
moralists,

who
of

me.

were

We

know

by

have
legislators,

the precursors

of Menes

Minos, of Socrates,of Plato,and

of Aristotle?
the precursor

was
Who, lastly,

Will it be said
I

they had

no

of Christ ?

precursors

of intelligence,
reason
rejectsthe spontaneity
my
intuition of these men, which
some
explain as

reply that
the

"

divine revelation !
'

And

escapingfrom

criticism alone

in my

the

cloudy past,

forward

progress

I accept
on

freelyreasoned

that road

which, to

dioughtat least,must lead at last to the goalof truth.

Nations
only attain eclat after long and painfulinfancy,
unless aided by the light
of peoples that have preceded ihem.

my

Remember

(allof

how

modern

society
groped in darkness until th"
restored the light
of antiquity.
Constantinople

THI

That

Hindoo

IHRLE

INDIA.

IN

rendered
emigi-ation

the

is what

Persia,Judea,Greece, and Rome,

to

CertainlyI
could

proofsas

promise

not

the cask is

wish;

I present

do

I have

been

I believe

able

true

collect

to

elucidation

of

such

supported by

"

as

worker.
single

well from

as

Egypt,

to

I propo'^e to demonstrate.

complete

the power

beyond

idea which

an

as

service

same

the

learned

ks of

wo]

feeble resources
others
from my
as
own
Orientals,
will explore the mine, better,perhaps,and more
deeply in
the meantime, behold the firstcoup de pioche.
"

"

And

I must

contest

nor

for

here, once

offence ; that

all,declare

neither

that I seek

perfectrespect
absolutelyto rejectthem

possessingthe

for all beliefs,

I yet hold

most

myself free
in my entire independence of thought.
Enquirerswho have adopted Egypt as their field of research,
and

who

have

ple
exploredand re-exploredthat country from temto
tomb, would have us believe it the birthplaceof our
civilization.
There
who
are
some
even
pretend that India
adopted from Egypt her casts, her language, and her laws,

while

Egypt
have

They
ment,

is

the contrary but

on

advantage,the encouragement

every

the support of learned

will appear.
its sun

If India

; there

stone

India is

whom

are,

books.
restoring
as

truism

on

the

light
if
energies,

far off for lukewarm

too

fund

no

of Govern

too

for

other

difficultfor

littlepossible

defaced
transporting

blocks

few believefs for

side,some

who work without ceasing,

not
at excavating
religion,
and turning
up sand, but at exhuming,studying,

ditches
and

is

tion
emana-

societies ; but, patience! the

and its Sanscrit is

kills,

if it has
charlatanism,
of

entire Indian

one

"

Ere

that to

long they "willestablish

studyIndia

is

to

trace

the

tion
proposi-

humanity to

its sources.
Others

writers dazzled with admiration

it everywhere,and
M.

Philarete

givethemselves

Chasles,in his book

result of Alexander's

aknost

up
on

of Hellenic

to

absurd

find
light

theories.

the East, assumed

legendaryinroad

as

into Northern

India's

India,that
whole

inlluence

Such

an

the

At

25

diffused itselfthroughoutthe
Brahminical

is about

civilization,

as
logical

as

to

invasion of the time of Charles

tliat the Saracen

some

ANxiQunT.

vivified ancient

and

which
literature,

and

arts

lo

influence had

Greek

country

relation

on

anterior

the Gauls

to

maintain
iiad

Martel

the Roman

ConquesL

opinionis a simplechronological
absurdity.
epoch of Alexander, India had alreadypassed the

into decay; her great

sinking
and legislation
in philosophy,
achievements
morals,literature,
thousand
than two
alreadycountingmore
years of existence ;

periodof

and

and
splendor,

her

he may

I defy whoever
further,

faintest trace, the

ditferent
their

or

was

The

show

be, tc

in India the

whether
vestige,
insignificant

most

their ceremonies,
idioms,their usages, their literature,

to indicate
religion,

of the Greek.

the presence

in India

of Alexander

presence

was

but

brutal fact

isolated,circumscribed, exaggeratedby Hellenic

which

in their

the Hindoos

have

not

deigned to

even

record

"

tradition,
in their

talents
wound
a writer whose
history.I would not unwillingly
him that it is a
I sincerely
forbear telling
admire, but I cannot
dream

hatched

paradox incapableof
and to which I am
of discussion,
a semblance
M. du Menil,I
that a distinguished
Orientalist,

at

even
sustaining

trulyastonished
should
believe,
To

"

as
genius,

of India

is to

"

in the absence

she gave
to

Porus

conquered
make

even

that Athens

proof,and

ply.
re-

while

the Hellenicised

inspiredHindoo

European art, is to ignorethe history

parent the pupilof the child;in fact,it

life to
the

Sanscrit is itself the

of
proofof the Indian origin
maternity.

but

of all

to
seriously

Sanscrit.
forget

The

To

"

the trouble

in the annals of Hindostan

not

of the

name

of the pen,

given himself

have

pretendto-day

find

we

the hazard

what
individuals,
let them

idea,I avail

am

irrefutable and

most

the

races

about

to

of

most

simple

Europe, and of India's

say may

be

nothingnew

forgetthat in propoundinga perhaps new

to support it,
myselfof all discoveries that seem
not

"

26

BIBLE

THE

IN

INDIA.

and making known

familiarizing,

with the view of

who

neither

have

means

time for such

nor

pristinecivilization

which

studies,that

have

we

to the masse*
ordinary
extra-

yet

never

sur

passed.
If the Sanscrit formed
a.icieni

and

the

Greek, as in fact all other languages

(of which
only have been

shall

presentlyoffer many
conveyed to these different

modern

proofs), it could
countries by successive emigrations
be absurd
; it would
its way
otherwise ; and history,
althoughgi-oping
this hypothesis.
rather aids than opposes
subject,

granted,with

This

that

the

with their

that

ilypreservedtheir

sai

attained

this

on

conclude

must

high degree of

mother-tongue they also

neces-

literature,
traditions,
religious

historic and

legislation.

and

If the
birth

to

crowd

others,stillalthoughits primitive
stamp

of

itselfin modern

much

so

cause

idioms,and yet more

their source,

nearer

constrained
logically

and

to

admit

almost
traditions,
legislative

descend
necessarily
How

and

vast

cending with

mutations,and after giving

its many

language,maugre

lost,shows
are

language,we

spoke it had

people Avho

and
civilization,

finished

so

to suppose

transformed

the aid

the

of ancient

wc
anticjuity,

historic,
religious,
literary,
to

same

and enfeebled

this field for human

new

bodistinctly,

in those of

that

he

Indian

would
antiquity,
times

modern

to

!
investigation

civilization

the

to

As

very

iheir

step from

follow the peoples step by

may
their maturity,
assignto each its cradle,dispersethe

we
beginning,

infancyto
and
mists of history,
day

borrowingof

the

trace

determine

for each

we

are

led

legendary times,
never

They

are

each
and

manner

to

which

conclude

as

of tlie
philologists

language from

tradition the

each

historyis

the

of its

amount

of India.

customs

that

Sanscrit,so

the

fabulous,heroic, and

reluctant

to
seriously

nize,
recog-

existed.
but Hindoo

populationsfrom
miters have

custom

same

the traditions and

borrowingsfrom
Thus

in the

Asia

traditions
Minor

imported with

into

Greece, and

adopted as cradle reminiscences.

the

colonizmg

Avhich

iheij

aS

THE

Orestes.

Celebrated

"

IN

INDIA.

for his madness.

Sanscrit,0-rakj*'ta

In

de"

"

to misfortune.

voted
Pyi.ades.

friend of Or

The

"

his

by

BIBLE

Sanscrit,/'"/a-"/fl

In

who

"

consoles

friendship,

Iphigenia.

sacrificed vi

The

"

without

In

Sanscrit,Apha-gana

"

end?

who

posterity.

Centaur.

Mythologic,half

"

half horse.

man,

Sanscrit,Ken-tura

In

Man-horse.

Olympian divinitieshave

The

Jupiter.

the Greeks

which

made

have

origin:

same

Sanscrit,Zu-pitri, Father

In

"

the

of Heaven,
word

the

or

Zeus-pitri,of

and

Zeus,

the

Hebrews

yehoz-ah.
Pallas.

of Wisdom.

Goddess

The

"

In

Sanscrit,Pala-sa

protecting

"

wisdom.
Athenia.

The

"

without
Minerva.

of

Goddess

Greek

Chastity. In Sanscrit,A-ta7taia

"

children.
is the

Who

"

In

of courage.

attribute

added

goddess with

same

the

Romans,

Sanscrit,Ma-nara-va

but
"

with
who

the
ports
sup-

the strong.
Bellona.

Neptune.

Mars.

"

few
way

examples now
of

who

"

of

name

Pelasgi.

The

LelegEs.

In

In

"

who

"

Sanscrit,Plushta

from

warlike

the furious

strength.
waves.

Sanscrit, Pasa-uda

In

Sanscrit,Lala-ga

"

givesdeath.
strikes with fire.

who

ter
people ; there is no betby the etymology of names.

the

among

Sanscrit,Palasa-ga

In

"

"

who

"

who

fightwithout

piiy.
spreadingfear.

march

of these words accord with the

significations
warlike people for givingthemselves
names

the

well

"

governs

Neptune.

provingemigrationthan

The

How

Sanscrit,Bala-na

Sanscrit,Mri

In

of Hell.

God

In

the waters.

of War.

God

"

Pluto.

calms

who

"

Greek

Another

"

War.

Sanscrit,Na-pata-na

In

"

Poseidon

of

Goddess

"

and
of young
in harmony with their habits !
taste

Hellenes.

The

moon.

The

Does

Spartans.

And
become

not
"

these
the

In

"

Sanscrit,Hda-na

Greece

also call herself Hellas

In Sanscrit,Spardha-ta

Sanscrit words

names

of the
warriors,worshippers

"

"

the rivals.

which, passinginto Greece,

of celebrated

men

have

INDIA'S

Pythagoras.
Anaxagoras.

we

Sanscrit,
/'/Ma-^/zr?/
"

the school-master.
"

"

"

from

pass

The

From

Italians.

"

of low

Bretii.

Bharata

The

Tyrrhenians.

The

Sabines.

The

Samnites.

The

Celtes.

The

Gauls.

The

Belge.

The

Sequanes.

The

Sicambres.

The

Scandinavians

peopleof

"

Tyra-na

"

Sabha-na

"

Kalla-ta
Ca-lata

"

people who

as

conquer

they marcli.

warriors.
superior

"

good

"

Skanda-nava

"

caste.

children of the strong.

"

Su-katn-l"ri

"

s%vift warriors.

"

invadingchiefs.

the

Saka-na

"

the artisan castes.

the banished.

"

"

"

Bala-ja

"

//a/a
Sanscrit,

In

Trojan hero.

the warrior

"

Sajnna-ta

"

"

of

Italus,son

:
origins

castes.

The

"

Sanscrit

same

sciences.

Italy,Gaul, Germany, and

into

Greece

find the

men

29

-master.
Sanscnt.,Anaftga-guru the spirit
in all
the master
distinguished
Praia-guru

Scandinavia,we

"

ANTIQUnT.

In

"

Protagoras.

If

In

"

TO

RELATION

lords of the land.

of Skanda, the God
worshippers

"

of Battles.

Odin.
The

Yodin

"

Swede.

Norway.

Su-yodka
Nara-vaja
"

"

"

The

Baltic.

The

Alamanni

The

Valaques.

The

Moldavians.

Ireland.
Thane

In

rocks surrounded

"

Scottish

ancient

Asia, the

free

"

chief).
"

men.

the lowest

Tha-na

"

chief of warriors.

dynasty of the Xerxes

of
origin.All the names
neailypure

caste.

salt water.

with

and

whole

of countries,
cities,
are

sea.

the servile class.

"

people of

"

of the

men

powerfulconquerors.

Ala-tnatm

"

Mal-dha-va

"

Erin

of the

sea

"

Sanscrit,Vala-ka

In

is of Hindoo

erxes

the country of mariners, or

(Germans).
"

soldiers.

good

"

Bala-ta-ka

"

"

(or

the chief of warriors.

"

strong

Sanscrit.

the

Artax-

places,of

Here

few

East.

I*

are

examples :
M

K.

"

The

lunar

Sanscrit,Ma
Artaxerxes.

by

Divinityof

Castabala

moon.

Artha-xatrias

"

the Greeks

Mesopotamia.

the

"

all the tribes of Asia and of the

"

The

?
"

(strongplace).
"

3"

Was

he

not

so

called

JMadya-potama

"

King.

Great

country between

Kastha-bala

rivers.

strengthimpenetrable

BIBLE

THE

JO

INDIA.

(who broughtsun-worshipinto Asia).

Zoroaster

Sanscrit,
Surya:iLira

"

who

"

IN

teaches sun-worshio.

enough ; it would requirevolumes properlyto treat tliis

is now
the inquiry
hausted
question; moreover,
philological
wholly exBut

of

all ancient

and

to Sanscrit

'\iso

as
clear,so precise,

times,and
to

absurd

to

rational

most

some

of

names

attribute
solution

the

which

them
is

to

gods,of

stamp

so

no

doubt

with

that
special,

modern,

argument.

itwould

as

simple

most

and

Sanscrit,which

but
grammatical origin,

also in

figurative.
lonians,Dorians,and
origin,
or

colonize Greece

modifications
it is

heroic

warriors,philosophers,

the

to

theybringtheir
poetry had preserved

all the traditions that

cradle-recollections,

them,

and

theybelong,and

historic

to

and

of construction
signification

any

assignthem

Hindoo

of
populations

others,pass from Asia Minor

to

of doubt.

fabulous

chance, the

to

in their

real sense,

their symbolicor
Thus

from

names

heroes, of

languagesto

only explainsthem

not

shadow

even

peoples, have

countries,or
be

forbid

the

of these

in the

"

principalpeoples,ancient
instances that may
exemplifymy

from

givesome

None

noveltyto trace
the affiliation
langi;;iges
;

modern
to

If,then,I have chosen

it is

science,and it is no

in the domain

; but

possiblefor

also

us

to

leavingthem
and

recover

the ages, which

passingover
explainthem to-day,
maugre
have fatally
these things
enveloped them in obscurityand

Midst the souvenirs of these

colonists of

innumerable

exploitsof

the

in the first rank

their ancestors
of this
the

the

God, who

Hindoos,
does

even

m}'thologyof Upper Asia,

epithetof Hara-Kala,
presidesover
Hara-Kala,
new

not

that is Siva ;

which

livion.
ob-

god of war of
the)'forgetthe name
to

attributes
him

givehim

poets

in

only the
when

he

; and

the

war.

the hero

of

battles,becomes

community adopts him

Hindoo

all

the

presence

Hindoo

to

soil,appear

new

warlike

possess

and

fable,continues

to

Hercules

under

that name,

make

him

the

and

Greek, like

of lions,
destroyer

India's
of serpents, of

relation

and
hydras,

tradition that continues

the

Zeus, God,
"

antiquity.

to

31

of entire armies ; it is

even

only the

itself.

Trinity; Brahma,

of the Hindoo

name

Visch

Siva,is preservedwithout alteration.

nou,

Tha-Saha,

of

the associate

Theseus.

Siva,becomes

Aha-ka, Radha-manta, Manarava, A-tanaya, Napatana, Bala^2acus, Rhada-

Palasa,Andha-ra-meda, Ari-ana, become

na,

meda,
manthus, Minerva, Athenaia, Neptune, Bellona,Pallas,Androand

Ariadne.

Brahma,

Jupiter;

and

the

in their
Zeus

God
Zeus-pitri,

called

also

if this word

it is that

sense,

puritythe

this

Sanscrit

two

and

of which

these

"

names

not

are

serving
pre-

almost

it is formed

"

"

Pater.

and Ananga-guru,become
Prata-guru,
agoras

Greek,

retained

language has

words

Pitri,in Greek, Zeus

and

in

dissevered

be

may

Father, becomes

the

proper

Protagorasand Anaxdescriptiv
but qualities
names,

in science
themselves
distinguished
still
and philosophy; and Pythagoras,derived from Pitha-guru,
in propagatingin Greece
better proclaims its Oriental origin,
of

the

Hindoo

And
the

system
of

so

be

the
I have

their

and

metempsychosis.

of

rest, all the

an

that

not

in

of

names

antique fable

of this work.

dig deeper in this mine.

immense
field for exploratioa
by the learned,
have
touched
even
it,had I not reasonably
others

will

ISiblical revelations
restoring

loudly to

necessary

What

was

not

isolated, and

demonstrate

that

to

this

came
India, it be-

adoption from

peoples,ancient and
derive from that country their language,their historic
their philosophy,
and their legislation.

India

I have

said of the

ancient Greece,

peoples,of

which

have

and of origin. It
of signification
affinity
follow the scent, to decompound all,and
etymology of words and of meaning, if that

said it above,

I should

thought

have

principalobject

is here

There

to

easy

assignthem
were

the

Hindoo

same

would

who

men

that

all

names

appliesequallyto
I ha\

also

of heroes
the

givensome

names

and
of

ern,
modtions,
tradi-

demi-godsof
more

modern

such
etymologies,

as

THE

3"

IN

BIBLE

INDIA.

the Tyrrhenians,
Samnites, Celts,Gauls, Sequanes, S"
Bretii,

the

cambres, Scandinavians,.
Beige,Norwegians,Gennans, Wallachs,
The

Moldavians, "c.
their

of

community

clearlyfrom

the

Himalayas

that the

plains that

stretch

this

Adopting
the cradle

of

void
ble

clear

From

the

conclusion, the fabulous

the

up

several

obscurityof

the

comparisons

that

of ancient

are
illustrious,

them

transmitted

and

by poetry

as

and

sung

The

Olympus.

is still in every

Fleece

is

Iliad of Homer
of the

Ramayana,

Hindoo

otf

the

King

of

chiefs insult each

The
cars,

by

with

divides

gods

and

of

Ceylon, those

at

the

loss

and

lance

of

jioets,

and

the

soil of India

in which

Rama

wife,Sita,who

and

the

souvenir

enfeebled

an

Golden

at

goes
had

been

the
ried
car-

Ceylon.
in the

other

javelin.

with Rama

This
these

goddesses ;

but
Briseis,

first Greek

Jason

echo,

his

formed
trans-

proper

of

poem

recover

preserved

history.
reproduction of the

own

the

an

the

by

is but

on

nothing but

of his allies to

head

their

legend
mouth

exploits

all the

of India

comes

primitivelanguage

afresh

originof

made, it

I have

doo
tradition,and, later,their Hin-

of the Greeks

Olympus

Hindoo

conjectures
possi

to

past.

Greece, and

their

celebrated

the

pertainingto
The

surrounds

that

reduced

but souvenirs

and

originlost sightof, and

people

origin.

and it becomes
foundation, explainsitself,

tiiat all the heroes

that made

that

races

halo

historyis

which

on
antiquity,

of

to

two

their

had

race,

it is

of the

the base

along

of the
intelligent

most

peoples,

and
indisputable,

then

vast

of all these

race

becomes
origin,

earth, that is,the white

tlie

out

unity of

"

may

not

be

style,combat

same

in
struggle,

even

like manner,

part with

take

the wrath

identified

on

the

King

of Achilles

in this immense
"

poem.
The

imitation
The

is

undeniable, met
flagrant,

epithetBoopis (ox-eyed),which
is

the Hindoo

to
applies tj Juno,
; because, wi';hout

however

the

most

with
Homer

constantly

sublime

being adored

in details.

even

as

of

parisons
com-

godj

India's

the
and

Needless

say, that

to

opinion of

learned
succession

adition and

of

collected

and

we

and

genius of new
of Oriental origin.
the
imitation is still more
striking,
fear of being taxed with exaggeration,

with

say, without
^sop and 15abrias have

that reached
latter

fabulists

may

that

but

the

writer,althougha
of his

himself,takes

Greek

second

to

proem

Hindoo

fable

Egypt.

This

copied

through Persia, Syriaand

them

claim

"

Ttplv

Fable, O

who

the

under

an

^a6i\ecai ^AXs^avSpoVy

edriv

T]6av

TtoT

of

son

Syrianmen,

of

nai

TtaXaioy

2vfja"y
Oi

CO

mencement
com-

East

for the

inventingthese ingeniousapologues,which
amusing form often suggest profound instruction :
fi"v,

the

at

care

merit of

MvBoi

of thi."--

the works

or

that accords
only conclusion
of people
peoples,and especially
ancient

in the

rhapsodies,preserved b)
It ij
arranged under Pericles.

chants

I'ue

With

Greek.

consider

who

Germans,

creed,

concur
entirely

Homer

on

33

in the Hindoo

in
epithetis wholly inexplicable

the

i"oet as

antiquity.

revered
especially

is the animal

ox

to

relation

Ini

fvprjii

Nivov

avSpwTtov,
xe

King Alexander, is
lived in former

nai

BtjXov.

an

ancient

times

under

invention
Ninus

and

Belus."
It is sufficient to

of the Brahmin

Fontaine, to
and

see

of

the

Hindoo

Pilpay,

Ramsamyayer, of^sop, of Babrias,and of La

that they all proceed the one
from the other,

that the Greek

the

hemselves

the fables

open

and

trouble

modern
to

fabulists have

change

the action

not

even

of these

given
little

dramas.

study the ancients

the more
obvious
the propositionI have
already
appears
itself an
advanced, viz.,that antiquityhad
antiquitythat
that high deand aided its rapid advancement
gree
to
jtispirfd
of civilization,
whifb
artistic,
philosophicand literary,
Thus,

in its

at

turn

each

has

step, and

the

fertilized modern

more

we

genius.

BIBLE

THE

34
How

"

wonderful

many

lator of
And

this is

course

in

progress
chain

send

not

India

to

It is there

alone

has

service ;

instead

India, would

of

In

of

support

world,

the

to

salient

Hindoo

entire

at

Rome,

volume

would

of

school
no

has

Athens,

longer afford
by a Sanscrit
the South
science ?

given

tion
civiliza-

now

"

here

can

Why

the
most
rapidly expose
which
we
legislation legislation

derived

social

all

In

shall

of

Egypt, by them
Obviously we

this

India

that

theory

points

recover

whole

the

the

translate books

at

soon

of

reconstruction.

Pondichery or Karikal,in
render important services to

school,which, founded

great

links

the

but

replacingit

of

made

have

d'etre,can

raison

!
inscriptions

and

we

learned

the

found.

cultivate

to

longer

no

faintest

the

and

use,

will be

truth

the

in excavation j,

explore originsand

to

continue

W^ierefore
which

without

knowledge of the past,

inten-uptedto admit of

too

are

columns

trans

others."

themselves

broken

on

not

of

Egypt, Persia,Africa,and

to

systems

learn

to

exhaust

yet Governments

build clever
Of

have

the
Langlois,

M.

facts,"wrote

Harivansa,. "we

in scientific missions

INDIA.

IN

and
bequeathed to her by Greece
from primitivesources.
succinct hints;oui
only give some

be

systems

insufficient to

the

important

most

the

elaborate

ject.
sub-

of

matters

are
paternal authority,
legislation
marriage,filiation,
tutelage,

adoption,property, the laws

donations, and
partnerships,
We

shall

almost

passed
law

see,

and

of contract,
testaments.

examination,

on

law, and

these

that

Hindoo

unaltered, from

French

deposit,loan, sale,

that

the

law

divisions
into

greater part

have

Roman
of

their

to-day still in vigor.

comment
or
possiblediscussion;where

are
particulardispositions

There
there
The

be

can

is

text

Hindoo

no

there
laws

three

thousand

entire

and
antiquity,

years

is
were

no

room

codified

before

the

for

dissent.

by Manou,
Christian

notably by Rome,

era,

wliich

more

than

copied by
alone

36

BIBLE

THE

intimate that his

the husband

to

that he may

clam

The

at

same

Conducting
in

as

celebrated

INDIA.

rightshave

commenced,

and

his wife.

Rome

remittcre

nuntiurn

IN

In

potest. (Leg.
"

the wife

with music

and

of

in the direct line ;

husband,

in India,

was

and

marriage
"

was

feasting.

of Manou,

the law

Marriages,by

of her

final ceremony

the

Rome,

lo, de

the house

to

filia,
pater sponso
Sponsalibus.)

potestatctnancnte

and, in

are

prohibitedof

every

gree
de-

the seventli
to
collateral,

the

line.
and fifth degree of the maternal
degree on the paternal,
Lastly,the father,who in India marries his daughterto any one,
after having betrothed her to another, is held infamous.
law (Leg. 13, " L, lib. iii.
Listen to the Roman
): Item si
alferi sponsa, alterl tiuptasit
This

law,

is not

The

all.

in those

even

Hindoo

govern

Roman

to

institution which

Indian
tradition

the

inspiredthe

have

never

strict and

of licentious love.

sanction
do

but

here

touch

upon

all these

importantcritical studies might not

afford

to

legislation,
except
ated
recognize. Concubinage, toler-

regulatedat Rome, is another

the Romans
adopted in deference to
of primitive
times would
pure manners

What

punitur.

modern

and

We

edicti

is found
spirit

liaisons which

Brazil,has declined

that of

sententia

ex

laws of the ancient

admirable

of those

us

points of interest.
deeper exploration
cradle

manity
of hu-

word

One

and

more

we

have

done

with

marriage.

instituted in India,was
Divorce, legally
Let

hear

us

woman
"

may
The

the
legislator

the Hindoo

from

separate from

husband

may

the

her husband

be abandoned

same

causes

Roman

law

states

no

other

for which

inal,
his wife if he is crim-

by

impotent,degraded,afflicted with leprosy,or

prolonged absence in foreigncountries."
The

in Rome.

causes

because

of

civil
degradation,

death, impotence,contagiousdisease,and absence.

In

The

India,as
husband

in
is

not

Rome,

the

obligedto

adulterous
restore

wife loses her

it.

dowry

INDIA'S

REi^ATiON

TO

37

TY.

ANTIQL

Thus, in this very importantpart of law, which is the base of

India givinglessons by which
societies and of nations,we
see

profiled.Let

all peoples haye

which, althoughsummary,

neither

are

these

pursue

us

less

sure

comparisons,
nor

less

au-

Uientic.

PATERNAL

FILIATION,

AUTHORITY,

TUTELAGE,

AND

ADOPTION.

The

rule,Pater
as

marriage,has
Manou

the

mitted
addcfnonstra/it,
just(ztiuptice
law, and adopted by our code,

in Roman

axiom

an

expressedin

thus

"

is est quem

Article

312,

husband

as

"The

child conceived

father,"is thus

during
expressed by

child born

The

in

house

the

belongs to

husband

of the

woman."

Hindoo

The

law

incestuous
natiiral,

though
right,
children

The

It then
terms

the

"

real

children
distinguishes
and

small

adulterous.
one,

of incest

in the

and
legitimate
children

Natural

succession

have

of their parents.

claim

can
adultery

or

as

nothingbut

ment.
ali-

establishes the

in these
procedure for repudiation,
circumstances
it is proven
with certainty
that

If from

father is

other

some

than

the

husband, the child is

in the family." Lastly,

adulterous,and deprivedof all rights
a
is,that it admits the legitimization
disposition
very remarkable
of

We

natural child
may

by subsequent marriageof

say, without

adopted by the
the laws
What

of France

admiration
at

must

sightof
4

fear of error, that all the above

Roman

and

the parents.

law, stillform

of the

ples,
princi-

the substance

of

majorityof European nations.

fillthe thinker,
the philosopher,
the juriscon
so wise,so
legislation
simple,so practi

38

THE

BIBLE

cal,that after five thousand

INDIA.

IN

years

we

adopted it,finding

have

nothing superiorto supplant it !

As with fihation,
paternal authority
presents
it was

; what

head

The

of

in India

such

cidence
coin-

same

it in Rome.

was

wife,his children,

his

family,says Gibelin,held

the

by the rightof master, and with the same

can
acquire nothing, possess
to-day the son

his slaves in his hand

power

even

his

nothingthat

his fatlier's.

not

his age, says the Hindoo

"Whatever

while his father is in life the

As

now

truth, that
modem

never

the principles
are
tutelage,

to

and

is

son

Catyayana,
independent.

commentator

the

always

recognizedin the Roman

instead of studyingIndia

same

as

It would

law.
we

in

are

ted
admitin

seem,

realityupon

soil.

Hindoo

admits

progenitors,
of paternaland maternal
dative guardnext
relations,and lastly
ianship,
well as the intervention of a familycouncil and of
as
for protectioncf the person and property of a
public authority
law

the

first
legaltutelage,

of

minor.
be

It may

noted

as

legislator
prefersmale
exist.
forfeits the

tutelageof

We
word

on

whether

to

tives of

law,

of

The

adoption.
a

adoption

should

the

be

childless

and

this

on

point with

permits adoption
family,or from mo

himself

solemnized

As

in Roman

in presence

heads

of

of

the

caste.

law, in adopting the usage, has sought to giveextra-

to
solemnityand authenticity
orilinary

its adoption shall

of first instance
Once

law

code

adopted

family,of patriarchs.Brahmins,
P'rench

Indian

Hindoo

child into

good-willtowards

the

familycouncil.

glance at

our

introduce

Hindoo

tives
tutelage,as long as male relaaccordance
is that the mother
striking
her children,if,being a widow, she marries

consent

conclude

may

the

female

to

stillmore

againwithout

specialcoincidence,that

the

only be permittedafter

and

adopted, the

of

act

consent

in

that
requiring
of

tribunal

superiorcourt.

child became

one

of the

wth
family,

the

INDIA'S

in
dispositions

ir.ie

and

Roman

exist

If there

cession

by Nanda-Pandita, says

Athens

"I

adopt

the sacred

it

that I may

I, who

for the continuation

for the

of funeral

perpetuationof

marriage as

dissolve

not

tomb

my

in transmitting

descendants,hasten with solicitude

son

male

an

it,for in the

Hindoo

the

indissoluble

cred
sa-

law

bond.

the

was

death

Even

permittedre-marriage

that

castes

and
offerings

name."

my

remark, in conclusion,that

us

race, and

my

on

without

firstto consider
did

adoptionwas :
to accomplish
a son

am

and
rites,
Let

have

of Manou

text

adopt a

to

chain of descendants,confer
dirough an unbroken
degree of immortality."
Greek
formula of adoption,a reproductionof the

this

Hindoo
"

son, of

ceremonies, to perpetuate

some

not

of

the foniiula

ni)- name

Is

of their father."

At

upon

The

and
good disposition,
let them equallyshare the sur
after^vards,

adopted

an

born

son
legitimate

bom.

be

law.

French

Vridd'ha-Gautama, annotated
"

39

might afterwards

children who

as
rigiits

aj"2

ANTIQUITY.

TO

RELATION

widows, it was

of

only in cases where the defunct havingleft no

children,it became
imperativeto provide for hmi a son, who
should accomplishon his tomb
the ceremonies
necessary for his
salvation.

For, in Hindoo

the abodjs

of the blest
second

The

son.

the child

means

and

husband, therefore,was

begottenby

him

was

not

only permittedas a
his,but belonged to

inherited the property of the defunct.

Besides,what
too

much

amounting
This

to

at*^ention

in

India,is its respect for

what

we

not
can-

almost

women,

worship.
from

extract

Women

antiquitywholly overlooked, but

admire

be read without
"

the father can

theology,
only attain
ceremonies
of his
through the expiatory

Manou

iii.sloca
(lib.

55,

"c., ":c.)will

not

:
surprise

should

be

nurtured

with

every

tenderness

and

fathers,their brothers,their husbands, and

their bro\hers-in-law,
if they desire great prosperity."
"

Where

by

their

women

live in

the familysoon
affliction,

becomea

THE

40

BIBLE

INDIA.

IN

and
and respected,

extinct ; but when they are loved

with tenderness,the familygrows

and

cherishet*.

in all circuni

prospers

stances."

Wlien

"

when
"

not

honor

we

honored,

are

women

not, all acts

them

cursed

households

The

them
the

"In

wife, and

by

homage, find
if smitten by some
as
the
family where

rendered

the

the

wife

with

sterile."

ruin

whom

to

women

weigh

; but

content

are

pietyare

of

due

the

divinities

they have

down

them

stroy
de-

and

power."

secret

is

husband

his

with

content

husband, happiness is assured

her

forever."
This

veneration

of

produced

woman

poems

exploitsof

the

Amadis, Knightsof the Round

child's

of the Middle

Age, to mere
peacefulepoch ! which

and

Grand

India

chivalry,
during which we find the
accomplishing high deeds, which

adventurous

Paladins

in

India

epoch of

an

heroes

doo
of Hin-

reduce

all the

Table, and

the

play.
what
has, to-day,some-

forgotten. But whose the fault,if not

stupid invasions,which for ages dispute her

brutal and

those

fine and

fertile

soil?

PROPERTY,
SHIP,

The

CONTRACT,

DEPOSIT,
AND

DONATION,

Hindoo

SALE,

TESTAMENTARY

of property

laws

LOAN,

BEQUEST.
not

are

PARTNER-

less admirable

than

of view and
they proceed with a largeness
unsurpassedby successive modem
justnessof discrimination,
Those
with
laws, collected by Rome, are still,
legislations.
those of the person

littlealteration,
our

own.

of
Jurisconsults,

property, between

'properlyonly as

our

two

based

times, are
systems
upon

divided, on
the

natural

first admit

law, and

the

originof
the rightof

would,

cons"

India's

relatiox

to

antiquitv.

41

qjently,reduce it to possession; the others consider it as

social necessity,
and derive it from legalenactment.
Hindoo

The

who
legislator,

question,thus resolves it :
Where
occupatior shall

be

"

title shall appear,

sale

but where

proven,

admitted.

be

cannot

himself

to

proposes

the

same

kind of

no

and
title,

not

occupation,is essential to proprietorship." {Majwu, lib. viii.,

si. 200.)
in India then derived from
Such the principle
proprietorship
It is the same
idea that pervadesthe entire economy
law.
of
"

codes.

our

the

Passing,then, to

belong to

one,

no

or,

declares

Manou

owner,

property of him who

first hunter

that

Examining
Hindoo

cleared it of

the

course

which
was

modern

of
wood, and the gazelle,
it."
of property

nature

and

the Roman

are

themselves

divided

their natiu-e, and

immovables

from

in
possessions,
classed
" "

as

connection

belongingto

publicand

as

the latter alone

as

to

the

in

the
itself,

immovable,

"

tinction
dis-

have adopted without change,

legislators

rejectedby

Immovablcs

dental
acci-

an

"

mortallywounded

in

but

yet

as

that, the field cultivated is the

divides it into movable

law

but which

their nature, have

from

as

thingsthat
acquiring

of

manner

no

with

law.

into immovables

from

their destination ; then

those

who

individual and

as

hold

them,

are

belongingto all,

privateproperty. The Hindoo law decrees

be subjectto commercial
transactions between

individuals.
all classifications of

Thus

"

to

properties,"
says Gibelin,

their nature, their source,

their tenure,

"

cording
ac-

and, lastl)',

of proprietorship,
traditions
rights
are, in Europe, so many
Oriental legislation"
adopted into our existing
law, as in'o

tlie

of

Roman

the adjustmentof disposable

law; proNisionfor the famil}-,

only in their essence, but aho in

in fact,all those principles
their application;
Avhich our
civil
law has reduced
to the most
simple expression,
by fusion of
law with German
Roman
usage ; tl.at is,by reunion of the
quotas,

4*

contracts

not

the North

the South

and

tribes who

Hindoo

traditions of the

double

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

THE

42

the

; on

and

conditional

or

of donation

; that

and

grass

The

gold

purchaser

title effected,

at

be

accomplishedwith

presented by

the vendor
his

ensure

presented

and

part

as

with

"

corn

to

the

should
satisfaction,

the

the

water

spilled,

Avas

and

corn

grass

property, in

the

of

produce

donor

or

The

of insufficient value.

marriage,in sign of gift;

water

the forms

cKsa.

receiver,to

or

to

is,by deliveryof gold and

was

property prove
as

Rome.

was
gratuitous,

tila ct

"

dinavian
Scan-

other,by Persia,

the

on

India,all transfer of property, by whatever

In

people

side,by Russia,the

one

countries,and Germany, and,

Egypt, Greece,

to

carne

were

signof

transfer.
And

here, we

formulas

of

solemnizingcontracts,

of transfer

by
points,we

all these

of Hindoo

and

as

the northern

earth,by herb and branch.

constrained

are

well

as

all the various

to

recognizethe

toms
cus-

On

influence

law.

shall be

We

water

learned

doubt, were

not

may

brief in

stillmore

few

our

remainingglancesat

have
for, taken
we
already said
together,
legislation,
the conclusions v.e pretend to draw from this
enough to justify
expose of the Sanscrit originand general principles
summary

Hindoo

of Hindoo
A

may,

fevv

jurisprudence.
words, however,

^rhaps,not

different modes

be

contracts, donations, and

on

ill-received

by

and

of engagement,

the

wills,

reader ; in fact,the

of donations

between

the

stillmore
striking,
hving.or because of death, are in a manner
both
and in their effects,
if porsible,
copied in their principles
law and by modern
legislators.
by the Roman
of engageto the validity
the first principlenecessary
As
ments,
the

Hindoo

indicates
legislator

the competence

of the

parties.
in

Women

these under
The

the

of

power

are
interdict,

husbands, children, slaves,and

incompetent.

absolute
incapacity

for

children

and

slaves; relative

THE

44

tion than

such

if

INDIA.

IN

to nations

result
necessarily

as

inance of civil over

Still more,

BIBLE

the

predom

we

see

law.
religious

into

descended

we

should
details,

pleasrecognized
by

Roman

and

had
obligations
legislation.

been

foreseen

all the

from

of

French

laws

and

that

for the

applied by

So, mutation,remission of the debt,cession of property,

annul

to

rescind,by

or

India, and have

effect

as

with

pensation,
com-

in

admitted

us.

?
That,
priority

of

doo
Hin-

actions

specifiedcases,

claimant,are

or

possessor

same

the merit

whom

To

the

in

thingdue

loss of the

the

tinction
ex-

be

think,cannot

questioned.
Listen

third person

in surety for

but in

making

circumstances

to

cease

This

To

as
we

three
out

from

text

the

or

by his

establishes

it,

all these

to

of

soon

our

own,

shall

now

to

on

tender

and

receive his credit when

of hi^

amount

debt,

third person,

and

interest

the

depositis effected."
acquittal"
the

of

work
interesting
devote

more

are

as

of the

manner

work

same

cattle,be depositedby the latter

or

hands
as

idea

in

the

debtor, let the

the

procedure affords

demonstrate

that

he, the debtor,consents

jurisconsult
might

well

by

accrue

give an

which

as

that

merchandise

in
effect,

to that

him, the pledge delivered

If the creditor refuse

"

in payment

fruit,money,

'"

mention

creditor

own

of the transfer."

:
consignation

tendered

his

to

debt, with the voucher

this other formal

And

either
transfer,

releases

who

debtor

shall

substitution
Smitri-Chaudrica,
authorizing

of

text

creditor may

"The

to

the

to

but

himself,and

comparison
still more

evident,that the laws

copy of antique Indian

of

at

usury

or

to

Rome,

dence,
jurispru-

collate,accordingto Gibelin,texts

on
deposit,loan
legislations

to

of the

or
interest,

with

interest.

Hindoo

Civil
tous."

Text

Caiyayana.

Code, Art.

"

1S76.
"

"A

"

What

loan

is lent from

of convenience

good-willbears
is

no

terest."
in-

gratnii
essentially

INDIANS

Law.

Roman

RELATION

"CDmmodata

"

Text:

borrower

Catyayana.

tibi utenda

is not

unless
responsible,

Civil Code, Art.

the usage

of

he is not
Roman

1884.

"

for

which

it is

answerable

Law.

putandum
Hindoo
time

ei

is reclaimed

borrower

befoie

Civil Code,
before

the covenanted

served

the purpose

Roman
Hindoo

be

Text

it

to restore

Civil Code, Art.

borrower's
come

need

borrower

to

Hindoo

rower,
bor-

vel vi latro-

eorum

im-

esse

it

lender

of

definite

the said usage,

the

of

the

convention,

until

thing lent
it has

after

borrowed."

was

decipibeneficiooportet."

where

But

"
"

of the

the

the interests of the

thing lent, the

owner

borrower

may
may

be

before

the

stipulatedtime."
if in the

unforeseen

urgent and

an

for

usage

withdraw

cannot

"Nevertheless,

"

on

interval,or

want

of

thing should

the

lender, the judge can, according to circumstances, obligethe

it to

return

Text:

him."

Narada.

effects to another,

"When

"

condition

on

Civil Code, Art.

the

est nihil

thinglent

in default

or

1889.

is over,

the

upon

"The

"

before

even

the

it."

urgent need

an

the sole efTecl

fault of

any

accomplishment

or

restore

term,

compromised by

forced

to

Catyayana.

without

Adjuvari quippenos, non

"

from

vel morbo,
contigit,

When

"
"

term

for which
"

Law.

the

1888.

Art.

part."

thing deteriorates
and

vice, tha

own

nisi aliquaculpa interveniat."

accipit,

forced

be

canno:

his

on

accidit,dicendum

simile

Catyayana.

its

thingperish by

senectute

qui commodatum

Text

est."

is fault

borrowed,

vero

ereptum est, aut quid

nuni

the

mer-

for the deterioration."

Quod

"
"

there

"If

data

the

"If

"

45

si nulla
propriaintelligitur,

tunc

res

cede accepta vel constituta,res

Hindoo

ANTIQUITY.

TO

191 5.

"

of

restitution,it

Deposit

"

in

man,

in

confidence,entrusts

is

act

an

general is an

property of another, in charge

to preserve,

of

his

deposit."

act

by

and

to

which

we

restore

ceive
re-

it

as

received."
Roman

Law,

Hindoo

Te;.t
to be

with

care

"Depositum

"

V}-ihaspati.
"

destroyedby

his

quod

et

"The

custodiendum

alicui datum

depositarywho

altogetherdifferent,will be

forced

to

pay

the

allows

while preservinghis
negligence,

est."

own

its value

posited
thing de-

property
with

mrer-

est."
Civil
of the

Code,

Art.

"

1927.

"

thingsdepositedthe

thingsbelonging to
Roman

Law.

same

depositaryshall
care

as

he

bestows

bestow
on

the

on

preservation

preservationof

himself."

"Nee

"

The

enim

salva

fide minorem

lis quam

suis rebus

dili-

gentiam prsestabit."
Hindoo

".as been

Text

Yajnyawalcya

destroyedby

the

"

"The

will
depositary

King, by Providence

or

not

by thieves.

restore

what

But

if thil

46

BIBLE

THE

IVDIA.

IN

loss follows after his refusal of restitution

value

of

Civil

deposit,and

the

Art.

Code,

depositaryis

The

"

1929.

"

liable in any

not

made

he has

superiorforce,unless

accidents from

relutti

""

equal amount."

fine of

pay

demand, he shall

on

fof

case

delay in returningthe

' '

thingdeposited.
Roman

Law.

ejus,apud

quern

id reddere

reus,

Hindoo

Si

"
"

depositum quoque,

reddidit."

nee

Id. -:-" If the trustee

Text,

punished and

he
proprietor,

shall be

depositedwith

interest."

Civil Code, Art.

Text

Id.

without

Civil Code, Art.

sealed

the

In the

things

thingdeposited

in
deposited

box

of its contents, should

declaration

any

in

be

the hands

unknown,

Hindoo
m

1931.

should

"He

"

not

him

confided to

been

the

seek to know
in

things that

closed box

or

envelope."
further says

Manou
question,

same

of

case

should restore

l)oth

is enclosed

What

"
"

deposited,if theyhave

been

On
"

of the

use

the

restored."

\o

imder

price of

furti delicto succedit."

etiam
convertit,

trustee

have

the

"

Hindoo

and

pay

make

not

may

to

"

usus

"

forced

of the

consent

the

Roman

of

He

"

1930.

-nnthout

the trust

use

of the depositor."
permissionexpressedor understood
Code.
Qui rem depositam,invito domino, sciens prudensque,

without

in

si

depositum fuerit,est

sit periculo
depositiactum
judiciiaccipienditempore potuit,
die

eo

it to the

Text

Civil Code, Art.

would

escape

censure,

changing the seal."

depositshall

"The

"

who

trustee

depositorwithout

3Iano7i.

qualityand

the
deposit,

sealed

be

restored

as

received,

quantity."
1932.

depositaryshould

The

"
"

restore

the
identically

' '

thingdeposited.
Hindoo

Text

by vermin,
not

carried

Manou.

"If

"

the

by water,

away

depositis seized by thieves,attacked

consumed

or

liable for its restoration,unless the loss

or

by fire,the depositaryis
deterioration

is the result of

his act."
Civil Code, Art.

depositedin

"The

trustee

in which

it may

1933.^

the condition

Deteriorations,which

charge of
Roman
num

the

have

depositor."
"Quod vero

Code.

be found

occmred

at the moment

from

his

the

tiring

of restitution.

fault,are

at tha

vel morbo, vel vi latro..

contigit,
imputandum nisi aUqua culpa inter-

senectute

"

est, nihil

ereptum

not

is onlyboimd to restore

eorum

esse

veniat."
Hindoo

from

Text

the

Vrihaspati.
objectdepositedhe
:

"

"

Whatever

should restore

profitthe depodta^
with it."

may

rive
de-

India's

Civil

Code,
been

Roman

Law.

ditendum

est

Text

Hindoo
w?ien

"

who

confided

The

trustee

the person

the

he restores

Civil Code, Art.

"
"

there

Text

1939.

Ma

"In

"

Civil Code, Art.

"In

"

thing

any

one

to his heir."

the

placewhere

of the

civil death

delivered,

depositwas

and

it

on

the firstdemand

1943.

Est

"

doposuit,statim

posse

The

"
"

he reclaims

Code.

Text

of

apud Julianum
deposit!actionem agere.

is it

if we
especially

epoch, and

1945.

the

depositwith

depositor."
be restored

to

the

depos

"
"

He

who

infamous
"

"

The

non

scriptum,eum

Hoc

enim

qui

ipsodolo

rem

facere

dat."

does not

restore

depositafter

ing
hav-

the law."

by

unfaithful

is not
depositary

admitted

t""

acquittance."

Is it necessary

and

the

autem

Maitoii.

Civil Code, Art.

the benefit

guard

it."

it,is declared

received

of

depositshould

qui suscepitquod reposcentirem

Hindoo

placeof restitution,

no

"

restore

Roman

names

place of deposit."
Vrihaspati. "Let the trustee

Text:

itor whenever

"

at the

Civil Code, Art.

eum

arraignedby

or

only be given up
the

the

restore

depositor."

natural

If the contract

"

1943.

be made

Hindoo
care,

note.

be

dead

of the

case

not

restored

be

it be restored."

must

't should

partaru

it to him."

cannot

the heir of

depositto

depositor,the thingdepositedmay
Hindoo

et

causam,

depositaryshould

The

"

1837.
Manoii.

omnem

thingdepositedshould

The

"

"

deposited,
except to

venire,et

oportet;

non

veniat."

res

Art.

Code,

dubitari

boniT; fidei esse

actionem

Vrihaspati.
depositedit."

Id l)im who

47

the

actionem

in banc

nuda

ne

Text

Hindoo

Civil

the

by

"Ilanc

"

fructus

ideo, et

Ef

"

antiquitv.

to

thing depositedhas producedprofit*

he is obligedto restore them."
depositary,

"If

1936.

Art.

received

that have

relation

longer to continue
possibleto make
bear in mind

the necessary

these

studies and

demonstration

that

clear,

more

the ages that separate

transformations

sons,
compari-

us

from

Jillthese

this

things

have

undergone ?
These
ai)i)roximations
might

be made

throughout all jurisprudence

should constantly
find Hindoo
rational,
legislation
; we
complete, and worthy on all pointsto givebirth to
philosophic,
the written law

of the world.

Sale,donations,testaments
would
principles,

present

of which
us

the

we
same

have

seen

the

general
filiation in
logical

48

THE

the
detail,

laws

changes,which

few

; for ancient

and

better

here and

scarce,

to

there

of manners,

difference

to

serve

demonstrate

mate,
cli-

the

nection
con-

only there depart

legislations
have imperatively
matters
acted
ex-

modern

India,whero

those of

basis,enh'ghtened

same

matter,

on

attach

and but
civilization,

from

the

sense.

Soiu'ce of all modern

some

INDIA.

IN

pointsof contact,

same

strictest good

by the

BIBLE

new

other laws.

Manou,
legislator

The

dates back

than

more

; the Brahmins

era

instruction

What

in favor

assignhim

of the Oriental

recollect
us

of

that the

ideas,from which

made

stillmore

tian
Chris-

the

ancient

epoch.

testimony almost

what

times

innumerable

an

before

years

chronology,which, less
adopts,for the
traditions),
in harmony with science

a text
contradicting

should

we

for us, and

ours

for

thousand

three

(basedon Bibical
of this world, an epoch more
We
are
no
longer of the
than

is incontestible,
authenticity

whose

rial,
mate-

ridiculous
formation
!

incur risk of stake and

to

the Bible

regimeof

or

got
fag-

of Aristotle.

the middle

But

queathe
ages has be-

assemblage of opinionsand readyhave

we

embarras
in disgreatest difficulty

the

ourselves.
In vain

then
science,at firsttimidly,

the demolisher
the

as

of all these
man

grown

tales that have

amused

his cradle

certain
rejecting

of

is slow ; and

its advance
prejudices,

succeeds

never

in
"

itself

made

boldly,has

the
completelyforgetting

so

are

western

nations

fables of past ages, as, it

pable
inca-

must

be

confessed,they are
There
should

are

blush
with

alone

them.
equallyincapableof believing
certain ideas discussed freely
in society,
which

believe

to

conscientious

on

himself,man

always

examination
serious

exacts

reasons

we

; for when

for his

convictions.
or
agitated

If

haro.
And
?
our

discussed

"That

must

wherefore

We

have

old habits.

not

be

in

public,a
touched!"

voices rise to cry,

is heard from all sides

hundred

fore
Again, whereitrevolts us to change

Respect this,respect that

a

love for old

and
things,

India's

If,for example,one
that

relation

to

should

antiquity.

happen

the world's creation

to
assigns

49

to say that
a

date of

the chronology

only six

sand
thou-

what
tempests would he not
years, is absurd nonsense,
raise in certain camps, and, the knife at his throat,he must

give mathematical
only fables
Let

sacred

and

release

us

and

they think

it rightto

oppose

texts

all this load of timid

from

ourselves

shall then

we

wliile

reasons,

comprehend

that it does

not

ties,
creduli-

belong to

of
people,the last-comers,
proudlyto fix the origin
the world by the light
of souvenirs of yesterday's
and thus,
birth,
by a stroke of the pen, to erase the civilization and historyof
the Oriental peopleswho
thousands
have preceded us by some
Western

us

of years

upon

who

earth.

More

have

been

might

than ourselves,
these
logical

with

ple,
peo-

their

antiquity,
fessed
prothemselves
the issue of other peopleswho had preceded
extinct from a series of cataclysms
them, and who had become
similar to that of which all existing
notions retain a souvenir.
it as

Be

it may,

we

content

constrained

are

to

admit, in considering

the family,
laws,organizing
society,
property,
in a word, the most
that this
advanced
civilization,
exhibiting,
these admirable

progress

could

Hindoos

than

no

have

more

been

by ourselves,and

accomplishedin

day by the
J^-^ requiredto

that ages would

realize it.
few brace

this

of centuries led ancient and

condition,thanks

to

the Asiatic

moaern

lightthat

came

nations to
to

direct,

abridgefor them the periodof gestation.But how much

ting
in admiteven
longermust that periodhave been for Orientals,
their opinions,
that they too had precu- Tfis to lighttheir
and

coming way

comparative studies,the more

that all peoples and civilizations proobvious does it become
ceed
from fathers,
from precedingpeoples,as do sons
as
fatally
links ;
the inferior links of a chain hang from the superior
as
The

and

more

I advance

that however

connect

in these

obscure

may

those ties which

be this filiation,

diced
them, it is easy, with the aid of patientand unprejuresearch,to re-attach them the one to l^e other.
6

BIBLE

THE

5"

here
is,certainly,

There

Modern

merit

no

INDIA.

idea of which

new

claim the

to

history has

againstthose
stniggles
thought,have so long
more

free

few words

on

IN

already guessed its cradle and

mediceval legacies
which, in controlling

retarded

and

the advance
rational

more

of

ards
towintelligence

conprehension

of

the

past.
A
rest

Vedas,

the

upon

Hindoo

which
philosophyand religion,

Sacred

or

Scriptures.

the
point of authenticity,

In

dence

ancient

the most

over

accordingto
were

honored

jnd

Europe,

the

Vedas

long

records.

colonized

were

before
or

These

Jones, "refuse
distant."

to

the Vedas

But, at what

author ?

We

the

most

impossibleto

may

revert

ancient

to

records

which,
of

God,

Minor, Egypt,

inhabited.

were

times

Orientalist,Sir William
of

an

the
antiquity

most

theycomposed ? Who their

the inost
interrogate
primitive,

of the human

questions;

solve these

word

Persia,Asia

the honor

epoch

prece

holy books

revealed

the

cannot," says the celebrated

"We

incontestible

have

Brahmins, contain

in India

ahke

all

are

and

race,

silent

it is still
the

on

ject.
sub-

retrojecttheir composition to the firsl

periodsafter the Cataclysm';but, according to the Brahmins,
they are anterior to creation ; they were, says the Sama-Veda
formed
of the soul of him who exists by, or of,himself.
four in number
SamaThe Vedas
are
: the Ritch-Veda,the
authors

Some

Veda,

the

Yadjou-Veda, and

fragmentsof
to the

learned

these books
world

labors of the Calcutta

have

Athar\-a-Veda.

the

been

Only

translated and

made

few

kno^vTi

due to the
long an Englishtranslation,
will permit their collected
Asiatic Society,
ere

study.
Hindoo

philsosphyis

divided

into orthodox

and

hetf rodox

ystems.
celebrated authors of orthodox

philosojhy,or
rather of Brahminical
Djeminyand Richna Dwipiynatheolog}^,
the latter commonly known
Vyasa appear in the first rank
of Veda-Vyasa, because he is said to have col.
Ender the name
Among

the

most

"

lected the scattced

pages

of the four Vedas.

52

THE

and

BIBLE

IN

INDIA.

the

gends,
passive,the generatingpower, base of all saced lemense
whence
source
mythographers have extracted their imvarietyof fables,of symbols,and of ceremonies.
"When
die Sovereign Power
"had
Divine," says Manou,

finished the work

of

Creation,he

absorbed

was

God, and thus exchanged his period of energy

repose."
We

idea of the

The

of the

questions the

This

Abeiiard

gious,
all reli-

equally treated

have

on

of works. Karma
efficacy
;
ment
; Faith, Sradlia; 2iM^ freedom ofjudgquestion of the nominalists and realists.
W'illiam de

and

in India

was

acquired by

this

abstract, the

most

raised the

long before

Mimansas

two

Grace, Isvara-Parasada
and

period of

with
specially

more

whence

for

of
spirit

distinction.

authors

indicate

and
Trinity,

without

all

ourselves

shall,later,occupy

in the

the

Champeaux.

epoch of fervent faith,the epoch when

and
science,philosophy,

morale

sought in

were

text

of

Holy Scripture.
We
and

shall

to

recur

Veda-Vyasa, and

Of

Sastras

the

questions,treated by Djeminy
after them
agitatedChristian philosopher

all these

which

and

Mahra-Barada, which

the

doctrines,the dates

same

to

are

by

the learned

an

of
antiquity
a

Orientalist
seven,

chronologywhich

-ideas

nightof

the

accept the chronology of the Brahmins,

we

"

lost in

are

profess the

Halhed, they must

and

the second

strikes

as

time.

If

calculated
the first

possess,

of four millions of years

pointblank

at

all

our

European

matter.

o^

Sucl'

in France, the
thingseasilyexcite laughter,
especially
and of inconsiderate affirmations.
spirits
country ot superficial
hav

\Vc

made

six thousand
and

needs

littleworld

years, and
no

change these

thousands

created

ourselves,datingfrom
in six

days ;

scarce

that satisfies all,

thought.

Some, it is true, have

to

for

six

of

late,with the aid of science,tried

days into

of years may

have

six

epochs. The margin is large,

slippedin between each epoch
,

India's

tc

relation

with that of

thisidea shakes hands

antiquitt.

53

East.

iiie

But

wide

open

of the past hurlingfrom

your ears, and you will hear partisans
all sides denunciation
and
againstthis advanced guard of elite,
it with
bespattering
Ah

! let

their mud

brooms.

guard againstUltramontanism,

us

end, like the Hindoos, in demoralization

The

Sastras

also established in the

Sidanta

would

that
testible

no

the

translator

people

of the

to

by

us

the ancient

mentions
u.nd,in support of his assertion,
tnan

four thousand

book

incon-

Brahmins

written

the existence
What

of

from

matter

nation has conceived

discussed

or

with their

more

all

more

-with God.
eternity

ideas,agitated
more

problems?

more

mits
belief,which ad-

The

far removed

so

from

fathomed

"

When

of

taken
those

us.

morale, metaphysics,
Legislation,
psychology,all
penetrated

tions,
ques-

development

march
of the sciences have
thought,the progressive
of
nothingfrom the value of the f)hilosophic
speculations
men,

chronologyhas nothingof exaggerationfor Hindoos;

the contrary,it logically

accords

on

mark,
re-

tory
hisyears ago, which givesa retrospective
millions of years.
of many
race

of the human
This

the

authorityso

an

this

and, on

Sastras,makes

of

annals

possess

transmitted

those

as

stolidity.

millions of years,

retro-date many

subject,Halhed,

not

onlyworks that claim such antiquity

;
the laws of Manou
were
philosophers,
firstage.
The
or
Crida-Youga,
Sourya-

Hindoo

accordingto

Avould

we

the

not

are

and

if

have

they

all.

of their literature,
when
explore the monuments
ve
magazineswhence radiate,on
open those vast philosophic
all sides,
the primordiallights
that attest a highciviUzation,
we
struck with that majesticimage of the Divinity,
are
which poet,
and philosophercease
historian,
not
to place before
legislator,
the

we

eyes

of

men,

in

claimingtheir

belief in his immediate

I'rovidence.
It is not
to

him

UP

tilafter

the spirit
towards God,
raising

the affectionate devotion

they proceed.
5"

The

the
doctrines,

of

after offering

gratefulhearts,that
the sublime coutheories,

THE

54

BIBLE

ceplionsof

these sages, lead us

for their faith and their beHef.
"The
the

Ganges
that

world

exists is his

attributes
same

immortal

of the

ideas of Hindoo

to

author

of

the mouth

infinite and

the

Deism.

question,soon

came

ancient
rejecting
of

revived
the

on

so

to-dayall

ihat

disciplesthe

his

to

astonished
And

all the

Sastras,of which
to

once

sublime
have

we

knowledge

gin
Vir-

of the

son

Ardjouna,

the

unveils,in

Maha-Barada
Divine

them

Creation.

mysteriesof

the

of the

all,arranged all,with power

first ages

of

faith,of belief without

fervent

the

worship of
revelation,would

reason,

pure

which, without

admit

only

it

purifiedby

systems ; side

diverse

most

whose
spiritualists
appeared the sceptics,
by the ancient Pyrrhoniens,and in our

of Montaigne
disciples

the

part of these

and

latter,of

of

Kant

"

Sankya philosophy,whose founder was

ignored the Divine Creation; it maintains
cause
proof of the existence of a spiritual
further,that it is neither

ries
theoown

without

singleadditional

the
ment.
argu-

Kapila,formerly

The

that

there

that gave

is

birth

no

to

demonstrated

by the
that is,neither by perception,nor
nor
by
by reasoning,
senses,
ing
induction,two of the three criteria of truth, by which accordthe nature
arrive at a knowledge of things. For
to it we

the

universe

all

as

judgment.

side with the

merit,

the

liberty
necessarily
begat the

days,by

from

uncontrolled.

after these

were

; the

reveal

the

of

spoken, lead the reader at

created
who
superiorIntelligence

by

blows, it is him

laws, begins by explainingto

above

This

God;

of Brahma,
spirit

and
Divinity,

the

way,

Devanaguy,

freedom

"it is

Sama-Veda,
that

inviting
Brighou to

majesticlanguage,by

But

the

image."

Maha-Richis, his
the

profound adiuiratici

most

; the wind

in the

was

before

Manou,

In

to

thunders, the hghtning's

flash,it is him

eternitythe

the

INDIA.

flows," says

that roars, it is him

sea

cloud

that

IN

of the

cause

and

of the

effect

being the

same,

it results tliat

India's

does

that which
a

receive

cause,

An

exist cannot,

not

antiquitv.

by

any

possibleoperation of

that it is

must

possibleto

not

extract

being proceeding from

the

inherent
of

in nature,
matter,

the creative

qualityand

qualityproceeds operativeforce,or movement,

three distinctive

itself possesses
the

repulsive
; 3d, the
the

Such

and

intelligence.

opposingactions of

the

From

out

something from

her, specialattribute

of all individual

source

world

the

construct

nothing.
Yet
Kapila recognizeda plasticforce
a

55

employed by I"eucippus,Lu

that

that to create, God

naught,and

to

existence.

analogous to

argument

cretin?,"c.,
of

relation

the destructi

which

:
qualities
ist, the plastic;2d,

inert.

subtleties in which

the

indulgedin those earlytimes.

Hindoo
philosophersare very

of Oriental

play

imagina^

tion

elaborate

in examination

of

or
qualities,
inseparableattributes of Nature, and
all that exists. They are
not
intrinsically
mere
permeate

these three
which

accidents

of

they form its essence

but

first is the presence

The

in his Treatise

Nature, says Gautama,

and

of

phy,
Philoso-

into its com]:)osition.

enter

of all that is good, and

the

absence

of all that is evil.

last is the absence

The

of all that is

good, and

the

presence

of all that is evil.

middle

The
Let

quality
partakesof
that the doctrine

remark

us

the

resembles

at

the

time

same

the

principleof

Plato

taught that

and

the

true

The

"

"

Ante

the Sastras

most

philosophersof

surprisingly
antiquity.

four elements;
principleof things,
recognized the principleof concord

discord.
Love

the

was

recourse

Deos

others.

the

creator,*and that he
St/ics had

of

of many

system

Empedocles admitted, as
but he

the two

et omnesy

born

was

to

most

powerful of the Gods,

of Chaos.

unique

substance

amorem."
primum generavit

producing

56

BIBLE

THE

elements, and

four

the

to which
fifth,

the

IN

INDIA.

philosopherof Stagyra admitted

assignedthe originof the soul.

Energy or mobiUty, according to the Sastras,in alliance
with time and
stance,
goodness, engender matter, the great subthe Maha-Bouda;
and the shock of opposing currents

in

that

produced

matter

called

he

Agasa

"

luminous
subtle,celestial,

electric,
vivifyingfluid

pure,

element
diffused

in

space.
affection is the universal

Thus

of
generatrix

supreme
As

in

of

spouse

quiescent,unrevealed, enveloped

Brahma,

Maha-Barada, it is Bavahny.
of Brahma, passingfrom quiescenceinto action,

spouse

Vischnou,

of

spouse

the

manifestinghimself

and

animating matter,
is Braluny.
As

the universe.

expressed in

darkness, as
As

and

mother, the first cause

by creation, it

and

preserver

it

is

reproducer, it

is

restorer,

Latchoumy.
As

of

spouse

and

Siva, destroyer

Parvady.
for
God

consider

Vedas

The

creation,to

Brahma

produce

incarnate

become

restoration,but

He

having

as

creation.

create

or

and

suffer for

Not

himself

only

does

regenerationand-

our

immolated

even

sacrificed

Himself

give

to

us

existence.

idea, which

"Sublime

"in

Humboldt,
Hence,

all the sacred

expressedin

as

'"'"Brahma

we

is at

once

the

universal

who
Sacrificer,

victitn in
our

His

These

last lines

de

antiquity."

books

that the
a fid victim,so
sacrificer
mortiing at the ceremonies
of Ike
symbolicof creation,in
sacrifice,
God, identifies
himself with the '

is Brahma.

Son, Christna, who

salvation,who

of

books

M.

both

presentinghis offeringto
Z"ivine

expressed," says

the sacred

each
priest-who officiates

Sarvameda,

find

Himself
present

Or
came

rather, it is Brahma,
to

die

the
accojnplishes

points

of

curious

on

earth

solami

and

for

fice."
sacri-

delicate

India's

it, and

to

that, with

seeks

only
provoke.
Wien

scientific

the

with

covered

infinite

which

of animals

to

of

that

he

taste, and

His
of

of the

fields and

with

beaming

youth

the

over

multitude

that

power,

conceive,and of which
fathom

the

of organs

wisdom,

supreme
no

ing
strik-

"

has

man

been

depth.

of touch, sight,
five organs
sme'.l,
sixth, admitted
a
by all Hindoo

the

called

to

nor

hearing,and

followers of

Brahminical

which

Mamas,

Boudha,

who

theocratic

the north

spread over

is the

in union

agent

of

reformer,the Luthei

the

was

authority,and

element.

It is

"

one

doctrines

whose

Asia, in Tartary,China, and

Upper

Japan, recognizedneither the sixth

to

of the many

points on

sense

the fifth

nor

which

they

difter

the orthodox.

Sankyan philosophy thus defines it,

partakingthe propertiesof others,and
affinity,
The

for sensation

once

We

know

brutes

divided

were

in

allowed

them

Sastras

ajso

less

"

an

organ

which

by

serves

action."

in

the Flatonists accorded

but

The

and

that Aristotle also admitted

ancients

The

but

meadows

se.xes.

The

at

earih

the

man.

and

forms

gave

and
philosophers,

mth

of

it may

globe.He sent
who
First-begotten,
proceeded

treasures

and

the extent

measure
man

even

surface

Nature

almighty

can
spirit

no

To

of

the

saw

odium

the

of

exquisiteflowers, the

of
variety

image
able

57

God, say the Sastras,presented himself provided with

The
an

worlds

and
vegetation,

the creation

to

truths,careless

all her
scatter
vitality
the Word,
Holy-Spirit,

the

antiquiiy.

this subject,with
only touch upon
the chapter to be speciallydemoted
the impartiality
of a free spiritthat

of

Ruler

with

enamelled

and

proof,in

full of

to

I will

comparison; but
hands

relation

degree

opinion about

them

than

the sixth

reason

man;

the

and

sense.

the

souls of

ing,
understand-

Peripateticsbut

sensation.
!]ot

only promise

loudly claim

man

for animals

immortalityin heaven,
of
immortality

soul

and

58

THE

in

existence
doctrine

IN

life.

Hence,

without

metempsychosis, which,

of

conceived, spread

first

was

future

INDIA.

BIBLE

India

from

the

to

doubt,

of

rest

the
i(

where

Asia

and

to

Greece.
These
from

the

divine

essence;

into

falls

the

portion

immense

the

of the

ocean,

Vedas, "they

of the

immortal

the

to

return

into

simile

emanations

of

of

returns

beautiful

adopting the
that

sand

as

decomposition they are

God, as the rain-drop that

hour

bosom

the

souls

universe, as

the

the

at

"

reabsorbed

of

soul

supreme

upon

individual

consider

works

which

from

centre

or,

sparks

are

they

were

emitted."

Only
sin

by
with
in

souls

of

those

crime, meet

and

the
or

their crimes
into

rhe

while

from

their

migrations,and

Brahma

after

only

re-enter

being purified

transgressions.

soul

The

of

of

the

in hell, undergo several

nature
spiritual

hand

or

is lost
individuality
guilty,after expiating

sentiment

general beatitude;

the

heart

reunite,after shaking off mortality,

the

divinitywhere

the

in either

unsoiled

that

its first

loses

Vedanta,

to

returns

animate

body,

new

form, and, like the

the

says

rain-drop

that

give strength and life to the plant

it falls,
it penetrates the embryo-animal that it comes
which
and vivify.
to animate
traverses

the

air

As

see,

the

as

we

think

we

with

to

eternityof punishment
it

crime, whatever
may

and

ought

purifiedsoul

be, apart
be

to

"

ideas
sidered
should

echo
the

on

it

of

soul's
ray

return, and

that

migrations,
until

the

felicity
by

"spreads undivided,

the soul of the universe.

0]"erates unspent,"
Faithful

WHiole,

boundless

admit

not

chastisement
of

which,

dogma

successive

from

expiated by

Great

the

philosophersdo

judged worthy

be

may

with

reunion

Hindoo

reason,

is

on

Oriential

doctrines, Plato

destiny and

from
the

the

the

to

come

the
;

he

same
con-

which
il
to
intelligence
merging itselfinto the divinity

supreme

facultyof

life

had

do

THE

they are the recollections that emigrant

the
most
fondly,as holy ground between

thence?

come

people

For

preserve

and

new

old

the
whom

ancestors

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

country, where

they shall

see

no

II.

"

MINOS

MOSES.

"

institutions
and religious
philosphergivespolitical

aJid is named

desired
under

to

the

endow
name

his

the

of Manes.

name

to

of Minos.

Lastly,the liberator of
new
societyand is named
Manou,

India,

studythe institutions \vith which he

his memory
country, and history
preserves

visits Egypt

Cretan

to

Manou.

receives
Egyptianlegislator

The

MANES

of those

more.

CHAPTER

MANOU

ashes

the

repose

Manes,

the servile caste

founds

Moses.

Minos, Moses,

the entire ancient

of Hebrews

"

these

world, they appear

four
at

names

shadow
over-

the cradles of

four different
same

four

role, surrounded
peoples to play the same
by the
and high priests,
ah
mysterioushalo, all four legislators
founding theocratic and sacerdotal societies.

That

and
name

In

the relation to each

they stood in

successor,

and

liowever

identityof

Sanscrit Manou

distant,seems

the institutions

other

proven

of

by

predecessor

similitude of

they created.

the ?nan,par excellence,

the legissignifies
lator.

int)ia's

antiquity.

to

relation

Manes, Minos, Moses, do they not betray an incontestible

variations
nnityof derivation from the Sancrit,with the slight
of different
written

are

We

"

periods,and the different languagesin

?
Egyptain,Greek, and Hebrew

guide our

here the clue that should

have

which

reti

ospective

through all
through all ancient civilizations,

researches

traditions
religious

and

their

to

Indian

true

the"

tions
revela-

sources,

in

myths and fables of every kind that surround the infancy

most
peoples,and which historyhas piouslyrecorded and

those
of

instead of denouncingand
authenticated,

thus

to the domain

With

such

peoplesin
their

of fiction.

of poetry and
aid have

the

them
relegating

ambitious

subjugatedand

ruled the

times ; with the aid of such recollections is

ancient

soughtto-day.
subjugation

Manou,

the convenient

as

became
his country,

the

point of
starting

stilled under

of

instrument

the ruin and

corrupt and

priestsand

mins,
Brah-

abasement

of

racy.
theocegotistical

domEg}'ptto priestly
subjugating
and oblivion.
ination,
preparedfor its stagnation
And
the despoticrole of
ISIoses,adoptingwith like success
His

]\fanes, in

successor,

of his nation,so pompously

only make
plined
proclaimed"The people of God ! a herd of slaves,well discicarried off into servitude by
to the yoke, and constantly
populations.
neighboring
idea of Christian
A new
but the purified
era
arose
religious
its heritors issue from
philosophybecoming soon sacerdotalized,
the catacombs
to mount
thrones,md from that moment
apply
to invert the master-principle,
themselves,withoutrelaxation,
his precursors,

could

"

"

and

to

substitute for the sublime

kingdom

"My
threatens

of

make

us

beware;

not

of

"

this world:"

this

other, which

its way,

entire world

"The
Let

to

is

words

is our

kingdom."

the times of

Brahminism, of Sacerdotalism,

Levitiim,in India,in Egypt, in Judea, present nothingto

compare

with the flames of the

6

the
Inquisition,

Vandois

massa

62

St.

or

cres,

for which
Bartholome^v's,

\\ath

resound

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

THE

Te

of

Brahma, of
'89
would

to

came

make

end
Let

bowed

and

progress
!

Let

us

like the nations

givenus.

Let

instrument

to

Let

us

beware

of

us

spurn

gar
the vul-

votaries ot'

those who
progress,

of the laws of God

liberty.
back, and

look

see

if we

would

desire

antiquity.
God

for the

the faith that would

reason

make

he has

of God

an

subjugatereason.

CHAPTER

The

under

parallelmidst

no

foster the faith that thanks

WHAT

down

avail themselves

professto

weakness

us

King, passingthree days

givethe signalof strugglebetween

God's
law their guide to libertyand

destroyboth
No

to

had
priest,
Isis,or of Jehovah.

fanatic

those who

and
to

his head

his feet in the snow,

hand

St. Peter's

of exultation !

Deum

Henry of Germany, Emperor and

with

made

Rome

LESSONS

THE

author's

OF

III.

HISTORY

indignantdenunciations

Voice
Grand
Histor}';" "The
of History," "S;c.,
"c.,
"

"

of

of

WORTH.

the

History,"
"

however

essential to the translator's purpose,

ARE

and

"Lessons
"The

of

tiality
Impar-

forcibly
just,are
therefore omitted.

not

INDIA'S

TO

RELATION

IV.

CHAPTER

BIlAlIJdlNICAL

PERVERSION
OF

did

Never

CASTES

"

VEDISM.

PRIMITIVE

OF

6j

ANTIQUITY.

Divide

civilization exist

so

et

CREATION

"

ivipera.

constructed
especially

to

kind, as the
ages, and to survive invasions of every
Brahniinical Societystillin effective operationto-day,maugre

brave

the loss of its ancient

prestigeand political
power.
those Brahmins
who spoke

WTience, then, came

language
penetrated,
a

perfect, who so
the problem of life,
to
in every form
as
analyzed,investigated
leave nothingfor innovation,either to antiquity
times,
or modeni
in the domain
of literary,
moral and philosophicsciences ?
these men
Whence
came
who, after having studied all,obscured
the

beautiful and

most

the

most

"

"

all,reversed all,and reconstructed

tion of the

vital,and
had

problem, to
thereon

to

refer all

build

up

all,had
to

God, with

theocratic

in final solu

come
a

faith the

societywhich

most

has

than five thousand jears,

equal,and which, after more
tions,
stillresists all innovation,
all progress;
proud of its instituof its beliefs,
and of its immobility?
no

"

We
who

shall

see

copied it more

traditions borne

il was

that

to

^r

the

the model

of all ancient

societies,

rather who preservedthe

or
literally,
four quarters of the globe by successive

less

emigrations.
"n'ith the
themselves
policy of investing
of divine authority,
imitahas, of course, had constant
prestige
The

Brahminical

64

THE

tors, and

It

God

but

then

brilliant action

no

the

instrument

in the

every

performed, could
in which

caste

he

stimulate his energy,

birth to

act, from

step, every

the

born,

was

of ambition, no
suggestions

no

itself to
presenting

whose

safelysay

may

consideration whatever,

no

service

or

release from

hence, agitated
by

amelioration

docile

inflexible law, that from

individual obtain
and

has been

we

us,

priest.

the

by

INDIA.

before
history

of the
was

IN

with the world's

tliatsince
hands

BIBLE

hope

of

doo,
the Hin-

death

was

and laws, sunk into that lifeof

checked, regulatedby customs
ism
of fanaticism,
and of materialdreams, of religious
superstition,
in which
all

change

as

he stillexists,
and

evil,all progress

an

the
Unquestionably,
nation

which

Brahmins

as

stillimpelshim
a

thus

to

reject

crime.

prepared

for themselves

powerlessto shake off the yoke, and,

without energy to complain, they long enjoyed honors
even
and devotion, riches and respect.
But
from
the day when
northern
populationscast a jealouseye upon tlie riches and
splendor of Hindostan, from the day when
Mongol invasion
a

to

easy

govern,

Jed its flying

hordes

againstthem,

themselves,all their efforts

were

in vain

they tried to defend

powerless to inspirefor the

of whom
strugglethose peoj'ile
they had made a herd of slaves,
The
their domination.
whom
to
assure
they had enervated
Ichatrias alone
the fatal hour

marched
of

death, but without

to

And

wreck.

common

power

to

retard

Brahmins, while in

the

their

a God, powerlessto save

them, saw the
pagodas,imploring
crumble
and their political
prestigeof their name
power
away,
thanks to the very precautionsthey had adopted to preserve

them.
India has since been

the classic

ground

invasions,and iLs

of

have submitted
without murmur
to each newly imposed
peo]:)le
yoke, perhaps even
they may have gladlyassisted the overthrow
of those

high castes
read

We

in the

Narada, written by
power

"

Manou

which

had

prefaceto
one

of

his

so
a

long ruled
Treatise

adepts,a

havingwritten

them.
on

Legislation
by

client of Brahminical

the laws

of

Brahma, in

one

INDIA'S

thousand

hund;ed

and

books

RELATKN

slocas

thousand

which formed
distichs,

or

the work

chapters,gave

sage of sages, wlio abridgedit for the

which he gave to
thousand
verses,

Soumati, who
to

65

ANTIQUITV.

TO

of

use

son

for the greater convenience

twenty- foiii

Narada, the

to

mankind,

to twelve

of

Bhrigou

men

reduced

of

named
ihem

four thousand."

only the abridgmentof Soumati, while the gods

inferior heaven, and celestial musicians,studythe primitive
read

Mortals
of the

text.

It is

"

such

Manou,

Sir William

clear,"adds
as

we

them, and

possess

"

]\.
nes,

that the

which

laws

comprise

of
but

be the work attributed to Soumati, wliich

2,680 slocas,cannot
is probablythat descfibed under the name
of Vriddha-AIanava,
ancient code

or

Manou, which has

of

although many

passages

and are
preservedby tradition,
It was
above all importantto
the
infringe

never

line of

not

reconstructed,
entirely

yet been

often cited

commentators."

by

the Brahmins

that

demarcation, to fonn

all
all associations,

They
people

may

not

of their

re-unions,of whatever
eat,

or

united

pray,

own

under
condition,

people
they prohibited,
but

also

nature.

but with

themselves

amuse

even

should

castes

might claim their independence. With this view

not
only marriagesbetween different castes,

who

been

have

of the book

penalty of degradation

of banishment.

and

I^et the
Manava-Dhartna-Sastra, lib.x., slocas 96 " 97 :
the occupationsof the
of low birth,who lives by pursuing
man
"

"

superiorclasses,be
he possesses,

and

It is better

"

on

the instant

deprivedby

the

king,of

all

banished."
to

accomplishpeculiarclass

functions defectively,

to fulfilthose of another, for he

perfectly
by pursuingthe occupationof another caste, at once

than

who

lives

loses

his

own."
This
as

affected
prohibition

those of low extraction.

was

from

still more

urgent

above.
6*

to

Brahmins
We

can

and

kingsas rigoiously

conceive

guard againstbad

necessity
example coming

that the

66

THE

BIBLE

Manava-Charmx-Sastra,
Brahmin

ing it

for his food

come

of

dog."
If he

"

sells

If he

the

The

fallen into

has

ii

degradation
;

of the Soudras."

caste

the

Vaysias."

rather

sloca

"

beg

than

reduce

himself

the

to

handiwork."
slightest
102,

should
distress,

law, it

the

to

should

work

same

of prepar

at the cf.d
merchandise, less dorogatorj',

artisan,
by

level of the

ti.c

in the excrement

incurs

into the

once

"If

"

his descend

and

vile worm,

instead

of corn,

lac, he

he becomes

day

Brahmin

The

"

of

flesh,or
at

"c.

91,

oblations,let him

body

salt,or

sells other

of the seventh

merchant

for

he sells milk, he sinks

"

lib. x., slocas

and

againin

ants
a

himself

makes

INDIA.

IN

"c.

happen

cannot

from

accept

Brahmin, who

"The

"

the

to

one

any

cording
for,ac-

perfectlypure,

to

be defiled."
in directing
in
sacrifices,
teachingthe Holy Scripture,
receivingpresents in these forbidden cases, the Brahmins
commit
fault ; if they are
no
miserable,they are as pure as
In

"

ft'ater,or

who, findinghimself in danger of death from starvation,

He

"

receives

food

matter

no

ether

by

Sounahsepha

son

crime, for
The

to

son

yet did he

stake

sacrifice him

to

on

point of destroying

the

render

himself

says

recur

to

this

guiltyof

n""

as

that

Adjigartabound
burnt offering
to the

Lord, who, satisfied of his obedience, arrested

shall

by sin,

famine."

CoUouca-Batta

commentator

soiled

more

mud."

sought relief from

he

is no

whom,

Adjigartabeing famished, was

"

his

from,

is the subtle

than

his

fire."

as

legend,which

will

his

arm.

find its

even

We

place

in

F.iblicalbeginnings.
could

'"Vamadeva, who
iiid evil,did
at

moment

of unclean
"

The

not

become

when

between
good
perfectlydistinguish
in the least impure, from
having,

pressed by hunger, desired

to eat

the flesh

animals."

rigidpenitentBharadwadja,alone

with his

son

in

68

THE

This

the

was

whose

priest

The
himself

the

placed

and

sufficiently

the

famous

than

without

rational

of

examination

shall
in

antiquity,

its

theories,

priests,

presently

its

disseminate

religious

and
their

as

they

philosophy
ancestors

the

opinions

g)

and

Society
;

had
of

had
i Jeas

and

already
that

departed
of

the

primitive

to

temple's

intelligence

adopt

in

its

its

adopted
ancient

through

all

Rome,

Greece,

Judea,

Brahminical

copy

levities,

legislation
whence

fact,

more

understanding
to

its

made

nothing

was

and

comprehension."

and

Egypt,

see

faith,

constitutes

" "

We

freedom

since

bring

which

that

which

laws,

under

has

to

matters

banished

liberty

^vithout

in

truth

civil

the

there

than

of

which

believe

to

of

all

"That

void

belief

will,

professing

mystery,

disposal,

adage,

knowledge

inteUigence

an

his

all

aid

his

study.

to

dis^^enser

to

at

way:

God

to

down

porch

the

successful

agreeable

calling

bent

reason,

and

tude
decrepi-

and

decay

occasion

dogma

only

servilely

conceived

finally

the

and

themselves

thought

bow

guardian,

religious,

in

up

of

Hindoo

ancient

at

work

have

soon

himself

struck

that

to

shall

INDIA.

blow

stroke

w'e

shut
sole

and

moral

of

effects

IN

terrible

most

finishing

the

Societ}-,

BIBLE

castes,

its

Brahmins,
the

Vedic
the

its

language,
Society,
world

revelation.
,

to

India's

relation

to

CHAPTER

WHENCE

COMES

PARIA,

THE

THE

69

antiquity.

V.

SCAPE-GOAl

OF

THE

EAST.

the rightof society

to pui c
India,while recognizing
for faults and crimes committed
ish its members
againstit,had
Ancient

the

not

notions

same

of that

rightas

modern

peoples,nor

the

application.
certain essential faculties of the
To Brahminical
legislators,
physicaland intellectual nature of man, could not be touched
by this rightwithout dishonoringthe divine work ; and in applicatio
of these ideas,which
not
perhaps be studied
may
without interest by thinkers and philosophers,
they regulated
all repressionby a penalty.
Thus, powerlessto control man's moral liberty, that is,his
facultyof thought,they equallyforbid restriction of his personal
alike the work of God.
as
liberty,
Hence
had its
a penal system, which, althoughit too
arose
influence on antiquity,
not
was
adopted to the same
extent, by
all the nations of that epoch, and has whollydisappearedfrom
mode

same

of

"

modern

codes.

penaltiesappliedby

The

that of the

Death;

1st.
caste

and

Vedas,

3d.

tortures

2d.

Hindoo

law

posteriorto

"

Degradationfrom

superiorto

from all caste ; 4th. The

rejection
5tli.Purification and sacrifices ; 6th.

Entire
;

are

ancient

an

inferior

bastonade
Fine.

BIBLE

THE

70
The
tors,

these primitive
to
prisonwas wholly unknown
legisla
with their principlethat the hand of man
and consistently

stop where

should

began,they only recognized

capitalpunishment in excessivelyrare
cases,
crimes

solelyfor

almost

of God

the work

of

the lawfulness

and

INDIA-

IN

the
affecting

of tlieir

essence

very

institutions.
political
and

bastonade

The

torture

did

caste

not

entire

rejectionfrom all
because
of special
sufficiently
expiatory,
partialor

when
transgressions,

and

different crimes

applied to

were

appear

circumstances.
aggravating
The

considerations

same

equallyregulatedthe applicationof

pecuniary fine.
Purifications and

vi'hich chiefly
partook of
The

dreaded

most

of

Loss

caste

the loss of

was

also all descendants

''

Those

fearful tortures

most

of family,
of friends,
possession,

denunciation
with

marked

men

complete

his

own

the

of them
brand

of dishonor

should

paternaland maternal, and

by their relatives,
compassion nor regard."

abandoned
neither
"We

may

not

study with them,

with

eat
nor

but

person,

after his condemnation.

born

Manou's

to

death, and the

"

the

punishments was

not only in
political
rights,

of all civil and

Listen

character.
religious

it.

preferredto

were

of all these

all castes

from

exclusion

applied to lightfaults,and

sacrifices but

them,

sacrifice with

nor

intennarrywith them,

let them

be

merit

them,

nor

wander

in

misery on the earth, excluded from all social ties."

either political
and might
This casting out was
or
religious,
ing
administerbe pronounced by the prince or his representatives
gious
the relijusticeand applying the civil law, or by the priest,
his
judge, delivering

temple, in
And
his

as

presence
the

crimes, so

of the

sentence

assembled

the

at

porch of pagoda

people.

guiltyappeared before the civil tribunal to a'

he required to present himself before
was

tribunal,with
religious

loud

voice

or

to

make

confession

j\v

the

of his

India's

that
transgression,
his

to

priestmight be

the

bear this ])assage in mind

us

this

From

antiquity.

71

enabled

proportion

to

his oftence.

punishment,to

Let

relation

to

be recalled fi.rther on.

penal system, this entire rejectionfrom

all caste,

springsthe unhappy and forever dishonored being called the

who
still continues, to Hindoos
of caste, an
paiia,.
object of
insuimountable
of reprobationwhich
the most
even
disgust,
overcome.
spirits
enlightened
amongst them cannot
that this dishonor
And
that its victim
might be indelible,

might
a

be

unable

distant

either

on

to

country,

the

his brow

or

oiste, under
Thus

was

impure, and

guiltywas

branded

with

to

were

be

him

refused

by

all

in

iron,

hot

shoulder,according to the crime

rice

and
Water, fire,

it,by hiding his shame

from

escape

mitted.
com-

of

men

pain of degradation.
formed

within

placedby

the

the

nation

nation,reputed

another

beneath
legislator

the

most

unclean

animals.

requireages to eradicate this prejudicewhich, maugre

has yet, we
suppressionof ancient laws, civil and religious,
repeat, lost nothing of its force amongst the populations.
It may

In

the great towns

the eye

him, and

of the

European

repairthe

to

lect
neg-

impotence of law, which has not yet dared to soften

situation,
employed also as day-laborerin many industries,
i^ariamay feel himself less miserable at present, his life
or

the

India,under

is glad individually
to protect

who

his

of

will

the

be

nearlyundisturbed,providedhe does not leave his

I"ut
quartierto joinin the fetes and festivals of the Hindoos.
ir.the country his condition is stillintolerable and pitiable.
If he sees
a
priestcoming towards him, let him promptly
even

leave the
the

by

road, and

at

ten

paces

distance

i)rostratehimself

dust,in sign of humiliation,or risk bein.gbeaten

the Brahmin's

If he

meet

head, without

to

in

death

servants.

of caste

he

must

his
kneel, without raising

man

look, until he has passed.

If he has neither food

nor

let him seek

fire,

or

steal it.

No

f2

THE

Hindoo
or

house

brand

these wretched

seen

of

hand

no

preser* him

creatures, reduced

the

of

course

stream,

animal

dead

findingsome

by miseryand

desert

whose

obligedto disputewith jackalsand birds of

Unaccountably the pariais himself so persuaded that

degraded

and

inferior

of riches.

It is

probable
triumphed over

time, have
for

that

at

never

his condition

from

sought escape

being,as

epoch

any

by industryand

in

as

Nothing

Europe.

paria,however,

than

the

have

to

is

branded,

with

much

as

easier for the

been

have

made

have

to

could

he is

might,with

he

gold is,in India, a sovereigngod, worshipped

fervor

prey.

accumulation
he

by such means
stigma with which

the

of

path, in the
possessionhe would

or

be

moreover

rice,

alive,in the shade

pale skeletons, scarce

idiotcy,

to

eveningfollow
hope

him,

to

open

INLIA.

IN

the hearth.

from

I have

famine

would

BIBLE

by

attempt

commerce

with his fellows.

course

keep small shops in the open, where

necessaries
to
parias only,their trifling

cocoa,

oil,rice, and

Many

cultivated

might be
the

of rice

basket

the littlebamboo
would

Here
hition

the

to

enlarged;

might
stall a

become

shop,

wood,

prudence

and

economy

sack, the jar of oil

cask,

"c.

be, very surely,the beginning of a social revoadvantage of these unfortunates,which it will be

long impossibleto attempt by

of
But the paria will never
such

with

of life :

small, this traffic

cuiTy-spices,
; however

and

of
they retail,

which,
struggle,

harvest,of which

he

other

himself

find energy

would

moreover,

could

means.

but

only profit in

to

engage
a

prepare
the

in

distant
of his

persons

desendants.
The

thought,the

one

is,promptly
From

for

some

the

to

in the sun,

he has

moment

by

his stock

exhaust

in

months
the

himself
disturbing

invariable
of

rule,of this poor

goods.

realized

idleness,free and

roadside
from

time

or

to

under
time

imbecile

sufficient
content

the
to

amount

he goes

cocoa's

renew

to
to

live

sleep

shade, only

the betel which

INDIA

he

RELATION

chews, oi
voluptuously

TO

to

eat

ANTIQUITV.

73

little boiled rice from

plantainleaf.
his funds

When
stock

retail

to

nearly exhausted,he

are

before,at

as

uiarljct stone, until the

the

hour

of

corner

for repose

once

will

buy

street,or

new
on

strikes for

more

!)ifn.
Treated

as

ibo Middle
and

the Hebrews

were

Ages, the pariashave

lead

them

will never,

under
liberty

to

by

and

commerce

the soil of

on

had

no

Egypt

Moses

to

in

and

resuscitate

skies,and they
favoring
become
the Jews of
industry,
more

India.
Such
tD

the

was

confine

imposingpenal system
within the bounds

castes

fear of

all,from

upon

that enabled

traced for

Brahmins

each, and

degradation,
respect

to

pose
im-

for their despotic

authority.
shall

We

this organization
bequeathed in turn

what

see

to

dif

ferent

and what
disastrous influences,
foi
peoplesof antiquity,
visions
Egypt, Judea,and even for Greece and for Rome, had these diof caste, this repressionby moral and indelible degradation
and his descendants,this constant
of the guilty
inance,
predomin fact,over
the peoplesand the institutions of Uppei
of that cunningcultivator of
Asia, of the egotist,
despot,priest,
and lies.
the religious
idea,by mysteries,
prophecies,
miracles,

Legano

simulazione,menzogne,

Con

"

cor

frodi,

d' mdissolubili'nodi."*

Divide, corrtimpe
Govern

et

impera !

Divide, Demoralize, and

of
to priests
device,transmitted by priestsof Brahma
Memphis and of Eleusis,to Levites, and to Aruspices,and
Old

fthich

we

perhaps

may

"

As

with

rise

deceit and

Chains which
7

see

triumphant over

the head

fraud and lies they make

the shackled

cannot
spirit

break."

of

modern
if

BIBLE

THE

74

the

of

namR

to efface

not

it from

decay and decreptitude,

the book

the very

hberty erase

INDIA.

towards

to impel them
nations,

hasten

we

IN

of

name

of the

future,and in

priestfrom

the

vo

of mankind.
cabularj'^

CHAPTER

MANES

AND

its

from
F.g}'pt,
one

PRIESTS

THE

of the first to receive

has radiated

This

THEIR

"

INFLUENCE

would
position,
geographical

of the first countries

which

VI.

even

truth becomes

colonized

by

Indian

the influence of that

to

be
necessarily
one
emigrations,

antique civilization,

us.

when
striking,

still more

institutions of this country,

EGYPT.

ON

so

constructed

we

study the

after those of

precludeother conclusion,and that the most

prejudicenmst giveway before the imposingmass
that may be presentedon the matter.

Asia,as

Upper
ate
obstin-

to

of

proofs

to demonstrate
is,tlie
chargemyselfespecially
institutions of all the people of
similitude of civil and political
I
as
the unityof idea in all;with India as initiatrix;
antiquity,
the unity of all religious
revelation,
shall, later,demonstrate

^\'^^at I would

with India
WTiat

was

as

the

point.
starting

the Government

earliest time;;?

of

Egypt, in lookingback

a copy
Identically

of that of India,under

to

its
the

76

THE

BIBLE

IN

monsters, statues, images,and, as

ox, which

How

we

must

was

sacred

these

priestsof

Thebes

f'neirpalaces,have
themselves

promenade

also

and

smiled

and

to

Apis,which

their power,

and

sombre

in

Egypt.
and of Memphis,
temples,which were

in the
also

when
pityor disgust
obligedto
high studies or their pleasuresto

the great joy of

they had

of their

animal

with

their

from

in pomp,

that bull

stilland always in India,the

know

depths of their immense

"ear

INDIA-

scorn

created

semi-bovine

ple,
peo-

C}od in the

prideof
rode
they over-

of the servile nation

And

what

of this

dogma

amusement

bull,which

must

theywere

theyhave derived from the death

obligedto replace,to maintain the

of his

!
immortality
did they for ages preserve
How
strictly
of all their prestige
!
knowledge,source

oaths

they have

must

consented

to

bound

to

the

deposit of

And

what

by

theii

terrible
,

themselves, those

whom

they

initiate !

in Brahminical

the Egyptian priestsdecreed

the
society,
of rising
above that class in which each was
born
impossibility
thus stampingtheir institutions with the same
seal of inertia and
immobility.
As

penal system was the same, and repressionexercised by

and complete caste-exclusion.
that is,by partial
degradation,
The

which

From

shall

we

by

the

of

outcast
an
race
equallyarose
speak in a specialchapter; for our

logicof facts,is,that
the

sprang

from

this

race

of

of whom
parias,
opinion,enforced
casts
pariasand of out-

Hebrews, regeneratedby Manes, Moses,

or

Mo'ise.

however, did not

Eg}ptian priests,
kingsso pliantand so malleable as those
of
nc.jr
attempted to resist the authority
The

Whether
tliat the
their

that the vicars of Osiris

Pharaohs

dreamt

of

of the

building
up

newer

; after

race

of

Tchatrias,who

the Brahmins.

last became

independence

ambition,that the hand of time desired

senile institutionsbequeathed
of

an

at

encounter

to

too

exigeant.

that flattered

overthrow

these

by Brahminism, for the purpose

from v.hicb
some
ages of this sleep,

India's

India has

yet awakened,

not

to

relation

Egypt

antiquity.

found

77

herself disturbed

by
sans,
parti-

the strifeof

and kings,
who, caUingtogethertheir
priests
disputed,at the pointof sword and Lance,a power Avhich
was
simplythe appanage of the strongest,and for long years
of
the people saw
themselves governed alternately
by dynasties
decided on the field of battle.
or of priests,
as
warriors,
Hence, doubtless,the disappearanceof ancient Egj^-pt'aii

civilization from

could

government
had become
of

stage. As in India,a theocratic

only produce slaves,and so deeplyrooted

the world's

all the divisior^ of caste, that after the final

kingsthey knew

of the past, and

not

nr

^^

to break

with the

regenerate their peoples,to

traditions

narrow

lean

triumph
them.

upon

Sc-.ootris,
wanderingconquerors,
carrying
fire and sword into the territories of their neighbors,
pable
but incaof foundinganything
of an individual
; for the despoticpower
^^'ill
alwaysbe powerlessfor the march of progress when
like

They became,

each

of the nation is reduced

man

instead of

build

future ages,

excavate

hundred
will

up

blocks

unit,

mere

of stone, the astonishment

lakes,turn

palaces,train
gigantic

construct

of

the state

an
constituting
individuality.

may

You

to

thousand

weave

you

whom
priests,

the

of immense

course

behind

of

waters,

triumphalcar

your

slaves,the conquests of war ; servile history

the Brahmins, the Levites,
and the
crowns;

gorged with honors and witii

will chant your praises,
riches,
present you to a prostrate peo
pie as an envoy of God, who accomplisheshis mission ; but
for the thinker and the philosopher,
for the history
of humanity,
you

will have

"

and

that of

not

obstruction

to

which

IS

should

strive
to

come

how

the

Thus

the

show

dictators,
you will have been but

that work
end

to

of progress,

by

designedby God,

attain.

You

will have

concord

and
been

and

which
but

stone

mere

by liberty,

each
a

of

nation

brutal

fact,

the weakness
of human
clearly
nature, and
nations fallinto decay.
did ancient Egypt, after the fallof its theocratic government,
sink, step by step, under the sway of priestsand
more

7*

.5

THE

into
kings,

ruin and

had

die.

but

to

in

So

of

caste, the
exclude

and

the

see

we

INDIA.

IN

oblivion;unprepared with

these
collating

do

Egypt,

BIBLE

antique countries,India and

two

the

government,

same

institutions,
produce

same

these

people

it
substitute,

the

results,

same

all part in the

from

division?

same

historyof

tlie

future.
With

such
to

appear

the

contest

suggest that chance

modelled

on

originof Egj^ptunless

Egypt that

civilization

East, or, which

extreme

would

India,and

colonized

to

be still
Manou

copied Manes.

who
I

understand

can

such

merely reply:

have

you

the stale

which
objections

tells you

that it

requirethat
for

room

of
ignorant
on

not

was

opinionbeingencouragedby

an

interested in denial,or

no

imagine,will

one,

in this country

constmcted

that of the

no

us,

purelyHindoo

absurd,that it was

more

before

congruence

your
I have

India

this affirmation
a

even

side but
before

that

shall be

shadow

India.

them

To

an

ple
peo-

I shall

affirmation and
"And

heard,
"

who

"

copied Egpyt ? and you

refuted by proofs leaving

of doubt.

then, depriveIndia of the Sanscrit,that

quitelogical,
languagewhich formed all others ; but show me in India a leaf
of papyrus, a columnar
a
temple bas-relieftending
inscription,
To

to

be

prove

Egyptianbirth.

Deprive India of all her remains of literature,

legislation,
Vv'hichstill there exist,
and philosophy,
preservedin the primitive
but show
language,and defyingages and profane hands
from which
what
the sources
copied in
were
they were
me
"

Egyiit.
of emigrationby tha
that great current
Ignore,if you will,
Hiniala}a,Persia,Asia-Minor, and Arabia, of which science
But
show
the traces.
me
has recovered
colonizingEgypt,
the globe. What
language,what
sending out her sons over
can
instiiitions,

to

we

discover

to-day,that

she

has

bequeathed

the world ?

Do

we

not

see

that the

Egypt of Manes,

sacerdotal

Egj'p'.,

INDIA'S

had

RELATION

institutions identical

with

oft' the

kings shook

those

of

yoke

Psameticus, she reversed

of

it the

for

tute

the

govern

civilizations?

new

caste

Therein

is the

take

to

energy

its birth

prepared

the

that

did

which

that
facility,

gods,

its deleterious

consider

thesis

that

allow

existence

of the

Fta, and

to

called

fecund

form

Manou,

who

as

Eet

which,

creators

in

the

be

mis-

antiquity,found
priest which

had

influence

corrupt

the

Bouto

by

to

had

of

egg,

an

the

the

compares

the

arf

three

three

Hindoo

ibis and

the

India

by

that

germ

of all

phis,
Mem-

demiurgic

persons

of the

importations;

tradition

of which

of

things to

under

Vedas

the
"

an

it

primitive

the

as

represented

souvenir

greatest

bull, for instance,

matter,

initiated,and
a

the

priestsof

the

by

symbolic

from

is but

into details ;

with

prove,

admitted

march
the

plunge

excellence,the

par

animals,

follow

and

the

of

liant
egg, bril-

gold."
it suffice ^o have
to

us,

explain

inlluence, and
of

the

nations, sufficiently
port
sup-

of

Fr6, who

superstitionsbrought

atom,

that

it would

to

could

we

unity of God,

Knef,

belief

is it easy

to

great similitudes- of principles,

Trinityin Egyptian theology,are

are

know

the

and

ourselves

those

that

maintain,

we

the

the three

the

idea, to suhsti

not

of

ti:-.':;.

East, without, however, being able

could

the base

the

of

liie

Ptolemies

first

She,

n^ccivcd,

thenceforth

but

Egypt,

firs'

for her.

not

are

of

had

was

the

government

extreme

Moreover, if we
if we

we

under

others.

fall which

the

escape

her

overthrow

in

merit

whole

assign to

to

Do

abolished

were

she

theocratic

pure

in the

only

that, from

priests,and

the

-"y

India

of

idea-Monarchical, which

divisions of

that

ANTIQUITY.

that,forgetting,
gradually,the tradition

ages;
her

TO

veil

peoples.

indicated

ancient

Egypt, by

logically raise,

that

obscures

these

and

as

far

great points of contact,

India
as

envelopes

and

BrahniiricaJ

possible, a
the

cradle

corner

of

ali

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

THE

VII.

CHAPTER

MINOS

The

irrefutable

most

which

the Sanscrit

from

of

proof

Greece, is "n the fact,on

length,that

GREECE.

AND

was

the

influence

we

have

India

of

on

already dwelt at
language of that

formed

the

and

heroic

country.
In fact all the

demi-gods,all

and

transmitted

this

on

this assertion
may

boldly
but

devote

of

names

is

lines

few

work, indeed, has

is

Minos
makes

him

struck

with

travelled

and

not

would

the

reached

his

into

Eg"-pt,of

soon

show

to

We

that

sucli,

shall,therefore,
written

whose
legislator,

Asiatic
into

the

which

banks

give to

the Cretans

adopted by
after,

he

of the

teiTOgate their traditions and

to

us

should

origin
;

history
people,

Greek

Crete, where

the

He
wisdom, besought his legislation.

Asia, Peisia,and

returns

lan^aiage

us.

the East

from

this

for

has

say, too,

may

truth,which, as

Cretan

of
incontestibly
come

be easy

itself

prove
to

We

compose

mathematical

simply 3-

Greece

origin
; and, if discussion

same

ground,it

affirm

the

which

epochs of gods

that

people

Sanscrit.

nearlypure

are

us,

its syntax, have

raised

be

the

greater part of the words

that the

and

to

Oi" fabulous

names

studied

Indus, saw

the

him

institutions;
in

turn

antique lejgislations
; then
his book

all Greece.

of the

then

law, which

inhe
was,

India's

It

relation

probably after, and

was

travels,that he received
have

the

root

in

Asia, and

of his Oriental

of him
''atiort

with Manou,

opinion attested
primitivesources
;
of Hindoo

it

and

imperativeto

of

peopleshad
We

Minos,

of India

bore

those of

to

often

and

titles borne

licant

and

assume

too

derived

he

his

two

the

are

belief,with

Egypt

not

expressing

sought instruction at
from the
inspiration

these

proper

held

that he

gratitude

the

words,

Manou,
but

names,

signikings

the

of

Xerxes,

that of Pharaoh.

this

work,

by

the

proofsalready given
shall not inquirewhether
mysteriesof Eleusis,so

the

we

feasts,pythonesses and
the

in

just as
by antique legislators,
titleof Tchatrias,
of Persia that

tlie

handled
skilfully

his

that

repeat

Moses,

first chapter of

Greek

he

and

asso-

our

precursors.

Contentingourselves, then, with

in the

safe in

are

with Manes,

and

avc

signifies
legislator
; and
his travels in Egypt and

Egyptian legislators
; and
the honorary titlewhicJi

decreed

cannot

Manes,

that

Minos, of which, as

we
origin,

by facts,since

i)-e

works

of

of, thesa

consequence

of

Sanscrit

already said, the

name

8i

antiquity.

as

conceive, that in consideration

we

"

to

is our
as
identical,

are
priests,

firm

feasts, devadassis,and mysteriesof Brahmin-

largelyinfluenced by
Hindoo
literature,
language,and philosophy,quicklyignoring
its fabulous origin,
learned to laugh at its Olynipus
the
soon
tradition
have
debauched
and, as we
gods of a superstitious
with a firm step in the way opened to it by
seen, to advance
the Sastras,to the conquest of untranmielled
thought.
Rome
Had
not
appeared, with her brutal invasion,to dry
country, long since
up the.energy and the lifeof this admirable
which
have not
had all those problems of progress and liberty
Europe with revolutions,been solved by
yet ceased to agitate
of free and primitive
descendants
of Hellas,by those
the sons

ism.

Moreover,

Greece, that

was

so

"

"

society.
Although the family of

Hindoo

who

were

apparentlya

great influence in Gieece

the

of

caste
at

Eumolpic.es,priestsof Ceres,

an

Levitcs, had

early period,it

also
does

enjoyed
not

ap-

82

BIBLE

THE

pear that
the

of the nation

government

attributed the considerable

this

INDIA.

in

succeeded

theyever

IN

to theirown
confiscating
profit,
be
must
; and to that fact,chiefly,

development
in

soil,Avhich had succeeded

narrow

of

human

thought on

at home,
establishing,

at an
epoch when
reignof democracy and of liberty,
and religious
despotismsjoined hands to enslave
l^olitical

the

all
the

world.
the fall of

know, in fact, that from

We

time of the Macedonian

nations

modern

and

Roman

Hippias,until

conquests, Athens

the

affords

example of a popular government, in

ture,
all the glories
of literabrought to perfection

the

"which

had
liberty
and of arts.
of philosophy,
elected
The citizen,by universal suffrage,

his

archons, his

and of war,
his functionaries ; the right
of peace
magistrates,
the discussion ol all the great interests of
the legislative
power,
the republicbelongedto the generalassembly of the people,to
which

every

under

penaltyof

It

substituted

and

tradition,ends
the

expand

of

anns

on

dies

by

and

his vote,

of the national
to

idea,
capricesof a

the

governedsocieties.
under
the priest,
Egypt, inheritor

overthrow

kings,and

sacerdotal

herself

obedience

word

until then

had

groans

into the

and

in the world

servile

that

for

which

India
this

man

the first appearance

was

master,

brought the aid of his

forfeiture of his rights.

free

theocracy,to

cast

itself

the

East,

Greece, remembering
which

dominations
freer

of

makes
soil,

she

another

had

of

rejected,to

stride of progress,

and, replacingthe slave by the citizen,institutes the government

of the nation
Hence
Thus

was

born

by

the nation.

these first Hindoo

subjectionto

spirit
by
emigrations

the modern

revelation

South, after long

the priest,had, rftep by step,

and

effected their overthrow, and

the

commencement

of progress

by

independence and by reason.

it that the second
of emigration
stream
by the
Why was
Himalayas and the plainsof the North, which brought into
Europe t)ie Scandinavian,Germanic and Slave tribes(no do'
'

84

THE

this

comes

signedto

of

name

BIDLE

INDIA.

IN

Zoroaster,which

is itself but

title as

and religious
political
legislator.
As
his Sanscrit originsufficiently
indicates,
according even
to the testimony
of history,
Zoroaster was
born in Upper Asia,
that is,in India.
After having passed the greater part of liis
life in study of the religion
and the laws of that country wit'i
the

Bralimins,who
caste

same

initiated him,

had

themselves, his travels led

as

the
where, encountering
to reform
them, and
comformable

more

Zoroaster

being doubtless

endow

morals

to

without

into

Persia,

he
superstitious
practices,

most
to

him

of the

and

that country with

to

doubt,

took
under-

religion.

reason.

from
fugitive

the

pagodas
and temples of India,who, wishing the people to profitby the
truths and sublime
knowledge which the priestsreserved exclusively
was,

themselves, but fearingtheir power

to

in

India, sought a country

Arrived

he

the

at

opened

them

to

his cause,

and

to

he

submit

to

preached
their

trol.
con-

kings Gouchtasp and Isfendiar,

of withdi'awing
themselves
from

means

Brahmins, from

and, thanks

to

Sind

to

if he

immediately under

less

of the

court

their eyes

the influence of
;

titure
they held their investhis clever temptation,having gained
trine,
docwas
permittedto preach the new
the entire of

his laws

(Indus);that is,to

whom

the very

Iran, even

to

the

frontier sanctuary of Brahmin-

ical power.

So, Luther, afterwards,by showing the German

of shaking ofT
possibility

the

the popes,

in the camp

enrolled them

Only, the great

of
Lnagination

and

wonders, instead

trusted the

to

been

of

himself
presenting

of his mission

surround

obligedtc

impressthe

crowd

So

is the

certain

of reform.

of

Doubtless, had he lived

reason.

have

success

despoticand

the
Wittemberg, instead of strikhig
peoples,like his predecessors,
by prodigies

monk

the

princesthe
capricious
yoke of

"

to

celestial envoy,

appeals in

some

himself

the
only raising

Hindoo

as

years
with
veil

to

the

name

ol

he would
earlier,

halo of mystery,
the initiated few.

originof Zoroaster,that liistorj

India's

itselfinforms

relation

this false brother,who

summoned
and

him

to

aimed

had

of

of Western

India

dominion.

Defeated

and
In his

which, and

divided

He

His

the
rejecting

had

allowed

To

the

innovated

the

itselffrom

their

constrained

to

tire,
re-

in peace.

littleupon

people into castes,

have

we

the Brahminat

of

the head

the multitude
the

the

to

was

sink,he instructed all in

tive
crea-

of Zervane-Akerene.

name

To

ligious
re-

in the

to the
par excelle7ice,

essence,

he gave
of presei^vation,
principle
presiding

of Ormuz.

the

Vedas, that is,the unityof God

the Divine

to

establish itself in India and

seen

only such in this sense,

into which Hindoo
priests
superstitions

many

of
principles
Trinity.

power,

work

new

reform
religious

that

gave

withdrawn

the re-conquest

kings,he placed the Magi, or priests,

lated
regulife,
and, finally,
private
adopted a penal system

similar to that which

Egypt.

to

above

publicand

He

the

pursue

Zoroaster
teaching,

ical system.

Eastern

had

their power,

at

explainhis schism ;
at
trap, they marched

by Zoroaster,theywere

to

the desertion of

to

into the

which
(Iran),

leave him

them

from

powerfularmy,

at

the first blow

before

appear

to entice him
that,failing

the head

in

Brahmins,furious

that the

us

85

antiquity.

to

that of

the

name

the
decompositionand reconstruction,

of Ahriman.

name

It is exactlythe

Hindoo

bolic attributes and

Zoroaster

did

perhaps,intended
found

himself
not

were

trimourti

with
(trinity),

their sym.

role in creation.

not
to

extirpateall
overthrow

the

which
superstitions,

; freethinker

at

he
first,

he,
soon

of bis age, and that the populations

institutions as he lad conceived.
Each

in advance

ripefor

such

behind
reformer,also,has always,unhappily,a train of disciples
him, whose personalambitions intervene to retard advance,
and

modify ])rimitive
principles.

The

Magi

soon

became

class,like all sacerdotal

an

castes.

initiated class

"

monopolizing

Class-divisions assisted them

the people to their authority,

to bend
and, as in India,
plai,sibly
needed
fox
as in E(;ypt,
were
sacrifices,
mysteries,
processions
8

86

THE

the

handed

in

the

face

muz,

midst

of thunders

book

one

him

from
to

This

returned

of

the

Supreme

book

is

nothing

sacred

of the

the influence

Thus

less obscure

the
the

of

traces

than

of

the

India

of

than

in

those

Zoroaster

the banks

West, from

Or-

which

majesty,
he

was,

brought with

he

written

had

he

him

the

under

the

recollection

the Vedas

of

Hindoos, which, in

his

youth,

\vith the Brahmins.

historyof

the

saw

his

grandeur and

earth

to

else

of rehgious and
similarity
of

divided

heaven, and

instructions

Persia

on

in all the countries

and

of historic

Sirvd,has all the authentication

of

tain
high moun-

Being.

books

studied

had

Zoroaster

into

up

law, called Nosks, which

of the

in

lightningsthat

divine

the

prayed

legends of

of

man.

Zoroaster

direction

and
taken

Avas

profusion

he

as

of the Sun

the recollection.

retained

their

in all the eclat of his

face

to

later,to reveal
WTien

day,

that

received

and

in

compre
Hence

gigantic festivals

those

relate

others,have

charlatanism.

and

all pomp

antiquityso long

in all parts, he

heavens

those

than

disciplesof Zoroaster,

Master,

INDIA

IN

more

free from

fire,of which

The

and

no

hecatombs,

monstrous

of

the

would

worship

tiiose
or

who

people

BIBLE

all the

Eg)'pt,to

truth.

Here

proofs drawn

politicalinstitutions,adds
far back

India

from
of

the

in which

times
of

Ganges

the
to

East,
the

from

mony
testi-

the

we

dition,
tra-

low
fol-

may

to

banks

India
of

of
the

Indus.
Do

escaping

from

the great focus

able, with

Rome

concluding

this

Greece,

and

predecessors, iManou

ilie

people

he

came

celestial mission.

all these

by

to

and
rule

or

Arabia

and

us

remark

traditions,

Hindoo

Egypt,

modifications, to

chapter,let

his

how

were

Asia-Minor,

In

understand

now

we

Persia

reach

and

Judea,

that Zoroaster, like

assigned himself midst

regenerate, a celestial originand
Manes,

INDIA'S

CHAPTER

ROME

The

Asiatic

IX.

AND

originof

S?

ANTIOUITY.

TO

RELATION

CASTES.

ITS

and

Rome

her institutions is

requiringdemonstration.
Italus,says the legend,flyingfrom Asia-Minor
to
Trojans, after the fall of Troy, came
the soil of Italy,
and gave it his name.
upon

truth

scarce

tribes,from the

said that

might be

It

from

those fabulous
; the

them

as

are

of

conceive, a bonne fortune for

from

come

and
that

the
We

have

matter
seen

as

as

is

fabulous

these

ting
admittraditions,

it becomes,
origin,

we

toms
legend are begottencusand
that affinity
establishing

maintain

that

we

have established

?
completelyas possible

that Rome

science

the
incontestible,

the Greek

plode
ex-

to find,at every
ner
cortheor)',
legend that makes the colonist

rightto

the

to

Latin, as

India for her

well

as

the

grand

Greek,

admits, derived from the Sanscrit ; if,

Roman

01}Tnpus,which

indebted

was

of legislation.
If
piinciples

is also,as modern

precisely

if of this

And

not

we

Greek

professto

we

Asiatic

common

stillbetter
institutions,

have
origin,

Some

our

earth, the

the East.

which

Maintainingthat
and

establish himself

proofs borrowed

epochs

Hindoo

but

the souvenir

of the colonized

offer

heroic

and

is easy.

answer

heroic times

and

here

we

quished
van-

aided the colonization.

cradle, afterwards

same

with the

Olympus
itself had

is but

an

emanation

its birth in the

of

mysteries

S8

THE

of

India,of Persia,and

render

the truth

Had

of

her castes, like the

die infiltration of younger

Does

of

Hindoo

society? Was

an

inferior

to

same

ask

we

more

to

people,as

the

not

the

whence

feebler

this

beginningof

Do

not

we

civilization,
systematicsubjuga

the

by

new

masses

could

Rome

priests,

image
of rising
from
impossibility

have

find that she

we
institutions,

of these

important,?.ni]

energy

plebeians,
represent

of domination

degradationof
if

And

nations,het

soil,
producing the

of the Eoman

the very

programme

tion and

richer

superiorclass,equallydecreed

perceive,in fact,at
the

say to

we

attribute that result

to

on

labor and

and
patricians,

senators,

blood

less

were

not

we

ancient

more

divisions

this constitution

not

shall

more

life,doubtless,with less facility

; but, for thaf

of

more
requiring

reason,

INDIA.

Egypt, what

if those
?
And
predecessors
more
easilysubverted,ought

necessaries

IN

true

more

Rome

not

BIBLE

acquired the idea

her

sent

sages and

her

into Greece, Egj'pt,

to Asia, to
and, no doubt, even
legislators
which
from tlie
explore the great focus of the enlightenment
radiated

had

East
At

over

the entire ancient

Avorld.

the senile traditions of Brahminism

this time

decay. Boudha, it is true, had

Hindostan, but he had given the followers
in

which

from

they were

not

cloudy past,
Obviously, the

her

this
certain

state

of

expelledfrom
Brahma
a
blow,

of

Avas

tionizing
revolu-

the Sacerdotal

era

Monarchic

the

succeeded

To

where
every-

been

Zoroaster

recover.

Persia.

India and

Western

Egj'pt had

to

were

period,and Greece,
preparingher Republican

was

attempt

by
things,

classes,could
privileged

the
but

made

at

power

of

result in

Rome

to

in
pudiating
re-

stitutio
ingenerate
re-

priestsand

of

succession

of

or
late,in a social and
strugglesand civil wars, to end, soon
which the people had alreadybegan to dream
equality,
political

of and

to

desire.

In vain did

the
wars

eyes

and

the
and

higherclasses,to
employ

the

preserve

energy

conquests j they were

of the

their power,

zle
daz-

populationswith

obligedto give way,

and

India's

bow
gradually

the

to

relation

tradition remain

in

customs

nations the stamp

shall

and

that threatened

or
abolished,

less did the ineffaceable

alysed,not

We

were

their inlluence par

retain

even

amongst

origin.

protract these reflections.

not

iles

to

Oriental
signsof primitive

laws which

of their

8g

antiquity.

fresheningbreeze

tioy them.
But, if social divisions

modern

to

Moreover, does

not

loudlyproclaim its Sanscrit parentage ? And have we

in our
strated
demonalready,
precedingchap'erson legislations,

Latin
not

the direct and

influence
preponderating

of India

this

on

country ?

CHAPTER

COMPARISON

OF

OF

We

LAWS
THE

JUSTINIAN,

OF

AND

CASTE

IN

PRIVATION
THE

CIVIL

INDIA,

WITH

THE

TIS
CAPI-

RIGHTS) IN
(mORT CIVILE)

CIVIL

OF

DEATH

NAPOLEON.

CODE

have

OF

(diminution OR

MINUTIO
THE

PRIVATION

X.

seen

the Hindoo

after
priests,

the fall (whichwas

tlieirwork) of Vedic

of
institute for tlie security
civilization,

their power,

the

and

fear,this
salutary
from

with

terrible

all caste, which

low the bru te, since

8*

not

designof imbuing their victims with

plete,
comor
partial
penaltyof rejection,
placed the unliappydelinquentbe
die faintest social relation could

be

THE

go
neld \vithhim

without

BIBLE

IN

INDIA.

and sinkingto
incurring
degradation,

1"

level.
Even

ties of

the

became

outcast

wife became
f.econd

family were

orphans, they were

marriagewas

his

murderer, who

had

From

soil of

the

theocratic

; and

as

Thus, while in
or
priests,

well

his

in which

law

failed ",
touched

monies
cerereligious

defiled

by

contact

the other countries

admirable

an

instrument

that

of domination

to
of water and offirecome
a
throughoutantiquity
justand salutarypenalty.

modification,it must

from

been

the

did f/ie interdiction

into the exercise of this

the

caste

the

this institution of
India, its birth-place,

their turn,

thus

be considered
A

/le had

despotismquicklypassed to

adopted it,in

his succession

simply to perform

because
purification,
paria.

if of

of

tutor

killed,the civil

be

to

of

of

relegatedto

prohibited
;

not

children

the

widow, and might re-marry

if he happened
and, finally,
not

broken

of

be

stated,was,

however, introduced

repression.
of
India, the capriciousand arbitrary
power
the king,pronounced the sentence
of sion
expulsevere

caste, for faults

as

well

for crimes ; for

as

for social offences ; the different nations

as
religious

antiquity
tainted by Hindoo
confined the applicationof this
influence,
and religious
to political
penalty,in its extreme
severity,
crimes,
treasons, and conspiracies
againstall authority.
Crimes and offences againstthe person were
subjectto other
as

of

laws.
This

exception,however,
this

and

practicein

it is easy

After

to

see

did

include

not

all its rigorous

and

the

why.

reason

India,it is Egypt that exhibits

example of stolid demoralization

who, deprivedof

tained
Egypt, which reapplication,
arbitrary

and

to

us

the

abasement

most

of the

painfiil
people,

all social and

role,deprived in some
political
of the facultyof thinking,
because
measure
deprived of the
of knowing,of acting,
and of speaking; denied all initiative,
privilege
their hours
were

long

but

defined

for

refection,
repose,

docile instruments

"

and

prayer,

producing machiu""3

to

BIBLE

THE

9"
and

and

of Osiris

influenced

thrillof

followed

sufficient

the

see

of
priests
Rome

ancient

of the

rule

ma
Brahwas

world, I do

denouncing her. but I feel a

that our
modem
had
legislators

for
I

this

codes

our

the

reason

when
indignation

inscribed in

to

such ignominies. That

inventing

and

by

think

not

in the least astonished

not

am

ISTtlA.

IN

see

caste, this

rejectionof

miiiucapitis

in fact,this civil death.

fio,had prescribed,
Civil

death

Will

ago, the victim

it be

of this

his name,
and

permit him,

live

memories

pariaof India,had

the

littleaftection for

some

in default of

littleupon

fifteen years

scarce

relations
or
childi^en,

wife,or

retain

to

that

penalty,like

earth either

longeron

believed

hope, in

the

Will it be

one

unblest,

his

depths of

believed

late
articu-

to
so

no

cell,to

that his wife

pemiitted to re-marr}', and his children to divide amongst

them his spoils
?
'89 had passed over
ous
And
without daringto touch this hidenatic
preservedby that sacerdotal and fabequest of antiquity,
in Europe all the despotisms
that sought to re-erect
middle-age,
sions
and all the degeneracies
of Brahminism, by the diviof the priest.
of castes, and domination

was

and

Honor
of

name

remembrance, in

humanity ;

honor

and

painfully
conquered progress,
to

the

W^e

said that in

have

from

caste,

or by
civil,

necessary

the

for

had

not

potismpicked up
peoples and

have

seen

it

at

in

1853 erased

from

tice,
jusout

pronounced either by the judge for purely

It was
offences.
priestfor religious
certainly

E.xcommunication

of

that

of eternal

antiqueimmoralityand corruption!

Brahmins,

in the

well,and she would

too

and
kings,

of

for

customs;
have

vented,
in-

her illustrious ancestors.

nothingelse
pagodas

attempting

ages

appropriatesuch

to

inherited it from
was

of

in the middle

when

fitted her hand

she

in tlie name

honor

sion
India,civil death, the complete exclu-

Papal Rome,

the instrument

in

peoples,in the
the historyof

was

of Hindoo

rvle

the

relic of

of the

name

recollection

sovereigninfluence

this odious

codes

the

than

Brahma, for

triumph

work, in the middle

ages,

weapon
the

of the

of dcs

subjugation

priest. W"
cursingpeoples in

India's

their
have

relation

ANTiQurry.

posteiity anathematizingkings in
"

die

Savonarola

seen

disorders of Alexander
abandoned
bend

to

to

We

and
faith,

of

We
tlynast)-.
having expose j the
of

France,

faithful servants, obliged

most
a

hecatombs

human

seen

his

for

their

pious Robert,

the

the hand

under

the knee

stake

VI., and

his friends and

by

have

the

at

93

fanatic.
religious
the burning pilesof
on

with blood.

the altar reddened

Ages have passed away ; we are but wakeningto progress of

free thought. But let iis expect struggles
without end, until
the day when
shall have courage to arraign
all sacerdotalism
we
at the bar

of

liberty.

XI.

CHAPTER

THE

SERVED

BY

THE

PAGODAS.
THE

WORSHIPS.

ANCIENT

ALL

OF

PYTHONESS

THE

ATHENS.

OF

VIRGINS

DEVADASSIS,

CUSTOMS

"

AT

P\THONESSES
THE

ENDOR.

PUE

AT

VESTALS

ROME.

We

hy

shall be brief

th(;

door

matters

of this

elaborate

to

necessary

to

the

on

chapter, which

study of

say such

pointsfor

is not

all ancient

consideration
would

suggested

easilyopen

worships. It

is

the

scarce

object.

our

ability,
proven the influence
its science,
all antique society,
of India on
by its legislation,
that the hnpotence,the degrac
moral and philosophic
; proven
After

having,to

the best of

our

THE

94

BIBLE

INDIA.

IN

had no other caust!

dation,and the fall of ancient civilization,
idea by those especially
who
than corruptionof the religious
ought to have presentedit to the peoplesin all itsdivine purity;
the identityof origin
of all the naafter halvingdemonstrated
tions
of the white race, by the unity of idea of all the great
ply
simwould now
that pervaded the ancient world ; we
principles
in studyintimate that in farther examiningthese principles,
ing
in all the results they prothem in all their relative details,
duce,
of contact, the same
shall find the same
we
points
points,
the conceptionsof
of logical
reseinblance,betraying,
maugre
modified those
different peoples who organizedand necessarily
to the remote
a filiationthat ascends
details,
myths and legends
of the Hindoos.

Devadassi,in primitivetimes, were

The

virginsattached

to

pagodas and temples,and whose functions were

tended
Some
the sacred
numerous.
as various as
they were
fire that burned
day and nightbefore the symbolic statue of
Sivi.
the Holy Trinity(Trimourti) Brahma, Vischnou, and
danced
before the car or ark,
Others,on the days of procession,
the service of

"

which

carried

statue

of tliisTrinity
or

the country, either the

and
through the villages
those

of the

three

composing

persons

it.
Others

again,in

beverage,of

the wild

delirium

wliich the Brahmins

uttered oracles in the

produced by

have

yet lost the secret,

not

sanctuaries,either

to

fanaticise fakirs

sunniassys(holy mendicants),or to extort from

of fruit,
rice,cattle and
people,abundant offering
There

are

others, whose

mission

is

to

exciting

an

an

amazed

the

money.

singsacred hymns

of

and to
and happinessat familysacrifices and festivals,
rejoicing
bring back to the Brahmins, their masters, presents of every
kind, which each individual is bound to givethem. Their presence
was

also necessary

requiredeach

at
to

soi

recurringanniversaryof

those

funeral ceremonies

accomplishat
the

the

which

death,and

on

death, of his father and

gion
relieach
of his

mother.

Kings,on

the

eve

of

battle,or

of any

otiier great event,

INDIA'S

RELATION

consulted those who

received

piously followed

and

their

AN^/IQunY.

TO

95

the revelations of the

oracles,which

Divinity,

thus

always

menced
com-

"

the whole
with

King

Great

the

Great

fifty
elephants

that have

oxen

to

not

yet

King

the immense

Vaswamitra
wouldst

ocean,

magnanimous
of

hundred

is known

power

yoke," "c.

Or otherwise
O

! whose

world, thou shalt giveto the Brahmins

trappingsof gold, two

borne

"

Douchmanta

his

as

! thou

thou have

father,make

riches would

whose
a

son

as

to
offering

an

fill

great and
the

as

Brahmins

unsurpassable splendor,""c.*
for
Briefly,
gratifications

Give, give,for
Needless

the

the

race

Brahmin, presents

to

the Brahmin.

is insatiable.

say that the great

King Douchmanta, or Vaswathe divine command.

mitra,promptly ruined himself to satisfy
These Hindoo
doubtless accompanied emigrations,
customs
and to them should be attributed die employment of women
in
all the mysteriesof antiquity.
The
consecrated
virginsof Egypt, who danced before the
of gods, the pythonessesof Delphi,the priestesses
of
statues
Ceres, who
the sacred
lute
sion

to

delivered
were
fire,

of rule
identity
impossible.

oracles,the

and

of

render
attributes,

reject it

as

and

If,then, it appears

mystery.

primitivecradle,nothingmore
whence
departed the
cx"untr}-

'*

credulity,
give
crore

Fast

of rupees

!"

the Chief
And

Brahmin

of India ; abso
any

other

coloni;

conclu

but

to

from

stition
super-

legacyfrom

the

it to

the

retrace

ing tribes.

wealtli is

of London

thus Joes the

themselves

than

naturil

great people of England,whose

to

tended

who

and priestess,
is so much
virgin
all the nations of antiquit}
see

that we
importation,
they graduallyemancipate

Oriental

of Rome

but heirs of the devadassi

This tradition of the woman,

an

vestals

most

by
onlysurpassetl
million

one

audacious

of the
its unflinching
representative
paleJ)efore

}'Our

one
sterling,

Brahminiiiin of tbe

West

96

THE

No

could the Hebrews

people of antiquity,
general; and the Bible informs us, that
the battle of Gilboa,went
the
to consult

than other

more

then
beliefs,

escape

the

Saul, on
Witch

of
to

ai)pear

INDIA*

IN

BIBLE

of

eve

made

Endor, who

the

may
argue, discuss,deny, but we
^sprove this influence of India on the

step, in great

as
principles,

these
Very certainly,
and
virgins,

consecrated

India,but

and
p-ious
gifts

of rich

the

to

temple

done

with this

and of Brahmanism
have

of their

language and

the

to

on

fraud

impure

an

added

current

of

RETROSPECT.

rapidreview

of the influence of India

civilization.

influence

on

side,by emigrations
to colonize,souvenirs

one

the

of

they came
their primitive
social

other,by

the sages

complete their studies,all went

originof

but

"

the different soils

institutions; and,

pythonesses,these
in antiquity,
in
as

XII.

ancient

explainedthis

implantingon

who,

on

cation.
appli-

offerings.

SIMPLE

have

not

reappears

in the details of their

of domination

CHAPTER

We

Prophet

assert, shall

world, which

these vestals,were,

means

more

one

dare

devadassi,these

to all tlie others,to attract

We

the

him.

We

at each

Samuel

ghost of

all science and

to

and

the

of all tradition.

and

the

religious

legislators,

East,to seek

out

INDIA'S

RELATION

TO

ANTIQUIl-Y.

97

of each newjy fomiet'.

at the head
Everywhere we have seen
the disastrous influence of the priest,
ism
society,
begettingdespotthe most
unenHghtened,subjugation of the people, and

corruptionthe
have

We

flagrant.

most

ancient

the

shown

its

world, maugre

independence,ending,like India,of which it was

in an earlyold age, and a decrepitudewhich had
the

of
superstitions

the masses,

from

vestigesof
emanation,

an

their

perversionof

originin

the

religious

idea.
sublime

All

truth

Unity of God,

the

on

witlilield from

immortalityof the soul,were

who
and priests,
would
which
superstitions
multitude

to

they

doubtless

Zoroaster

notions,but

he
in

only ended

for

intended

oft' by his

new

consecration

These

and

Moses
the

his

of

work,

Christ,which

if

prove,

we

succeeded

from

his reform

power.

of

Japan, a symbol

of their age, and

gation
subju-

their

men

we

shall

we

shall

study the procedure of

explainby that of Christna,
to

venture

are

provingthat
and

customs,

say,

only

not

of

entire

antiquitywas, by

politicaltraditions,but
to

cast

the

stone

aa

ai:

forced,logicallyand

that in India

! this

in

India, who, then, will dare

revelation,and of
What

sublime

the entire world.

language, usages,
us

in

and

in advance

were

of this

course

have

emanation

adepts.

intolerance.

India,but of
we

their

followers,and

of sacerdotal

we
greatest of philoso]:)hers

If

and

the

yet born.

the

In

in

preceded him, although expelled from

independence of thought,afterwards became,

reformers

not

were

all the

engendered

caste

mins
Brah-

the

believe

the

had

in Thibet, in China,
similarly,
and

by

popularize these

to

cast

to

had

for their

and
Trinity,

them

blushed

themselves

was

Boudha, too, who

India

have

domination

secure

the

all

be

must

to
maintain, and to
fatally,
of primitive
sought the source

traditions
religious

people who

so

Persia, Egypt, Greece, and

deeply stamped
Rome,

who

gave

their
these

traces

on

countries

9$

BIBLE

THE

IN

INDIA"

their political
their
their language,
organization,

laws,would

not

idea ?
equallyhave imported the religious
What
! the Greek, the Latin,the Hebrew,
and
Sanscrit,

the

the ablation stop there ?

Braminism

As

may be born of
That is inadmissible.

implanted

with
superstitions,

different soils all the

these

on

the aid of which

it had

deluded

and

bowed

and Manes
yoke, so did Manou
bringwith
them
the pure
the traditions of the Vedas.
primitive
traditions,
which
the Levites,and adepts,
they reserved for the priests,
and which inspiredthe two
the
we
owe
philosophersto whom
the

foundation
We

its

to

masses

of Hebrew

shall

whence

see

the firstfive books

Christian societies.

and

Moses

of the

his

exhumed

Bible,of which

Pentateuch, that is,

he

is considered

author,viz..Genesis,Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, and
When

we

way, in
like all others of ancient

shall have

thus

civilization was,

Hebrew

reflection of

cleared

India,a souvenir of

times,but

parent,

common

eronomy.
Deut-

provingthat

the

that

the

we

may

the role played by the

permitted,without fear,to examine
Christian philosopher,
Hebrew
tradition,
fied
puriwho, in retaining
it by aid of the morale
of Christna,the great Hindoo
reformer,which he had no doubt been able to studyfor himself
in the sacred books of Egypt and of India.*
Wliat more
than our
natural,more
sunple,and more
logical,
tion,
conclusion,from the moment
Ave
deny all revelaenergetically
of
and to the dignity
as opposed to good sense,
to reason,
God ; from the moment
to the
we
relegateall incarnations,

be

domain

of fable and

Ought

we

not

of

romance

inquireif

to

unite all

peoples; if,in fact,in

all conquests of thought have

some

the
not

bond

common

does

not

historyof past civifizations,

been

connected

with

each

other ?
Have

"n

As
the

not

the nineteen

probableas

heightsof

M.

centuries of

Kenan's

Nazareth

romantic

our

modern

pictureof

the

era

supported

youthfulChrist,

SECOND

PART

MOSES

AICiSE

OR

CHAPTER

RE\'EI.ATIONS

At
to

opening of

proclaim

those
as

the

of Manou,

well those
The

in

rejectionof

of Christna
this

and

he

neither

of

to

can

it
his
He

lo

implanted in

oublime

notions

and demerits

of

as

will

to

the conscience

]Moses;

physical nature,

change.

nature^ in like

his wisdom

that of

that of Christ.

as

In

to

of free and

final

creatingthe
he

manner

it would

in the least

immortalityin another
good and of evil,
gave him
of

revelations,as well

Manes,

which
imchanging principles,

dignitynor

indisper.sable

easilystated.

matter,

nor

moral
soul, the intelligence,

of

all

Boudha,

rejectionare

creating,
gave

b.ws, which

Part, it becomes

of Zoroaster, and

grounds of

God,

INCARNATIONS.

"

absolute

our

I.

Second

our

SOCIETY.

HEBREW

AND

neither

jected
subcome
be-

modify.
responsibleman,

life,of the merits

to

understand

that

AND

MOSES

the hand
left his

of

HEBREW

SOCIETY.

lol

Omnipotent Beinggovernedthe world ; then

free to accomplishhis mysterious
destinyhere

an

creature

below.
Such is the conclusion of my
himself

God

giftof

and which

For

other

all claimed

who, the better

and
origin,
mysteries.
their

of divine

to

divinityor
impressthe

availed themselves

content

are

unityof design,
content*'

Zoroaster,Moses, and

accept Moses

to

divine

missions,were

masses,

concealed
skilfully

of the aid of

as

but

and
prodigies

prophet,and Christ

as

:
origin

do you

But

is the

revelation.

Christna,Boudha, Manes,

Christ, who

You

least there find

at

which

comprehend.

can

there is no

me

Manou,

men,

reason

and moral nature, which

wisdom, in physical

of eternal
me,

But I

reason, of that

then

That

forget
Egypt accepted Manes?

That

Persia

That

India deified Manou

Zoroaster
recognized
and

Christna ?

That Thibet, Tartary,China, Japan,worship Boudha

that, at your very door, a portionof Europe, of Asia,

?
bow down
to Mahomet
and of Africa,at this moment
And

Do

you,

then, forgetthat all these people,who

form

an

mense
im-

prophets,and your
with as much
contempt as you rejecttheirs?
and them
then, to declare yourselvesright,

majorityagainstyou, rejectyour
celestial envoys,
\Vho

are

wrong

I chance
the truth
Here
Ah

you,

be bom

here

falsehood

of my

to

or

or

there ; chance

dien is

decide

to

beliefs.

rejectit.
prayer; there he A\'ill
in making his god after his owm
has succeeded

wil. leccive my

God

! how

man

him
placing
unage, with all his weaknesses,all his imperfections,
of all ambitions and all intolerances.
in the van

And,
we

those

we

the

make
open

of

name

nations
future
C*

supreme
of Brahmins

wisdom, and
and

rewards,to these

we

nations

supreme

tice,
jus-

of Farias ;

reftisethem.

to

Faugh I

THE

I02

if social and
we

BIBLE

ideas
political

stillin Brahminical

are

this is

And

why

IN

have

rejectrevelations

burning pilesof
faith in

and

of all the

hecatombs, and

despotism.
God, knowledge of good
conscience

and
immortality,

invented
beyond is but superstition
liisdespotism.
to

Had

incarnation
I been

in

if bom

Japan

in

Bom

born

Europe,

of all

and

of evil,

by

the

priestto

cloak

in

India,I

should

believe in that of Christna

China, I should believe in that of Boudlia.

I believe in that of Christ ?

must

of God

! I make

No

or

sensions
dis-

is the instructor.

All

As

of all human

cause

"

sacredotal

is belief in

Revelation

ideas
advanced, for religious

times.

of all religious
wars,
the

INDIA.

grander

and

more

venerable

image;

all the explanationsof poetry

envelope, maugre
legend,is worthy neither of his prescience,nor of his

this mortal
and

of

wisdom

and

I leave

to

those who

of thus
dare, the profanity

him.
dishonoring
all played a
Christna,Boudha, Clirist,
has

all,accordingto the good they

judged tliem,as

that neither of these

It is just,
however, to state

have

to

on,

divine

claimed

role,and God

human

men

plished.
accom-

appears

paternity.Remarkably they all passed

to peoples the
affording

instruction

of their

example

and

teaching,without givingtheir doctrines tlae durable form of

written records,leaving
the care
of presei-ving
to their disciples
their lessons.
I

believe
readily

can

master, made
themselves

rifytheir

of him

that

successors

god, to

more

smooth

dieir

cunningthan
own

people as celestial messengers,

ambitious pretension.
to the

way,

and

present

thus

repudiateall incarnation.
it not in its name
Was
that,equallyat the four corners
and
globe,in India,China, and Europe, blood was spilled
ing pileserected ?
And

Ah

their

sane

this is why I

! if God

could

ever

have

had

an

idea of

of the
burn

liitnincarnatirg

AND

MOSES

it would
self,

reignedin

at those

SOCIETV.

cursed

that he would

veiled themselves

nations

The

been

his name,

who

bu'xhois

have

HEBREW

ZEUS

it remains

omit

just,we
of the

"

for them

above
from

"

truth

untrue, nor
the author's critical
four
those

facts.

God,
Zeus, in Sanscrit,signfies
Brahma

"

name

expresses

awakes

from his repose

of

clusions
con-

supreme

; it is the

of
epithet

creation.

before

of

the

This

Supreme

Siva.

expressionof Zeus was

modification,by the Greeks.
essence

relig

vah,
Jove or Jehoitself make
heaven
iniquity
in identification
etymologies,

in itself all the attributes

This

in his pure

effect their

JESUS.

"

unrevealed,
non-operating,

Being,Brahma, Vischnou,

God

ISIS

Translator.

"

their social and

proceed with his facts,and

to

names,

to

whether
authority,

no

chastise iho

II.

JEZEUS

that
principle

make

can

to

come

torlnre

his law !

under

CHAPTER

the

epochs,when

graduallyaccomplished

have

revolutions ;
political
ious emancipation.

[On

have

103

"

and

in

accepted,without the slightest

For
them it equallyrepresented
his mystic existence; when
he

reveals

luuiself in

action,die Su

BIBLE

THE

I04

in
Being receives,

preme

IN

Greek

INDIA

mythology,the

of Zeus-

name

of Heaven

God, Father, Creator, Master

pater, that is,Jupiter,
and

of Men.

Latin, adopting this Sanscrit

The

makes

but

Deus, whence

becomes
sion of

modification

shghtwritten

Dieii,wath

have

we

and

; and

the

of Zeui

name

derived

ourselves

identical with
signification

word, Zeus,

Greek

our

that

expres-

adopted by

the ancients.

is,in fact,in

God

of the

Father, Son, and Holy

Trinity
"

AssuredlyI

of the S\Tn-

name

himself all the attributes of the three persons

in
Being,uniting

bolic

Christian idea,the

the

either the affinitiesof names,

invent

do not

Ghost.

of

or

tudes
the similihistoric facts, either the identities of civilizations,
or

language which

of

India, the cradle of

to

attempt

by chance, and
fatal corollarj'
of
is

There

of

imitations

late

or

by

never

from

man,

the
from

emanate

system

new

this

the

one

every

ancients, whom

logic

they

admits

than
servilely

more

admit

mind, and

our

up

z/ has

to

suppose

primitivecivilization. Well,

of

make

it is but

logicof history.

of the

India

copied

in

explainit by itself,

nations

make

to

insist upon

torch

must

we

no

the

much

too

lightedthe

have

is

and
logical,

descends

man

and

ancient.

here, I repeat,

cannot

modern

that if

shew

applied to

reason

in the East

I desire to be

this truth

nations,more

other

discover

fact in its isolation,

to

to

or

to

me

race.

our

consider

lead

that

been

soon
tiquity
an-

copied

us.

We

to

knew

no

the

but

content

centuries,and

of

to

be

must

us

those

models,

as

precursors.

No

who

cclai

should

not

who

men

have

doubt

primordial lightthey

that

tion
unequalled admiraare
continuallypresented

mitigateour

to

be

had

they

had

only

gave

received

imitators

and

brilliant cr/at

from

th'i East ;

permitted to ignore percursor

civilizations.
It
us.

is

scarce

Veiy

small

ccntur}' since
is the

number

India
of those

became
who

revealed
have

had

to

the

MOSES

all the
devoted

have

the

The
\

taste

the

first man

that the

moral
beliefs,

and

clear

the

receive

the door

only as axiom,

of their

Whenever

hors-d'ceiivres
would

We

have

re-

this

the
may

not

by

research

us
our

will

last make

at

denial.

as

God

the

to

the

of the

conquest

and

preceded

and

reason,

the

successors

tery,
mys-

persuaded

be

earth did

on

us

act
ex-

die

not

influence

out

of their

examples.

I meet

thoughtlessof
I

not

againstdreams, idealism,and

their

bequeathing to

and

does

not

and

advance

that the civilizations that

ideas

what

merely of yesterday's
past begins to disperse, "n

preclude

to

must

we

the

forward

as

sciences,shut

without

But

revealed

were
philosophic,

always

for that

larize
popu-

to inform
fragments have come
immortalityof the Soul, that all

obscurity of

lightso

But

translated

the

avaiit, then

Some

primitivelanguage,that,perhaps,murmured

unity of God,

growth ;

scripts,
manu-

study of Sanscrit,and sought to

discovered, to be

some

05

Europe.

be

to

n, the

its first ages.

surpassed all expectation.

harvest

o.nered

the

in

monument

of

treasure;

life to the

remain

et

boundless

SOaETV.

soil,the

the

explore,on

to

courage

HEBREW

AND

subject,I stop

reproach of

tedious

bring upon

me.

present

it farther,
investigate

to

which
repetition,

myself defenceless,to

the

these

criticism of

and I desire to exercise unquestionable

ignoranceand party spirit,
good faith,in developing the rationalist opinions that have
pervaded this work.

Writing for
I say

believe

Greece, of

Vesta

messengers,

who

perhaps,our
If you
the

stored

partisansof

free

judgment

and reason,

loudly :

them

to

If you

the decided

in the

need

believe

at

mysteriesof
Rome,

in

longer dare

no

Isis in

Egypt, of
and

Eleusis

in

celestial

burning

bushes,

present

themselves, whatever,

that at any

deaf, the laine,and

past epoch
the blind

the
were

dead

were

tated,
resusci-

re
supernaturally

106

devils of

all the

If yes !

in saints :

devas, in angels,and

in

trouble

to

with

yourselfnot

book, it is

this

dressed
ad-

not

you.

If no, well

your

mythology :

believe

If you

Pisatchas,in Beelzeb ab,and

and

believe in Rakchasas

If you

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

THE

listen and

then
and

reason,

support

appeal

but

to

understand

should

alone

reason

your

me.

me.

Do
the

that I should

suppose

you

epoch

fanaticism

I dream

which

of

crying on
it is

because

"

proofs?

on

still

not

other,the

saying:

"

voted
de-

most

souvenirs

by

and

believe,"

I cannot

like

see

I believe

quia absiirdum.
the

should

we

did

refutation

the

of

"

is still our

Such
We

and

while

even
vulgar superstitions,
"

credo

thought,influenced

free

immediatelyadd,

if

this work

undertaken

arrived,if

had

side

one

absurd;

partisansof

have

must

position.
battle with

to

stooj)

the

absurd

to

its ab-

prove

surdit)'.
the

At
a

rationalist
"

from

received
"

sacred

the

them

the

Moses

had

the

to

"It

who
Egyptians,

the

not

you

of

court

conclude

themselves

that

he

reply.

know

Pharaoh

that he
?

utilized tlie

was

initiated

it not,

Is

then,

knowledge

constructinginstitutions

acquired,when
?

of the

book

his

constructed

have

must

requireproofs,"was

priestsat

reasonable

to

India."

from

It would

that

"But," I continued, "do

by

day,said

researches,I, one

persuaded

am

Bible

of my

commencement

for

the

he

brews
He-

"

would

requireproofs."

"

Do

"

No, but proofs would

you

"What!

does

tliat Moses

Ignorant

then

even

consider

not

studied
of

him
not

your
for more

his

be

of God
messenger
inconvenient."

"

discover in the fact

intelligence
than
thirtyyears in Egypt,
Hebrew
a
origin,
striking
pre
'

own

Io8

THE

Brahmins
officiating

The
cord

BIBLE

this title of

in

Jeseus,or

tion.

only to Christna,who
true
incarnation,
by the

the

IN

INDIA.

temples and pagodas now

or

essence,

pure

is alone

divine

recognized as

Vischnouites

and

ac

ernana

word,

the

free-thinkers of

Brahminism.
We

simply state
understand

can

valuable

these

of which
we
etymologicalaffinities,
importance : they will hereafter become

all the

support.

Prejudicedcriticism will,we
the opinionthat assignsa
names

it will

resemblance; and
who

Let

doubt
common

not

succeed

that

suffices

in

port of

CHAPTER

Modem

soil

new

to

say

bringyou

OF

peoples who
to

which

themselves
up

to

chance, that great

shall surely have

desperate argument, we
all thoughtful
and independent spirits.

FARIAS

to

them

EG\TT

AND

"

"I

become

have

am

the v;ord revealed

sup

MOSES.

have
colonists,

brought

with ridiculous fables.

:

the

III.

have

they

fute
re-

us.

will refer these resemblances

THE

to

ent
originto those differtheir striking
obliterating

of

resort

the

its utmost

not, do

to

messenger
me."

energy
No

of

and

man

God,

not,

on

surrounded
life,

has started
I

come

to

HEBREW

AUD

MOSKS

SOCIETY.

I09

importantpart of our work ;

this burningground,where we
about courageously
to al
are
on
all-the absurdities that Judaism has
tack all the superstitions,
of
shall brirtg
a spirit
we
societies,
bequeathed to our modern
gatory
firm and impartial,
free from all systems and all oblicriticism,
and having respect alone for truth.
beliefs,
Things which we should repudiateas impossiblein the present,
shall reject
as
we
impossiblein the past.
have

We

reached

row

the

most

"

the marvellous

Whenever

"nand its proofs,

by the
them

exact

When

of

absurd, and

are

has

Man

if he

shake

to

rightthat
absurd, we

we

shall de-

its partisans
themselves

shall

either in his

admits

make

for

courage

unable

witi reason,

war

simplysay

you

"

on.

changed

times,what would
not

the

pass

not

and
faculties,

has

at

reason.

encounter

we

same

is

him

as

corporal form, or in his

true, in ancient

and

fabulous

smile with

frank and

it is that he
pityto-day,
rational opinion,
and that he is

off the incubus

fable,with which

of

it was

from the cradle.

thoughtrightto obscure his intelligence
intolerances unite
understand
We
why modern
perfectly
all their thunders

launch

againstreason,

and

to

to

anathematize

dom
repudiateits conquests. It is that from the day when freethe one
of judgment shall become
law for all
recognized
in which
consciences,tJieirreignwill end, from the impossibility
the tales,
the legends,
they will find themselves of explaining
which constitute their strength.
and the mysterious
practices
and

and

ask the

would

have

Go

they

Australians,and
received

the

Boudha

or

free

Americans,

Manou,

how

Zoroaster,or

Moses.*
If itis
of

The

and to freedom
development of intelligence,
judgment, that such facts have not been produced

owing to

Australians and

fts,accordingto

in the West,
and

even

the

the

cum

men

Americans,unhappily,took Moses w th thera,just

our
author, Himalayan emigrationsestablished themselves
penatibuset juagnisdiis, the gods and household goda,
"

and heroes of their cradle recollections.

10

THE

no

amongst thess
their

BIBLE

we

not

ancient

subjugationand

is such

This

INDIA.

peoples,are

new

productionamongst

caste, the

Ui

the divisions of

peoples, to

the masses?

ignoranceof

the

vulgar truth

in attributing
justified

that

feel

we

need

no

of

proofs to

establish it.

May

who

brothers

our

crossed

have

the ocean,

from all the obscurities of the past, from

aid

their

by

us

example

to

soon

soil pure

all sacredotal

ism,
despot-

civil authority

emancipate

constitutions

the

influence,throughout
religious

from

to

of

Europe.
There

"

be

can

stillto dream
enchain

to

its

no

of

thought,to

bend

to

impossible

only served

has

now,

nations,and

enthral

is what

have

we

kingsunder

study of

from

Egypt

India, have

shown, Egypt received

have

we

played,as

iion of the
first rank

people

; in

the

stillmore

see

borrowed

India, by

from

castes, and

into four

second, kings;

last in the social

taminated
con-

distinctly,

know, the

we

antique

India

from

by Judea.
gressive
anti-pro-

then

Manes

placingthe priestin
and

traders

or

in divi-

resulted

laws, which

its social institutions and

Manou,

of

times.

part in modern
As

shall

we

ideas which,
religious

all the

and

rapid sketch

our

Brahminism, which

all ; this is what

them
from

in

seen

stifled under
civilizations,

which, until

alliance

an

It is

this cost.

at

supervision.

This

and

but

progress,

the

artisans ;

scale, the proletaire, the menial, almost

"

slave.
These

and
institutions,

India, with
caste,

stamped

These
Moses

and

condemned

proscribed,can

upon

refuse
with the

them

by

of caste,

hope

of that nation
It is

those

penal

same

code
to

produced, as

exclusion

from

class, refuse of all the others,who, declared

mixed

impure
stain

aid of

the

the

impossibleto

of

efface

never

in
all
ever
for-

indelible

the

the law.

these

parias of Egypt, tempted by

became
liberty,

pompously
adopt any

progenitorsof

called the
other

people

conclusion

brews,
the He-

of Gf)d.
as

to

the

r*^

AND

MOSES

of
generation

this servile race,

their ensemble

or

If India had

their

HZ

SOCIETY.

HEBRE;W

when

examine

we

in

whether

all the societies of that epoch.

details,

its parias,
Greece

had

its helotes.

had its servile class,to which

Egypt had its outcasts, Rome
of citizen.
she long refused the name
of ancient peoples to provide
It was
completelyin the spirit
themselves
with slaves,whether by conquest or by the degradain their desc(;nd
from society,
lion of criminals as outcasts
even
If

ants

and, if

make

we

it does
traditions,
to servitude

they but

date from

Moses

of the

Bible,
us

lapse of

fables and

result

to such

clouds

to
means

extent

alarm

to

to

as

The

in the

must
legislator

have

the
himself,
form

nation

two

and
that

firstbooks

have

been.

From

contributed

not

littleto

within

ly
serious-

nation,and

reigned,he sought by eveiy

destroy them, notably by orderingthe

to

of her

willow

havingmultiplied

Hebrews

then

infants

birth of all male

rational
origin,

convincingas possibleto give,

thousand
an
epoch which
years, or

infant before

basket

daughter of Pharaoh,

with her
with

in

people,

Exodus.

this

Pharaoh, who

at

obscurity.

Moses

suffer the death

him

and

all kinds

and

in his power

destruction

that,as

of ancient civilization ; and

state

four

near

Accordingto

reduced

proofsas

legendsof

envelop in

this

assignshis people

Genesis

inquirywill

after

social

then, what

see,

historic

been

have

; and

war

the outcast

remote

most

they could

between

choose

himself
"

from

Moses.

to the

which

that

appear

must

we

conformable

this

not

exploringthe

the vicissitudes of

by

However,

Eet

in

Egypt, it is that

classes of

descend

the Hebrews

on

who

her

poor

unable

woman

eyes,

posing
preferredex-

the Nile.
had

to

come

the

river-side

attendants,to bathe, perceivedthe infant,and, touched

pity,saved

palace,adopted
This infimt

was

its
it as

life,and
her

having had

it

conveyed

to

her

son.

Moses.

to the
even
Brought up at the court of the kings of Eg)q:)t,
he was.
age of fortyyears, without beinginformed of his origin,

112

THE

BIBLE

INDIA.

IN

fine

*lay,constrained to fly to the

a Hebrew,
Egyptianwho was maltreating

one

God
I

reveal

to

came

him

to

his destined

desert for

ar
killing

and

there

it was

tha

mission.

if it is not natural and

prepossessed,
to conclude, that Moses, brought up by the priests,
wa?
logical
initiated by them in the pure worship and the learning
of thf
his enlightenment?
higherclasses,and that thence came
And
afterwards,when expelledfrom the palace of Pharaoh,
whether

from

the

by

of the most

ask, even

princesswho

havingkilled

him,

saved

Egyptian,would
have urged him to
which

from

race

he

the

Egypt

ravage

Nile, or

of

typhus,which
before

not

are

the

him

I would
of
flight

rather

of the
main
We
the

celestial messenger,

wrath, succeeded

in

the Hebrews

from

withdraw

incline,
however,

the Hebrews

as

the Red

who

Aaron,

seconded

all his

ing
extort-

their

to

\\

hich

rejjress it.

his whole

and

INfoses

army

in the

Sea, I consignit,togetherAvith the passage

and

the

sea, to

apocryphaldo

invention.

imaginethat Moses, who

fact,havingdescribed himself
surround

projects,and

late

too

of Pharaoh

them

with

all these

wrote

can

to

and,

the revolt and

revolution,long prepared by

fugitives
dry-shodthrough that
of miracle

consider

to

perceiveuntil

not

the destruction

of

waters

terrible famines

self
countries,he presentedhim-

afilictions to divine

Egyptiansdid
to

inundations of
fertalizing
destroyingscourges of plague or

in those

rare

permissionto

and his brother

As

ing
emancipat-

of

means

lot.

unhappy

the

the

of those

one

reigningprince as

those
attributing
from

of

and the desire

resentment

seek

tells us, for

failure of the

on

of those

one

not

concealed

had been

he himself

as

or,

descended

was

Taking advantage,then,
which

which
origin,

an

of vengeance
the

of his

exposure

as

messenger

aftei
things,
of

sired
God, de-

mysterioushalo, very favorable,

withal,to the accomplishment of his mission.

It

by the supernatural and

predecessorslad imposed themselves
was

stitious masses

; and

tlie

like the clever

wonderful, that

upon

the rude

man

he was,

and

all his
super-

his aim

was

MOSES

to

invest h

AND

with

power

SOCIETY.

HEBREW

divine

11,^

it might Le less

that
prestige,

questioned.
it would
Certainly

through
easy task to conduct
fertile soil to receive and nourish them,
be

not

deserts,in search of

an

these

undisciplinedhordes, who,

would

submit

with

slaves

to any
difficulty,

yesterday,free to-day,
control imposed upon

new

them.
desert

The

Moses,

no

immense,

was

than

more

to

necessary

menacing.

"

We

Days, months,
to

stampingthe
blaspheme

the God

dance

and

women

't,beseeching it
And

tjo,

Moses

in

was

All

to

at

put

end

an

terpret
inmerly
for-

and

brass,with the bracelets

the

to

and

and

they worship

sufferings
they had

no

in his tent ;

alone
invisible,

perhaps he,

"

despair.
at

once,

decline

the

of the

day, the

heavens

and

space,

became

the

thunder's

resounds.

voice
It

the

was

moment

manifestations

to

of

The

act.

these

multitude

not

understand.

submission

trumpet
their

were

restored

voice,announced
and

munuurs

10*

heard

physicalphenomena

Promptly the
of inspiration
before
expres3i^"e
; even

could

and

himself the

they had
with song
priests,

of the men,

flash through
darkened, lightnings

the

Egypt,

endure.

to

was

of

made

the

of

gold or

bucklers

the

the courage

.onger

of

their steps ; the

Apis, which

Ox

the

they go forward,

land

the

is

wandering horde

Now

had

processionby

one,

the

they retrace

Moses

remember

they make

of the

of whom

carried in

and

they regret

weary,

was

their march.

sands.

the

and

more
daily became
the promised land,"

conquer

earth with rage, then

They
seen

which

away,

from

escape

however,

programme,

murmurs

pass

nobody knew,

go

they continued

and

years

become

outcasts

to

going to

are

proclaimed Moses,
stillunable

others.
the

appease

where

; he

that

chief
he

broke

the wrath

with

terror

which

they

appeared,his

face

had

spoken, respect
the idols,and, with a
of Heaven,

their little faith,

condemned

to

them

punish
stil) to

BIBLE

THE

114

INDIA,

IN

wander, before reachingthe country of their hopes. Aiul the)!

continued

wander.

to

They

last

at

came

It
to

time

was

gained.
It

plainscovered with verdure.

arrived at the
strifeand fatigue,

vast

with

out

but cry

could

Mo5es

commanded
if

as

and

take

of his

worn

the Lord

stretchcc^ forth his

you

!"

He

possession

and

he

died, leavingto his

"

ceived
per-

existence,

the land to which

aloud, Behold
"

arms

brother

ing
prepared,the duty of complet-

he had

the faithful whom

to

time ;

was

term

they

conduct

to

me

to

which

mountain-top from

his work.

law, in

and

and

of his

of
flight

Is

role

sacred

terday,
yes-

which

books

legends on
rifices
Levites,prescribessaclaws,
religious

which
society,

new

assignedby

I
projects,

Hebrews, and

the

his

successors

admit

Moses

to

the

Divinityfor

historic tradition

the

the

of the

of their arrival in the country

they

conquer.

to

the

that,moreover,

not

apply

people of

few civil and

of the

above
that,strippedof prodigy and fable,rejecting,

all,the unworthy
success

this

book

construct.

to

It is thus

to

of the

the Hindoo

revives

and, in

their manner,

about

were

Egypt, he

foundation

lays the
were

in

to

the traditions and

Creation,institutes priestsor

and

God

inspiredby

studied

had

he

written

wanderingshe had
a fabulous
which, assigning
past
his long

During

all

very

simple legend that might

to
antique emigrations,

the

cradle

of all ancient

civilizations?

Everywhere
sent

the

from

God, and

by

masses

attributed
Zoroaster

find

you

the

who
double

origin.
impose

did

Thus

their

claims to be
who
a
man
legislator,
in unitingand controlling
succeeds
prestigeof his geniusand his self-

Manou,

authorityand

Manes,

most

which, alone,as

salient
appears

to

and

establish their missions.

-Will it be said that I substitute fable for fable?

but take the

Boudha,
No,

for I do

points of primitiveHebrew

history,

tic,
ought to be considered authenmysterious and. the revealed, as I
me,

only the
repudiating
repudiateit in India,in Egypt, in Persia,in Greece,

and

at

Il6

THE

conceptionsof

givesme

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

at
divinity

the

once

simpleand

so

so

sublime.

manifestinghis power by invasions of

then striking
a whole
people witli plague
frogsand of littleflies,
of all the first
and frightful
ulcers,and at last by the massacre
born of each family!
Do

What

Ah

this God

see

you

! you

traditions of all the

the horrible 1

to

search into all ancient

may

mysteriesof

all the

ridiculous

the

from
gradation

dive
mythologies,

into

the

obscure
Olympuses, explore the most
peoples,and I defy you to find anythingso

to
so
profoundlydemoralizing
deplorable,
; and I dare defiantly
the God of Moses
and the
say, that if obligedto choose between
Bull Apis, the Bull should be my God !
\\Tien he has well decimated
Egypt by all sorts of scourges,
his work
Jehovah crowns
by a revoltingslaughterof children.
his people to preserve
But, it is not yet enough ; he commands

eternal souvenir

an

And

sacerdotalism

alreadyhear
blasphemer !
I

Who, then, is
Or,

refuses

who

the

and
niscient,
This

fanatic

Pharaoh,

the madman

God

makes

must

stupidityof
surround

to

see

Wlio

wallow
a

songs.
such

upon

in

me

the

versary
celebrate its anni-

atrocdes
as

and

madman

blasphemer ?

litterof blood
ifithe

butcher

omnipotent,the

om

perfect?

have

been

people

dared,when, after
to

to

to

denounce

slave,brought

the

and

stillfeeds
spirit

the modern

Who

highfact,and

festival with ceremonies

as

of this

the

well
whom

up

charityat

on

of the

aware

he

had

the

of

court

degradationand

emancipated,

to

have

of Ihis revolution,
fact,writinghis history

it with these ridiculous horrors.

This is really
of Moses.

He

found

itnowhere

tc

copy.

When

presentlyshowing that Biblical traditions are but falsifiedand

ill-executed copiesfrom the sacred books
of the Hindoos, we
shall have occasion to see
that those people,far from making
of God a bugbear, rejoicedto consider benignity
and pardon
the

most

beautiful attributes of His power.

AND

MOSES

It

indeed

was

people

SOCIET*.

HEBREW

pariasthat

of

II7

into the

led

Moses

deseit!

yesterday,still subdued

But

servitude,they but

in the

saw

rejoicedin

evil,who

the

to

gods of
and
sufferings

the

victims,so taughtby theii high caste

free without

l^ecame
the better

control

to

of pure

of his Vedic

of the
To

tlte bull
oi" the
the

Apis, and
God

one

role

same

And

nation

sway

forward

the

pcvst united

as

gods

day, in

he
n'.Uing,
your

brother

And

pound
com-

its old
enforce

to

acceptance

assignhim

to

necessary

beliefs in

terror

equally necessary

horde, whom

the

to

nothingin
of

remembrance

the
the

common

of his enterprise,
when,
difficulty
Pharaoh, seeingtwo Hebrews
quar-

the

seen

aggressor

do

"Why

"

thus

you

abuse

"

that he

judge over

strange

resume

Calf,and

this servile

the

to

Moses,

of the past.

the country of
said

ple
peo-

Egyptians.

nation,unless

Hebrew

of feeble recollections
superstitions,
the priests,
under
and traditions

prodigyand

?
siiffering
Moses
might have
Ofie

the

theii

of

base

Golden

impulsion of

The

of his book

proclaimed,it was

the

not

were

rulers.

always ready to

he
as

and

studies

vulgarworship of

lamentations

comprehending liberty;and

them, made

doctrines

yoke, and stupefiedb)

of
Egypt the dark spirits

answered:

was

us?

Would

you

'-Who

kill me,

made
as

you

killed

you

prince and
an

Eg}-ptian

yesterday?"
From
he

this moment,

meditated

would

he, doubtless,perceivedthat the

be

the

civilize this horde

of outcasts,

Only thus can

Jehovah, who but
a
salutarycurb

"

But, if

account

manifests

imposed

I understand

it as

escape

easiest part of his programme

to

slaves,and vagabonds.
for his creation

himself
upon

means

by

and

the

destroyer

and

menace

license

at

of the

vengeance
content.
murmuring dis-

debut

of

nation,

in servile insurrection,
it no farther,
I understand
nor
originating
admit it as an after belief;enrolling
it with all the othei
can

Il8

myths, all the

other

IN

BIBLE

THE

INDIA.

bugbearsemployed by

the founders

of

tique
an-

societies.
Let

hear

us

no

then, of the people of God

more,

surroundingtheir fabulous originwith murders and rapine

! they spoil the Eg^^ptians
to
(for,
always by God's command
the utmost, by borrowing their vessels of gold and vestments
!)
alter the judgment I have
the Hebrews
cannot
expressedof
guments
them, as nothingelse than revolted parias. Apart from tlie arIn

which
which

I may

call

find

developed,I

I have

in the

one

itselii

unless in these studies of the past,

irrefutable,

only to be estimated by the absurd.

Accordingto Jewish chronology,it was in the

the

Bible

is

true

2298

that

Egypt, with his whole family

of seventy persons,
sons, grandsons,and great-grandsons.
it was
in 2513, that is,two
Then, by the same
authority,
hundred
and fifteen years after,that the Hebrews
quitEgypt to
Jacob

the

to

went

of six hundred

number
ajid

wome?i

establish himself

year

children,which

in

thousand
should

men,

make

without

nation of

at

counting
least

two

millions of souls.*
Is it possible
for

period,and

maugre

the descendants

would

it not

be

of
an

an

instant

the

maintain

they were
subjected,
multipliedat this rate, and

Jacob could have

outrage upon

histories of the

that within this short

which

hardshipsto

the truth of this

The

to

common

to

sense

attempt

tablishing
es-

legend?

patriarchsand

of

Joseph

are

either fi(.-

tions invented

by Moses, or, as I preferthinkmg,old Egyptian

and employed by him to
traditions,
picked up by this legislator
it appear

make
was

of old

chosen

that the

mission
providential

date,and that their

ancestors

had

of the

Hebrews

alreadybeen

the

of the Lord.

it,in entire good faith,ought not a free,intelligent,

historic criticism to rejectthis mass
of prodigies
and monstrous
I ask

which
superstitions,

"

encumber

600,000 fightingmen

the

equalto

of
origin

the Hebrew

nation.

popi Jation of 3,000,00a

MOSES

We

have

HEBRC\^

AND

SOCIETY.

and

repudiatedGieek

II9

mythologieswith

Roman

disdain.

then, admit with respect the mythology of the Jews ?

W'liy,
than those
Ought the miracles of Jehovah to impress us more
of Jupiter?
Is it possibleto discover Supreme Wisdom, the God
revealed
in either one
the other of these irascible
to us by conscience,
or
sanguinarybeings,prompt to vengeance, the bugbears of popular
?
credulity
And, then, what is tliisrole of prideand effrontery,
unique in
?
history
A

nation

itself the

boasts

neighbors only

the

most

only people of God, exhibits Co its

odious
examples of duplicit)and

exterminates
the occupants of lands
and in God's name
cruelty,
which they desire to seize for themselves !
But
yesterdayslaves themselves,will they abolish slaveryin
their new
of the
community ? No, and it is stillin the name
that they reduce
to slaverythe peoples whom
they
divinity,
have conquered !
I know
or
no
people of the past so consistent in hypocrisy,
their means
who better knew
how to sanctify
to their end.
the head of this theocracy
At
Let not that surprise
us, however.
the Levite,
the priest,
established by Moses, appears
faithful to the ancient
this heir

"

Egypt
the

and

in

Supreme

utilize the

being the

liiat

this Hebrew

Manou,

will it not

by

social system,

was

also

but

copy

of that

of

only have been

and
that legislator,

could

be evident, that Moses

the

into all its details,

examination

Egyptian,of

his Genesis
that,like his civil institutions,

Thanks

in

caste.

proven

the heritor,though Manes

from ancient

continued, as

of
to make
societies,
priinilive
of his despoticdesires,
to
instrument
for subjectionof the credulous to the

of his

shall have

zation
demorali-

by
subjugation,

in all

Persia,as

idea
religious

we

of

Brahminism

Hindoo

of

influence
arbitrary
Wien

role
priestly

was

also

bequest

India?

to researches

alreadymade

on

other

peoples of the

niE

I20

world, we

old

it is but

b} emigrationsfrom

Yv'liose inllucnce

globe,and

from

which

extended

to

it is natural

to

issuingfrom Egypi, could

shall establish

We

the

with

Hebrew

thus

opinion is no

this

as

ning,according to

Bible

the

four

the

layas,
Hima-

the

quarters, of the
that the

suppose

Hindoo

and,
legislator,
consider

fear

Vedas, and

the

plateau of

that

Israelites,

truth, in comparing the work

without

may

the

of

escape.
a

that of the

cleared,we

Hindoos, which

not

longera paradox

continuation

consistent

logical and

the

INDIA.

IN

say that this

may

movement

gieat

DIBLE

has

the

the written

but

the

ground

world's

begin

traditions

of

with very

reproduced

of

the

slight

modifications.
One
It

word

more.

to

appears

Tv-ithwhich
world

and

reason

with

inspireme,

without

not

me

research

appreciationby
and impostures.

in the advertisement

by

do

Thus
the

dimed

Phai'aoh, and

of his
"

Red

Christians

that

The

Sea,

as

the

Eucharist

the

true

earthlyJerusalem.
which

face of Moses,

as

hid himself,as

an

obstinacyto

him,

them
the

the

subserve

to

which

which

with

of

the

as

the

sanctuary

that

he

ence
rever-

he

aban-

made

the

manifestation

that

of

as

its

the

blood

the passage

fell from

issued

the water

figureof Jesus Christ

in

; Mount

blindness
; the

consider

and
spii-it
Sinai

which
instructor,

an

Jesus Christ

image of

which

follows them

promise

to
manna

from

rock

desert,as

law,

figureof

of the celestial

/esus Christ."

land

led to

the

rciist

baptism ;

life,and

The

great Apostle (St. Paul)

in

God,

teaches

; the

in the

in this

Christians

but
justice,

of Exodus

' '

their

typicalof

reached

the

Societyof Jesus,

the

of the book

the infinite wisdom

Apostle further

same

thi-.

prince in daring to

the Israelites

type

of

admire

to

his power.

glory and

symbolic of

have

from

learn

profound judgments

olxluracyof

of

de Carrieres:

the Father

"

the head

at

opinions

societies

ancient

the

on

the

of this tissue of cruelties

I read

interest to collate the

source

of

the

is

The

Jews.

of victims

an

could

; the

Gospel.

peace,

as

heaven
that
who

of

teach

shiningglory of
veil with
The

as

lowed
fol-

ishes
nour-

until

image
not

the

ot

which

they
the
true

the
he

tabernacle, a

that cf
pre-figuring

MOSES

our

AND

HEBREW

SOCIETY.

121

Thus, it is alwaysfor the greater gloryof God; according

to
modern
Levities,that Egypt was decimated by all sorts of

!
plague,and slaughter
the sanguinarymediceval hecatombs
No
doubt
and faggots
v/ere
equallyfor the manifestation of celestial power ; and the
Vandois, and the victims of St. Bartholomew
were
pre-figured
by the obdurate Egyptians!
aberration? what perversion
What
of all moral intelligence
!
stillobliged
It is profoundlypainful
cuss
to think that we
to disare
and that four or five thousand years of
such superstitions,
ruin have net led the peoplesinto the way of free thoughtand
religious
independence!
Let us
courageouslytear away their mask, and show to all

scourges,

that

theyare

only the

work

of human

weakness

and

human

passions.

CHAPTER

MOSES

HEBREW

FOUNDS

OF

In

layingthe
Moses
as

IV.

ON

SOCIETY
EGYPT

AND

foundation of his

OF

THE

Having led

and political
tions,
institureligious

not

this horde
11

of

THOSE

INDIA.

that influence which

escape
pervadingthe ancient world.
did

OF

MODEL

outcasts

into the

we

have

scribed
de-

desert,
followe(^

BIBLE

THE

129

IN

INDIA.

it became
to the Bible,by a mixed
multitude,
according
and give thcni laws, and
accustom
sary to discipline

regularhabits.
of

Instead
was,

as

the

four,there

of

idea

deeplyrooted
it accordingly
prevailedin

priest,
charged with
of
nation,interpreter

civil and

the

castes, of which

twelve

of the

always,that

in theii

nothingelse

was

to

stitution
con-

than

Brahminism.

Hindoo
were

them

too

was

Government, which

new

reproductionof

exact

an

caste

ignored,and

be

to

usages

The

neces

all the

the first

functions,

the word of God,

of the
religious,
sole judge
guardianof the temples, alone permittedto sacrifice,
committed
of the sins of conscience, and of crimes
against

society.
For
a\id
was

that none
mysterious authority,
and
law, both in die spiritual

ideal of which
establish

modern

to.

and

will should

find

mere

at

temporal,and

Uitramontanism

it would
authority
societies

the

who

was

God.

judgment of

the

Oiilysubjectto
It is the

a
high priest,
potent
whose
word
might resist,

head, this theocracyhad

supreme

dreams

to-day,the
for the benefit of popes, by reducing
whose
corporations,
every thought

Rome, its law and its sovereigninspira-

ti\)n.
Will

it be said that the

that these
from

the

This
enforce
and

of

sons

to

againstwhich

under

sooner

the

them

under

tempted

to

descent

fiction by Moses,
ingenious

an

created by God
as
established,

people

would

without

doubt

thus

necessary

past, that reminded

the Hebrews

to

free

change his tribe ?

than, always with the

his

have

mured.
mur-

introduce

ings
of their sufferman

to

himself

same

design,the

brew
He-

with initiated associates in his

ambition, consecrates

Divine

to

himself,

Eg}-ptiandespotism, that nevertheless,no

surrounds
legislator

projectsand

but

it not, moreover,

diould be tempted
No

me

the divisions he

originand

Jacob ?

filiationis

Was

castes, and

not

were

the natural divisions of their

were

imitations of

tribes

Hebrew

protection,that

them
the

and places
priests,
be
not
people may

of their authority.
questionthe legitimacy

and

Christian

the

IN

BIBLE

THE

124

INDIA.

the
dogma, which, in accepting

Hebrew

sue-

cession, .vould

adopt and propagate it with ardor.

naturally
Moses, initiated by his sacerdotal education in Egypt, in
deism, instead of constructingfor
splendors of Hindoo
Hebrews

the

the
to which
superstitions
with an
obvious
Egyptian priests,
object,had habituated the
lower castes, was
the first to reveal to them
the mysteriesof
initiation based upon
the Unity of God, and the traditions of

worship

based

the

the

on

reserved
Creation,exclusively
of Brahmins

castes
privileged

it is

But

worthy

did

Being, he
this

people, born
free of
sufficiently
idea of

God

notions

dare

not

of

to

of

on

present

the past

to

it

Hence

that

was

Hindoo

in

them
of

almighty,and

the

the

Supreme

all their

purityto
and
not
intelligence,
of the

from

all

terrible chastisements.

and

dared

Moses

of

benevolent,
make

not

Avith that aspect,

the worlds

over

Unity

the

the

revealingto

permit separationfor them,

ideas of cruel vengeance

accessory

in

even

servitude,void

creator,

"

and

by Egypt, for
hierophants.

remark, that

sublime

these

masses

of

India and

by

his

Jehovah

and

serene

side
pre-

calm, of the

Majesty divine.
side he had
If on
the merit, beyond his precursors,
one
of daring in face of the nation, to proclaim the unity of
which
and
Manou
God, ai d to prescribe the superstitions
Manes
thought good enough for the people; on the other,
making a retrogradestep, he was forced, for the securityof
sacred

his power,

books, which

and

of that God

so

well becomes

of the institutions he
cruel

was

being,fit to inspireterror

founding,to
and

to

make

command

blind obedience.
crowd

The

had

". thers

made

to

neither
Is it

terrors

emanate

from

sombre,

nor

Jehovah who

Bible,all the hecatombs

of his name,
slaves of

and

divided
infinitely

less

not

of

Egypt ?

and

one

less

terrible

of idols,Moses
by multiplicity
his worship was
alone; and
than
sanguinary,

commands

all the

of idolatrous
to

manifestations,which

clear

the

that

of others,
of

massacres

nations, for the

way

for the

the

cation
glorifi-

quondam

MOSES

for the

Respect

AND

HEBREW

horrible

must

I25

SOCIETY.

rivetted in the

be

soul,"

love of the

stupid struggleof intolerence,deeply rooted, to

in Moses
chief
wlobe
see
aught else than a rude prejector,
allies were
fire and sword, and in Jehovaliaught else than a
of domination, placed at the service of
bugbear, a means
a

Sacerdotal
In

oligarchy.

short the
under

established

government
the

maintain

to

assiu-e

neither
t\on

not

to

the

on

with

commands

all the

the

to

kno^vn

with

sounds

honor

to

date from

not

and

Hebrews,

all honest
pomp

of tmmpets,
read

To

sarcasm.
were

to

much

so

excep-

quity.
anti-

peoples of

of the Decalogue,
sublimity
which the)
halo of moralit)-,

to

to

their

relr.tionswuh

the

mother,

civilizations that
reveal

suffices

them

to

the

of itself long made

midst
moreover,

me,

to

practiced more

and
neighbors,

to

they are

Decalogue,proclaimed

Hebrews
to

Sinai ;

all the

This

men.

appears
the Bible

corrupt, few

more

and

father

Mount

precededthem ; and when Moses came

peopleon the mountain, conscience had
them

were,

commit

do
principles

anterior

tions.
institu-

new

another.

belongs to

These

and

power

not
to bear
to steal,
not
adultery,
to covet
and, lastly,
nothing
againstneighbors,

false witness
that

suitable
stability

of

contemporaries.

not
kill,

to

new

designed

castes

were

state

pervaded

Hebrews

Decalogue

The

which

their stand

the

their

deny

the

to

rule

take

invest

in

people

priests.The

the

may, therefore,say that the Hebrews

their beliefs nor
by their social state, an

the

to

ordained

he

cratic
theo-

was

we

by

Some
to

the
success

And

Moses

sovereignimpulsion of

iivisionsof tribes which

to

by

thunders
a

bitter

very

that few

show

and

people

duplicityin

their

had

less

few
that, lastly,

respect for the property of others.

They pick
the

pockets of Eg)q)tbefore leavingit,traverse

the

desert, continue

tions

on

each

new

11*

spolia
th^y tread, until,exhaustingthe

their
soil

brigandage,their

violent

126

BIBLE

THE

INDIA.

vigorouslychastised

patienceof peoples,they are

reduced

IN

and

tgain

servitude.

to

his

and

Moses

Malgr'e
parias; it

successors,

parias remained
(Quondam slaves

the

these
impossibleto convert
into a respectable people attached
the soil
to
of Pharaoh
work.
and inclined
to
Vagrants they began, and vagrants
in Palestine,and
the
continued, despite their encampment
have
to
mon
united, by comnations, their neighbors,appear
repulse their ever-recurring
consent, to chastise and
was

aggressions.
It is a

itself to

this that

from
totallydifferent society
us

in the

Vedas, in the India

India of the

traditions;and

sacred

will present

if the

vulgar

of

verities

tive,
primiof

Decalogue are admired, with what sentiment shall we

which
and moral
the
those grand philosophic
principles
reformer
them
forgotten
That

afterwards

came

them, studied

knew

Moses

of

his

his task of

to

moral

independence
the

by

his

of

that had

world

And

condition
had

ought

we

of

the

if he

to govern,
legislature

as

we

Brahminism

which

the
an

incompetent

was

Hebrews

have

unity of

attribute

to

changed, and

not

the

Genesis, wliich is but

if he adopted
regeneration,

Vedism, perhaps

than

to

tian
Chris-

them, doubtless, in his

avowal

Genesis.

Hindoo

the

revive

view

by
youth, seems
proven
Supreme Being,as well as
echo

to

the

in

it

rather

to

the

Egypt,

graded
de-

whom

perhaps forced

and
said,by superstition

of a pitiless
God.
fear of the vengeance
With
different people to handle,
a
co:istructed

in

Judea

possiblyhe might have

societycomparable \\-iththat of the

best times of Greece.

therefore,that was
perhaps not the man,
wanted
to
intelligence
petent, but the people, who
It

was

incom.
undei'-

."tand him.
This

seems

so

tioie,I believe

so

that
iirmly,

the

reform

of

might have taken another stamp with a people les""

the God
of Genesis,
stupefiedby ser\itude,that manifestly,
Moses

MOSES

the

God

of

should

giving to
and

the

this

and

mumurs

desert, Moses

a
Divinity

the

calm

as

resemble

not

anc^

opposition became
felt the necessityof

threateningaspect,

more

the

of Exodus
sacrifice,

for human

that

say

frequent in

ujorc

127

SOCIETV.

early Biblical action, does

jealousJchovali,athirst
books.
follcjwing
"We

HEI?RB%V

AND

horde, with whom

language of

the

control

to

was

reason

powerless.
would

What
his

the God

inexhaustible
of

him.

And

twenty

the

God,

abandoned
and

Obliged,as
fictions

is

reject,on

priest.
opinionswill appear

Truth

may

better

side

strange,

very

centiu'ies does
of

not

thought or

here, f.^.

certain

admit

to

discuss, and

not

to

religious

the

on

other

to

which
fictions,
grounds,other religious

discuss,to deny.

may but
situation ?

we

to

for the

one

on

are,
we

no

that

speech !

we

which

Calf

Brahminism,

education
of nineteen
certainlyour
predispose us either to exercise freedom
of

cation,
impre-

an

Genesis,

for

suffer freedom

for

to

"

the Vedas, after

soul, to

priestand

chastise

to

men

gregation
con-

banished

have

the Golden

to

prayer

doubtless,these

some,

would

thirtythousand

or

himself,heart

by

forgiveness? This

iron-handed

this is why Moses

domination

and

here, with

done

have

vagabonds

an

blasphemy, or

devote

To

and

They required
a

Vedas

the

forbearance

slaves

extenninate

to

of

with

us

"

What

result from

can

such

there, /. ^. ,-\\athothers:

error

such is the rule of all parties,

the system of all communions.
I

understand
])erfectly
to

say,

like

all

courage

indicate
a

the

"

to

come

from

to

be

lessons

free-thinker

to

prove

despotisms,have

fabric

future

that

you

that

the

past

all

tions,
supersti-

origin,and

common

demolished, that
of

the

has

who

you
come

may
to

to
struct
con-

show

possiblecompositionwith certain
diingsin face of the ruin they have produced;" this would-be
I perfectly
understajid,
pioneer,
may be reviled and execrated

you

that there

can

be

no

128

THE

like all those

works

INDIA.

IN

fire,it beingno

the

longer permitted so

persons

V.

CHAPTER

HEBREW

The

follows,and whosfi

he

course

courageous

into

cast

were

disposeof

to

whose

BIBLE

PENAL

SYSTEM.

by
penal system inaugurated

Eg}'ptor of India ; but

affectingthe originwhich

of

that very

strikingly
prove

the differences
have

we

was
we

exactlythat
far from
discover,
not

assignedthe Israelites,

origin.

as
Moses, like his predecessors,

ordains

Moses

means

of

and
repression

piation,
ex-

"

Death,
The

bastonade,

Fine,
And

by sac*Tfice.
purification

rejectedall exclusion,partialand complete, from

had been
A
Liibe or caste.
have
seen
penalty which we
adopted by Persia, Greece, and Rome, and which, with the
Jaws of Justinian,
codes, undei
passed afterwards into modern
But

the

name

This
and

he

of civil death.
refusal of

Judaism

permit the

interdiction of

althoughso consistent with

itself.
exceptionwhich logically
explains

fire to great criminals

usage, is an

to

watei

Eastern

MOSES

HEBREW

AND

SOCIETY.

Tliere is in this Jieitherprogress

exclusion from caste or tribe would
than the

iiavingtiirted with

of

but

read

to

Bible

the

to

lunan

of

And

Moab.

thought that guidedMoses, is too simple not

imperativeon the situation.
may say, it was

If the

refuse

people,as
Egypt's criminal

of

under
tiociety
.'ihouldnot

was

castes, if

pariasin

return

the

shown, consisted

they

the

were

of the

parias of

that
necessity

should

people

new

under

Moses

be

not

circumstances

any

condition

the miserable

to

be true,

society.

Hebrew

that

necessary

to

ners.
man-

from

which

they

justescaped.

Then

there

Moses,

which

nation

within

was

not

social

and

massacres

tried

hardship:
might

cause

same

create,

caste

to

Israelite

arrest

and

it was

wise

policyto

day enforce

some

The

decomposition,Moses

of all great criminals.

nasse

those

from

againstthe
For

in

development by

the

same

Thus

foresee

that

measures,

adoption, then,

to threaten
ancient penalty,tendinginfallibly

ferment

exclusion,a

graduallyincreasing
might

fear of servile revolution.

from

this

by

perceived by

danger.

Egyptianshad

The

to

state, doubtless

nation, which

a
a

of

reason

was,

time become

the

have

we

that
perceivea possibility

to

they could
had

softeningof

any

Pharaohs, it became

the

create

First,it
allowed

see

Hebrew

and

ancient

The
we

it needs

itselfis written with blood.

cannot,

then, here

bettei

Israelites,
guiltyonly

iVe

and

of this

the future with

en
preferredthe massacre
did they free themselves

Jehovah, as from those who murmured

and the priests
his sucof the legislator,
cessors.
authority

who

offences

denied

of minor

the Uieoretic constitution

was

been

that it is full of hecatombs

see

29

for
h.i.ivanity,

have
certainly

daughters of

the

and the book

sacrifices,

'

dream

nor

of the twenty thousand

massacre

established ;

an

importance,not
of

eye for

the
an

essentially
affecting

Government,
eye,

Vide Exodus, Chap. xxi. 24, 25.

tooth for

the lex talionis

a

"c.
t;)oth,

"

THE

130

BIBLE

INDIA.

IN

in ancient societies of the barbar

Hail ! this _/?/-j/

appearance
lex talion is /

ous

theocratic

What

ing;

what

India and

Boudha, Zoroaster,and Manes, would

Manou,

repelledAvith horror,it remained

afford

was

imitation,and

no

in his

flower
original

an

for

Moses

claim

may

Jehovah

penaltyafterwards appears at
only in their primitivebarbarous

the lex

talionis,

the debut

nations,

of many

customs

people but

no

Israel,dared preserve it in their written laws.

have occasion
The
shall we
we
advance, the more
more
if

repeat, that

the

Leave

in

civilization

the

that of force.

rightbut

recognizedno

anything

Egypt, it was but in the way of return

crueltyof earlyages, when Nomad-Man,

and

the barbarism

"

modified

Judea

to

India and

bequeathed by
to

to

!
chapletof legislator

This
but

and

Judaism

have

us.

TJiis
as

invent

incapableof

Eg}'ptwere

land

to

me,

Cain

slay thee," says

or

to

Abel.
"

obedience

Submissive

Moses

the

to

and
daughters,
and
I

and

the Word

of

God,

or

death," says

who, in their turn, say to the neighboring

Deliver
wealth, your
virgin
up
your
houses, or you shall be destroyedwith fire

Hebrews

peoples,

to

"

your

sword."

foregoa

connot

all

the

few

bloodshed

lines,in detail,of all the

accomplished
and

Jehovah,

whether

Israelites

themselves,or by them

desired

to

by

Moses

his

upon

under
successors

the

the

massacres

orders
upon

peopleswhom

of
the

they

despoil.

It will be

no

from
digression

my

subject,for apart

from

instruction it will afford,

I shall thence
religious
also derive a triumphant argument
againstthose who will not
fail to deny the authority
sacred books
of the Hindoo
to represent
them
from
Bible.
the
as copied
The
sublime
traditions on
the Unity of God, the Trinity,
and redemption, produced in
Creation,original
transgression,
and moral civilization.
India,a highpjiilosophic

high moral

and

the

"

THE

133

Jehovah,

of

facilitate the escape

to

the Hebre^vs, finds

of

first-bom

destroyall the

is the voice of

which

good sense
and judge.

read

science; then

to

INDLK.

IN

that inner

rely ui^on

than

BIBLE

the

better

no

Egyptians, that

cor"

meaui

strike

is,(0

thi

innocent.
Tlie

vessels of

gold

Jehovah
that He

The

and

the

to

carry
and

return

all his army.

with

destroyhim

Hebrews

Hebrews

all the

Eg}'ptians,by borrowing

clothingthey could

rich

commands

may

the

since

and

the

flying,spoil

in

Hebrews,

away.

tempt Pharaoh

(Needlessand

foUow,

to

cruel vengeance,

beyond danger.)

were

of

Israelites,
dying

in the

famine

desert, Jehovah

sends

them

quails

manna.

Furious

the

at

jiU the Israelites

of

this feat

After

imagine,

in

he

whom

twenty-threethousand

the

God

arms

would

Calf, Jehovah
prays

to

him

to

be

destroy
with

content

slaughtered by the priests.

had

has

consents

theogonies of

the

Golden

intercedes, and

Moses

the

of

worship

cannibals, could

(Only, I

Hebrews.

help the

with

meet

we

such

atrocities.)

Jehovah
himself, he

the

warns

will exterminate

desires to

Moses

his hinder

him

absurdities

Nadab

and

that

Hebrews,

they again force him

if

them.

Jehovah'sface,who

see

'*

parts.

manifest

to

Videdis

repliesthat

posteriora

7neay

he

only can

(What

show

humiliating

)
Abihu

are

put

death

to

for

offeringsacrifice with

strange

fire.
kills

Who

Lord,

is

Who

all those

Mary,

goat, designed

consecration

for

to

the

his children

to

idols suffers death.

againstthe Lord; he sends againstthem

destroysmany.

Jehovah

with

murmur
Israelites,
fatigued,

fire,vhich

to

sheep or

punished with death.

consecrates

The

ox,

an

time

second

who

quailsto

the

Israelites;but

he

againstMoses,

God

sends

death

abundantly.

eat

sister of

sends

Aaron, having murmured

strikes her

lepros)

The

Hebrews,

desert,from

twenty

Cora, Dathan,

against Moses,
Ihem.

again murmured,

navmg
years

and

old and

he

commands

them

to

die in the

upwards.

Abiram, having revolted

fehovah

condemns

fire out

with
of

the

part of
earth

the
to

people

tlestroj

MOSES

Fresh

hundred

eeven

The

of the

murmurs

AND

SOCIETY.

HEBREW

people;the

133

fire destroysfourteen ihoasand

same

persons.

Hebrews, having again blasphemed againstJehovali,he

againstthem

sends

fieryserpent, that destroysnianj-.

IsraeUtes,by order of God, destroy the Canaanites and the Am.
orites ; they cut in piecesOg, king of Baashan, and all his people,with,
out
the conquered
establish themselves
to
on
allowing one
escape, and
a

The

soil.
"

Twenty-four thousand
with

the

Jehovah

daughtersof

commands

Israelites march

Moses

the

punish the

to

women

All

led into

the

"

all the male

Puellas

the

by

priestsfor

merce
com-

Midiarites

men

put

are

have

women

children,commanding

autcm,

et

twelve

thousand

the

sword, the

to

captivity,

that all the Midianite

all slain with

virgins.

Moses

the

is wroth

massacred

are

Moab.

againstthem.

kingsslain,and
them

Israelites

been

spared;

them

he

to preserve

has

only

feniinas virgines reservati

omnes

vobis.
"

prolong these citations. Can the whole history

of these earlyHebrew
times show us anythingelse than ruins,
and degrading
superstitions?
slaughter,
that has dared to place
Is there a people of similar historj'
it under protection
of the Supreme Being?
In admittingall these massacres
taken place,we
to have
can
only attribute them to the fanaticism of Moses, who
ventured
to
murmur
required his prieststo kill whoever
Needless

to

or
againsthis authority,

that of

the

God

he

imposed

upon

them.

insufficient nourishment
Perhaps, too, the desert,aftbrding
for the whole
to
not

prevent
fail to

people,the
of

scenes

more

dictator resolved

on

them,
decimating

violent carnage

which

their

epoch

famine

could

provoke.
it

be, this people and

judged for
exhibits greater proofsof
ns ; the
historyof the past nowhere
of humanity.
and the perversions
the weaknesses
There
are
people who see in these massacres, respecting
However

neither children
of God's

power.
18

nor

We

women,

are

a manifestation
except the virgins,

preferto

see

manifestation

of tlae spirit

BIBLE

THE

134

evil,
rulingwith undivided

of

INDIA.

IN

these

over

sway

and

barbarous

hordes, who, from their quitting

undisciplined
Egypt, could
mark
their passage with rapine,pillage
and slaughter.
No,
of

shall

we

people in search of the ojigin

of our
philosophicand religious
traditions,
this book, the Bible,that will emanate
the

not

go

beliefs and

our

is

from

and

It

Livw

faith of modem

not

to

these

nations.

CHAPTER

SCMt

OF

EXAMPLES

SPECIAL

VII.

of

and

manners

India, as

remain

to

as

have

seen

details of its social

needs

There

to

Judea

so

recall
strongly

all doubt

remove

those

that

might
by emigrations

world

the great cnaracteristics of that old civilization

Judea is now
Persia, Greece, and Rome.

exhibit the

to

of

the colonization of the ancient

pei-vadeEgypt,
about

ON

SOCIETY.

customs

themselves

EGYPT,

Hindostan.

from
We

of

THROUGH

INFLUENCE,

HEBREW

The

but

no

same

even
influence,

in the

most

minute

organization.
careful

selection

from

the many

points of

still more
our
striking
resemblances, that justify
of all the peoples of
confident assertion of that unityof origin
which we
have propounded from
firstpages, as
our
antiquity,

contact

\lmost

and

an

axiom.

MOSES

Marriageof

took

Juda
wicked

for

said:

lost in his

subject.

the

Most

his

inheritance,that
his

among

my
ba

name

people."

that it was

law, that

issue should
children

the rationale of the

what

?
legislator

We

have

marry

of

the

marriagewith Ruth,
other

believe

obligation

all the books

lighton die
motive
assigned

they throw
accepting the

commentators,

band, had, in fact,no

searched

in vain ;

with the brother

the widow

counted
ac-

of Mahlon, to be

being considered

and

Testament

for his

Boaz

be

dividinghis inheritance.

imposed by
Old

in his

dyingwithout

man

his, but

be

not

of the Bible show

this custom,

Wlience

was

am."

terr

brethren, and

their progeny

widow,

Her

thy brother's

Thamar,

marry

son,

Thamar.

him.

slew

Moabitess, wife

the

his

family,among

defunct, and

by

wife named

of Ruth

of the dead

name

relative of

the nearest

the

Ruth,

other passages

Many

of

fundebat in

s"j?ten

take

raise up the

wife,to

"

read in the book

Againwe
"'Boaz

thy brother.

seed unto

raise up

his hxoWiQY'

the

son,

Onan, knowing that the children would

But

not

first-born

I3S

said to Onan, his second

Juda then

"

Her, his

widows

sightof the Lord, and the Lord

in the

wife, and

SOaETY.

and Hindoo

Hebrew

read in Biblical Genesis

We

"

HEBREW

AND

no

that

the union

relation of her deceased

or

object than

to

continue

the

oT

hus
race

of the latter.
This

conclusion

parricular
man,
that

no

is

the interest of

Was
satisfactor}^

not

longer in existence, of

such

should
brother, or, in his default,a relative,

for his sake

Ought

not

^o

foregohis

the brother

name

own
or

and

race

importance,
be

required

relative equallyto desire progeny

iVherefore,then, compel them

to

marriage,which, in

continu*

ingthe familyof another, must terminate their own ?

This custom, of which Judaism can giveus no explanation,

136

THE

BIBLE

IN

INDIA.

had its origin

in the

beliefs of the Hindoos, introduced

religious
and was
nito
Eg)-ptby emigration,
adopted by the Hebrews,
probably in ignoranceof its purport.

Hindoos,

Among

father

only attain

can

the abodes

of the

bleised

through expiatorysacrifices and funereal ceremonies,

versary
performed by liis son, on his tomb, and renewed on each anniof his death.
which

sacrifices

These

the

remove

last stains

into the Divine

prevent the soul's re-absorption

felicity
providedfor the just.
is,therefore,a first necessitythat every

Essence,

the supreme
It
a

who

son

of Brahma

the refusal
With
dead

the

brother

of

sacred

Hebrews, all the

duty.
of the widow

sons

the

Hindoos,

heir,and is bound
All
brother

other

accomplishthe requiredfunereal

to

children

his devo^'ion

this way,

should

son

of

the

race

one

who

be

recognizedas

are

married

has
not

bom

to

his

his

the

ruin his

nies.
ceremo-

of

progeny

the

widow, and, in

hopes. If no
him, the law permits his adoption
and perform his funereal
name,

does

shall bear

thus

son

of his mother, becomes

husband

relative who

or

contrary, only the first

the

on

dead

the

belongs to

second

the

belong to

that of another.
it extinguishes

With
born

abode

its appeal to
makes
religion
infamous
as
kinsman, stigmatizing

husband, which is absurd, seeingthat,to continne

of one,

have

the gates of the immortal

or

perform so

to

should

it is for this that

; and

the devotion

him

to

open

may

man

own

sacrifices.
The

Hebrew

custom

all the children

thought for
The

born

is

seeingthat
absurdity,

mere

of the

widow,

the natural father whom

Hindoo

usage

the interests of

is rational and

both, and

also

to

the

defunct,taking no

it deprivesof

posterity.
seeing that it prological,
tects
motive
a religious
assigns

incomprehensible. Whereas
which
makes
no
attempt at explanatoryjustification,
probably,have been puzzled to invent.
We see
clearlythat it is but a preserved Hindoo
for

an

act

otherwise

itslegitimate
objectforgotten. And

it assigns

Onan

would

the

Bible

it would,

tradition,

not, certainly

AND

MOSES

have

of

dreamt

forbidden

Animals

hoof, and

the

not

does

the first son

impure by

as

the
prohibits

Moses

born

the Bible

of all ruminant

use

to

had the law

him.

animals

that divide

pig,which,althoughcloven-footed,

also the

ruminate.

not

permitsthose
as
impure.
'Others,
Of fishes he

but forbids all

lins,

with scales and

forbidden

are
birds,the following

Of

I37

SOCIETV.

of Thamer,
prolongingthe sterility

his brother onl

assignedto

HEBREW

the falcon,the kite,the vulture,and

eagle,the giiffon,
the ibis,
and its kind, the screech-owl,
their species. The crow
the bustard, and the porphyrion.
the cormorant, the swan,
The

The

the bat,and
heron, the stork,the lapwing,

llyand
Of

creep

on

as

both

all fours.

land-animals,are
weasel, the

The

all such

as impure
prohibited

the

mouse,

"

crocodile,and their kinds.

The

and the mole.

musk-rat,the chamelion,the lizard,
of these animals,is impure,like them.
who
eats
The
man
Who

dead, is impure until the evening.

and should be
vessel that has contained them is defiled,

touches

The

them,

when

broken.

The
divide
The

and

by

Manou

the
dividing

hoof

All birds of prey, without

eagle,the kite,all
claws, are
And

Brahminical

prohibitions
shall abstain from quadrupeds that
regeneratedman
the hoof, except those peniiitted
not
by Scripture.
domestic
though
pig (notthe wild boar) is declared impure,al-

Forbidden

such
exception,

that strike with

the beak

as

the

and

vulture,the

tear

with

the

prohibited.

it is

protectsthe

remarkable
that the
especially
of hurtful
sparrow, as destro}'er

same

prohibition

insects and

server
pre-

of the harvest.
Then

the crane,

the parrot, the swan,

"11 that seize their prey with the tongue.

All fish that have

12*

not

fins and

scales.

the

woodpecker,and

138

THE

IN

BIBLE

Lastly,creepinganimals, or
as
tbr')idden,

are

impurityfrom

All
for

days and

r.laws^

of all.

with dead

contact

with their

dig holes

that

impure

most

INDIA.

animal

cortinue*

matter

four

days,or only for one day,

accordingto the individual's reputationfor virtue and wisdom.
ply
The vessel of brass,silver or gold,that has contained or simordained.
touched impure matter, must
be purified,
as
ten

The
the

earthen

are

the

appear

from

sworn

them

to

the

read in the Bible

We

husband

The

and

incense

no

for

the

shall therein

chargedwith

"

It

no

pour

put

oil

of

Sanscrit

of the

the
of

it is

beseech

begottenk(

Sanscrit!

Who

and shall present for

priest,
barley-flour.He shall adi^

sacrifice of

denying

this kind

I would

Numbers)

measure

thereon, for

If

an

from

maledictions,will
husband,

let your

deliver ber to the

approached

man

stomach

the

jealousy,an

; but

swell and

the

to

bring the
her

husband

officiating
Brahmin, who

earthen

an

ing
offer-

vessel,he

tabernacle,and

shall

these bitter waters,

you,

if you

have

burst,and

been

un-

thigh

your

draught."

(Commentaries on

"

than

not

you

he shall present her

ancient custom

of another

the floor of

liarm

in

holy water

some

has not

man

read in Gautama

embraces

the

prove

wife before

part of

little earth
'

rotten,'and

was

class.

parent

priesthaving taken

faidiful to your

We

certain

(Book

"

bring his

tenth

the woman,

IjC'-ome

of

India

discoveryof adultery.

the

"And

say to

shall

of
offering

an

that is by

!
reallywitness such a pleasantry
suspectedof Adultery:

of Woman

in

led the way.

fullyexpect somethingof

Hebrew

The

the less would

refute all this,

and

littlefarther,
and

but I may

Ordeal

have

to

champions

go

Not

peoples?
to

one

Hebrew!

knows

her

these

way
of India !
antiquity

the

deeply buried

such

to

and
initiatrix,

is but

There

and

purifyit.

all Oriental

to

common

broken

be

?
Will it
homologous legislation
but sanitary
are
prohibitions
regulations,

to say

we

objectedthat

"

should

vessel

earth,for nothing can

What
be

nightsfor

ten

woman

to

Manou)

accused

of admitting

tlie gate of

havuagtlirown

the
a

the

pagoda and

sprigof

cousr^

THE

14"

BIBLE

INDIA.

IN

this idea of defilement

dead, extendingeven
Hindoo
inanimate
be
to
legacy, cannot
things,is another
Moses
doubted.
has copied these antique traditions Avord foi
word, but in reviving
usages has been careful not to reproduce
those wide views, those grand thoughtswhich we
atencounter
That

step in JNIanou, whenever,

each

the Primitive
It is not

and

reflex of that

in

the sublime

sacerdotalism

breathingsof

which

it a rule

made

have

to

seem

with
superstitions
the lives of the

occupied

beneath,

its model.

antiquecivilization

ridiculous

the

of subservience

roie

Bible will be found

that the

it surpass,

wU

wofld, it would
new

his
forgetting

unabridged Vedas.

last time

the

never

Pale

the

sacerdotalism,he echoes

to

and

from

old

inspiredthe

initiate the

only to
which

Brahminical

people,to

make

them

forgettheir subjugation.
Sacrifices and

Ceremonies-

sacrifices and

The

ceremonies

in their minutest

which

"

and

Hindoo:

ordained

details from

the

rowed
borare
by Moses
vulgarworshipof India.

of Brahminical
holocaust,par excellence,

The
ox

-Levitical

that

is

can

respected in

be offered

to

I,eviticus also ordains

India

the

as

is the
sacrifices,
welcome

most

fice
sacri-

God.

the immolation

of

an

ox

at

the door

of

the tabernacle.
In less

important ceremonies

red deer and

have

goats

the altar ;

on

yet brought forth young,

not

Brahmin

the

priestoffers both

sheei)without
black

spot and

that

the spotted
gazelles,
"

doe, and turtle doves.

Leviticus,in like

manner,

ordains the sacrifice of

sheep,of

goats, and of doves.

The
and

fruit

consists
offering

of

flour,rice,oil,ghee,

fat of all kinds.

The

oil,and
With
and

Hindoo

Hebrews,

for the

same

oblation

the first fruits of all

grains.

both

should

Brahmins

portionof

peoples,salt
and

Levites

the sacrifice.

alike

be

employ flour,bread, and

added

to

divide among

al

offeringb;

themselves

MOSES

AND

SOCIETY.

HEBREW.

I4I

perpetualfire burns on the Hindoo Altar,fed by the deva

dassi,or consecrated priestesses.
The
fire burns in the Jewish Tabernacle, fed by Levites
same
"

for Moses

admits

Lastly,in

India

not
as

are
againstreligion
purification.

will dwell

-I

appearingto
the

their

orthodox

do

these

as

shall

the corn,
You

"

at each

muzzle

not

and

you

shall

not

it became

divinity

it constituted

Greece, where
did

Judea, too, inherit this

incontestablyof Indian origin.
so

of the Bible such passages

page

tlie mouth

pennit him
ploughwith an ox
shall

e\'idences of respect,

These
of
which

is

said

have

You

"

and

Ox, which

establish imitation.

hecatomb;

encounter

we

subject,what

that,like Egypt, where

respect for the

Thus

this

on

like Persia

people;

most

and all offences

Judea, all impurities
atoned
of
by sacrifices and ceremonies

abundantlyto

me

It is remarkable
to

in

farther

no

the service of God.

to

women

of the
to

an

yoked together."

ass

admit, are

must

we

of the
ancient,vulgar superstitions

Moses

Hindoo

and

the

but

mains
re-

from
Eg}'ptians,

wholly to emancipate himself

unable

was

out

thereof"

eat

and

that treads

ox

of
purification

Hebrew

after childbirth

women

read in Leviticus

Wo

"

"If

woman,

brings forth
pure for

seven

male

suscepto scmine,
child,she is im-

days,as

for her

mens-

If confined

"^^"'

of

she
girl,

is

im-

birth

^" ^'^

'""

her

are

accomplished,whether

for

child

^^ declared
Iiave

is

defile

^'^^^^^^

impure

for

elapsedmonths,

conception,and

puri^^^r natural
ficationshall rcqui.-e
sixtydays.
And
we
the days of her purifica"When
lion

of

"

to the
especially
P^^'^"^^'

days as

many

^'"^^

"'

purc for fourteen cays, and her

^he

^^^^^
"^o^l^^^'
^^

trual period
"

in Manou

And

"

her

purifi-

as
accomplislied,

after

"

seasons.

Commentaries

read

in Colloiica's

"

boy, she shall,in testimony

"Formerly, after ablutions,it wai
in terminthereof,bring as an offeringto the customary for tlie woman,
door of the Tabernacle, a lamb of a
atingher ceremonies of purification,
lamb, ten
year, a young pigeonor a t artle-dove,to oflfer a young unshorn

g'r)or

THE

143

giveit

and

the

to

BIBLE

for
priest,

gather \\-ith honey,rice,anil ghee

ex-

an

INDIA.

IN

piction."

present, after abhitions,she but

At

offers

six copas

rice,and

of

measures

sunniassis,ten

Brahmin

to

of

clarified butter."

of property forbidden to Brahmins

possession
Brahmin's
mission,accordingto Manou, is

The
The

and
sacrifices,

at

devote

labors have
is

C lere

hut

must

*"

Give

not

contribute

each year ;
flows

that

give them
from

also

the

that

the firstof all

first kid, the first lamb

first

pieceof

shall preserve

elect.

first-gathered

of your

folds of

cocoa-trees, the first oil

stuff that you

to you

your

weave

and

and
possessions,

produce abundantly,according to your desires,know

that belongsto you, belongsto them."

ordinance

assignmentof
have
and

mouth

the

Jehovali,by

land

to

given you,"
oil

"

of Moses

and

Aaron, forbids any

the Levites.

Jehovah, "all

says

all that is offered

All the first fruits of

as

the earth

that

is most

excellent of corn,

first fruits to the Lord.

that

are

presentedto the Lord,

"All

the pure of your liousehold shall eat thereof.

that tlie children of Israel vow
to me, shall be yours.

"All

whether
the first-born,

reserved for your

shall

to

Vaysias. But
domestic animal,

Bnghou, "your

first fruits of your

the

the Lord

Identical Hebrew

wine,

Lord,

earth shall

that

"I

not

to

of the Lord's

wants

says the divine

press, the

your

will that

if you
finally,

"

the
satisfy

to

of rice,the firstcalf,the

measure

he may
the

to

the Lord

India,a farm, a tree, or

Brahmins,"

the

to

consecrated

assignedby

been

field in

as

officiate

to

of harvests.
soil,
herdingof cattle,or gathering

cultivation of the
These

his time

portionof

any

Holy Scriptures
;

the

teach

to

belong

to

use

you

shall be

of

man

or

beast, that is offered

that
providing,nevertheless,

for the first-born of man,

and

shall exact

ye

to

the Lord

shall receive

redemptionmoney

price

for the unclean

of animals.
"

But

ye shall not

for theyare

redeem

to
agreeable

the

of the
fiistlings

the Lord."

ox, the goat, and

the

shecft

MOSES

The

only difference

the first-born of
could

HEBREW

AND

man

Hindoo

between
not, and

was

be oftered

not

SOCIETY.

(he

I43

and

Hebrew, is,that
mals
ani-

of unclean
firstlings

Brahmins.

to

needs
the
identityscarce
comment,
influence of India being palpable,both in detail and eiiseiribie
of the great principles
bequeathed by her to social antiquity
and their purification
Levitical impurities
:
lead in the 15th chap, of Leviticus,
l\Tien we
the laws of
Such

approach

an

to

for involuntary
defilements
purification

of either

with very natural surprise

at
reproductionof Hindoo sacred ordinances
we

Let

take,for example, the

us

two

of the

'*

Speak

"'

Bt.-vntly
gatherand
"

The

bed

"

If

man

"'

In water

he

touches

his

touched

shall have

Who
Should

he

remain

impure until

until

unclean

the

he shall touch

until the
vessel

"Any
wood,
"

washed
"On

and
pigeons,

Tabanacle

afflicted

man

shall

con-

his clothes

and

be defiled.

himself in water

his clothes

evening.
"c.,

"c.

that is pure,

one

himself and

the latter

shall,
"c., "c.,

evening.
who

And

be unclean
another

sits,shall

under

shall carry

until the

man

that

"

the person

shall
afflicted,

of tliese

any

evening.

so

And

be

things,shall

if,before

so

ing,
wash-

other shall also wash, "c., and

be

evening.
touched

by

and

such

with

the afflicted be

his person

the

until the

all that has been

it shall be washed

Should

the

he

sat, shall also wash

his person,

evening.

wash, "c., "c., and

unclean

the

evening.

expectorate upon

saddle,and

The

tioned
men-

parallels.

foetid humor

whereon

seat

he shall wash

unclean

"

"

bed,

he hath

"

and

them,

say unto

when
afflicted,

sleeps,the

until the

unclean

and remain

"

subject.

same

of the above

cases

mere

to his skin.

adhere

shall sit where

Who

and
Israel,

he is thus

whereon

remain

and

"

flux is unclean.

ye shall know

And

woman,

the children of

unto

seminal

with

man

the

on

with their Hindoo

chapter,and collate them

Uncleanness

or

findingthem

struck

are

man

healed,he
he

earth,it

shall he broken, if of

water.

his clothes

eighth day,

if of

man,

in

shall

shall present himself

of the Covenant, and

shall yet count

running water,
take

two

beforo
shall

the

seven

he shall be clean.

turtle-doves
Lird

give them

days,and having

at
to

and

two

the entrance
the

young
of the

m-Iio shaU
priest,

THE

144
offer

for

one

sin,and

before the Lord

"

The

shall have

The

whom

woman

wash, and

Uncleanness

"

The

"

Who

shall

sleepupon,

her

be unclean
in

egrcdilui

quo

until the

unto, shall

evening.

in like mannei

state,shall be secluded for

shall be unclean

sit upon,

or

and

gone

{virde

woman

in her menstrual

shall touch

evening.

of the Woman

woman

impurity.

' '

until the

be unclean

his

body,
have

shall pray for bin

and
offering,

burnt

from

gone

shall

be

in unto

cjiliis)shall \\asli Lis whole

scnicii
"

for

the other

INDIA.

IN

he be cleansed

that

who

man

BIBLE

during

days.

seven

she
evening,and whatever
shall be
days of her seclusion,

until

the

defiled.
"Who

shall have

plungedhimself
"'If

touched

in water,

shall be unclean

for

while

until

in this

days, and

seven

his clothes,and

shall wash

bed,

shall be unclean

her

approach

man

her

having

evening.

he
montlilyrecurringcondition,
beds whereon
he sleepsshall be

all the

defiled.
"The

the natural

' '

And

shall be

in whom

woman

period,shall

"The
seven

the

and

be unclean

eighthshe

and shall pray

before

she shall have

them

from
lute not

all

any

impure

for

is the law

Such

things,that

tabernacle

himself in approaching a
"Such

when

also for the

Vedic

man

that

who

sat

his clothes

her,

and

to the

they die

the other

not

turtle doves

two
priest,

the tabernacle

for her

shall count

woman

for

of
a

the

covenant,

burnt

offering,

purification.

of such

selves
they preserve themand poL
defilement,

afflicted with

seminal

flux,or

who

shall

defilu

woman.

secluded during her montlily

regardsthe woman
or
so
period recurs
irregularly
prolonged; and such

is also the law

or
periods,

one

tinues.
con-

is in their midst.

which

for

it

sleptor

shall wash

evening.
having ceased,the

shall offer for herself

the Lord

while

month

shall,therefore,teach the children of Israel that

Ye

The

for each

until the

young

"The

"

as

of
pigeons,at the entrance
priestshall offer one for a sin,and

two

"

unclean

periodover, and its effects

days before Durifyingherself.

"On
nd

remain

or
irregular,
prolonged beyond

all on which
during this prolongatiofi,
shall have touched
and whosoever
defiled,

his person,

and

is

this condition

as

shall

Impuritiesand

approach her

at such

their Purification

time."

:
(Ramatsariar)
thai
or
V^edas,
Holy Scriptures,
propound the principle,

MOSES

tarnish
Spiritual

as

should

is atoned

personaldefilement

Ramatsariar,whom

by

about

are

to

by Brahmin
on
authority
recognized

venerated
antiquit)',
greatly

India,and

of

ceremonies

His words
-

the

on

and

"Men

sacrifices of

and

sage of high
in the south
theologians
is
cite,

with

all connected

the

alike

are

good works, so

religion.

subjectare

women

and

prayer

by ablutions.
purified

be

we

145

SOCIETY.

HEBREW

AND

subjectto

bids
condition that for-

in family
festivals and ceremonies of the
participation
by ablutions
temple,for they are unclean, nor are they purified
in the sacred waters
of the Ganges until after that condition has
their

ceased."
Uncleanness

of the Man

who has contracted disease

Every man
shall be impure while it continues,
and for

fronf the

"

ten

use

days and

abuse of

or

ten

women

nightsafter

hi?

restoration.
"

His

"

He

breath
not

may

his caste

"His

with

at

him

from

of his bed
is

defiled,and

and
defiled,

of

man

other of

any

all who

by the
days.

eat

with

of

waters

is impure, and

him

tion,
purifica-

himself by
purifies

who, knowing

ten

days and

ten

dishes that have

purification.

of

contained

his rice

buried in the earth.

any other

his

be cleansed

metal,theymay

condition,shall

nights,and

in the tank

by

consent

to

him, shall be

shall offer the sacrifice of

destined

for shameful

purifica-

defilements.

of pe.formingthe anniversary
incapable
be impure,

the Lord.

horse, the camel,

18

the water:,

of the death of his parents; the sacrificewould

by
rejected

cousa.

by

fire.

thus defiled shall be

impure, and

cleansed

and
jr

be bumed-

must

the earthen

purification,by

funereal ceremonies

shall be

be

must

of copper

are

liou after having bathed

The

for three

the leeward

or

woman

uiicieanfor

"

unclean

be broken

must

If his vessels

and

and

be cleansed

and
is defiled,

and
drinkingvessels,

"The

with

children,nor

unclean,

must

are

"His

The

becomes

his

sunset.

mat

th" waters

wife,with

and
defiled,

bed

' '

are
impure.
perspiration

saliva and his

days.

"His

are

of

his

touch him

speaksto

The

*'

arc

all who

Who

ablution

eat

for three

clothes

and
"

impure, his

his food
relations,

or

unclean

are

is

the

elephanton

shall be washed

which

in water

he may

ride

on

pilgrimage

wherein is dissoWed

sprig

146
"

If he make

bpcause

he

"Should
the

double

shall

thereafter

and

then

the

his fault shall not

be

holy river,they may

remittee^

of his

man

the entire

day

in the

impure until

sunset.

for shameful

pond

in the waters

of

defile*

purification,

he has been

prayer, for which

to

fot

serve

caste, he shall suffer

own

shall be

struck

himself

not

like himself.

impure

his ablutions

perform

devote

of the

man

shall wash

healed, he

; he

ments

Ganges,

strike

in this state

ordinaryfine,and

"When

INDIA.

unclean.

bring back the water

they become
purification,

of

waters

IN

the

to
pilgrimage

he did it while

If he

"

BIBLE

THE

qualified
dis-

imtil then.
"

shill make

He

abundant

shall then

"He

devotees.
to religious
ofl'ering

present himself

the gate of the

at

of rice,of honey, and

deposithis offerings

has not
"

coupleof

shaU

He

If poor,

and

the song
then

offer

to

which

lamb

young

shall offer

lamb, he

shall not

that

yet have

builded

of love.

and
purified,

be

ghee,with

unable

pigeonswithout spot,and

young

warbled

thists or
"

shorn.

yet been

of

shall there

temple,and

with
again rejoice

may

his wife

and

children."

Impurityof

divine Manou

The

"

the Woman

has said

*
"

Sixteen complete days with

four distinct days,interdicted by those of

is called

what

tute

which

her husband

days,the
and

the

The

imence.

approach her

may

has said

with love.

natural

which

seasons,

thirteenth

first four

The

as

are

teen
these six-

also the

eleventh
"

approved.*

should

respect his wife

of the

future harvest.' "

interdicted from

days are

days alone

Of

during

respect the blossom

we

fecundityand

announces

eleventh and

husband

'The

"

repute, consti

of the woman,

season

first four

Veda

duringher

"

natural

being forbidden,as
the remainingten days are
thirteenth,

"The

banana

the

good

considered

motives

to
defiling

those

of
who

cf n-

do

respect them.

not

"During

these

her apartment,

and

four

days the

hide

is

woman

herself from

her

impure;

let her

husband, her

take

refugem

and
children,

hei

servants.

"Her
"

What

her saliva,
and
respiration,
she touches

in the vessel which

becomes

she holds

her

are
perspiration

instantly
impure,and
in her hands.

impure.
the millt

coagulate*

148

BIBLE

THE

Do

know,

not

we

the

subject to

IN

INDIA.

peoplesof Asia were

by the majorityo'

that all the

moreover,

usages, stillhonored

same

them?
those

In

climates

hot

took
religion

itself the

duty of
the only mean!*
for personal cleanliness,
as
legislation
sanitary
of contending againstdangerous epidemics that periodi(
.ail}
desolate those countries,
and guardingagainst
that hid
leprosy,
ecus
mo-ladythat Europe knows no more, but which still prevails
in the East with the
From

Manou

climate
taken

indicated the
the trouble

virulence

same

Mahomet

to

these

show

in ancient times.

as

laws
sanitary

and
necessity,

to

upon

the

were

should
certainly

that Moses

but the

was

have

not

copyistof

earlier usages, but which

it was
natural to adopt,were
that there are people who, in their enthusiasm,whether

it

not

sincere

in everywhere seeingrevelation
conventional,obstinately
persist

or

and

the

fingerof

Moses

commanded

after the

example

God.
the

of the

sacrifice of

an

ox

the

upon

Magi of Persia,the priestsof ancient Greece

therein seeingthe natural adoption of usages

;
as

instead
old

S)^mbolof

Moses

Eucharist

the

commands

the

of the
upon

which
The

the

Hebrews

Jesuitssee

same
a

of the

symbol

arguments

Will

the

tom
cusprevailing

in the ablutions

purityof

why

are
are

we
we

is attributed
to

sustain such
not

to

the

imposed

to what
propositions,

obligedto

astonished

descend

Have

we

outside their

faith,

new

Sinai,and

Mount

for certain classes there is neither historic

reason,

; instead

and Manou

Manes

should,later,regenerate the Christian world !

is always the same, the
system of interpretation

custom
significant
But
inspiration.

But

required by climate, and

ablutions

he has therein but followed

East, the

type

ordained by
adopts the regulations
that
admitting

of
the

as

there find
world, the Jesuits,
Menochius, and Carrifere,
and

altar,

Brahmins, the Hierophants of Eg\'pt,

the

of

same

in

most

Divine

to

pitiable

long known
truth,good senst

thai

not

noi

pale?
in proclaim
Bralimins,
Magi, Levites,and Hierophants,
o\vn

HEBREW

AND

MOSES

SOCIETY.

49

of tnith
God, the sole dispensers
for a moment
permit discussion of their own
tion?
posiright,
Have
Do they not proscribetheir enemies?
they not
monarchs
tremble who
sought emancipationfrom theii
and
Have
?
they i.ot governed by torture
oy the
the chosen

ing themselves
and

made
rule

of

"5take ?

then, if we find the tradition con.

surprise,
and if modern
tinuous ; if the heritagehas found inheritors,
for a
Leviteism,gatherall its forces,call out all its reserves
reason
object of proscribing
pitchedbattle,with the avowed
that ancient sacerdotal despotism,
and of revivifying
and liberty,
for

ground

What

which

with

world

filled the

heretofore

with

ruins,and

martyrs ?
of
prohibition

Bible

Leviticus

\n

"'

If

amongst
"'

the soul be

from

the life of
serve

of

amongst

his

the

altar,

as

"If

any

I said

of

amongst you,

to

the children of

that it is lawful
'*

For

take

the flesh is in the

given it to

you
tha*

The

amongst

none

you

you, shall eat blood.

of

the strangers that dwell

chase, or any bird in his net,

it with earth.
the blood, and cover
spill

animal

in

the

the lifeof all flesh is in the blood

children of Israel
of

any

eat, let him

to

Israel,that

children of Israel,or

the

shall

I have

the blood.

expiatedby

man

blood, and

expiationfor yovur souls,and

an

of the strangers that dwell among

nor

people.

the flesh is in the

at

you

this have

For

"

of the house

destroyhim

that it may

read

We

Israel,or of the strangersthat dweU

blood, the eye of my wrath shall rest upon him,

whether

you, shall eat

Because

food.

as

man,

I will

and

the blood of animals

blood

blood,and

; and

for this have

of all animals

shall

who

of it shall be

shall eat

ye not

I said to the

eat, for the life

punishedwith

death,'"

animals

Prohibition of dead
"11

any

flesh of any

man

hall be
"

But

of the children of Israel,or

animal

animal, he

impure

that shall have

shall

wash

until the

if he wash

filed.'
13"

not

died, or shall

his vestments

evening,and
bis vestments

of strangers,shall eat of the

and

have

his person

shall be cleansed
and

been

by

killed

by

in water,

other
an-

and

this ceremouy.

his person, he shall remain

de"

THE

rSO

Brahminical
Ramatsariar
The

"

who

man

Who

the

of

animal

an

Divine

life,it is the

the

is

body

formed,

of

source

It is the blood

hold

to

God.

We

eat

the

manner

"The
can

we

blood

contains

exist without

the

it.

the blood

eat

blood

eat

by

an

no

read

in

food

by

man

sliould

thfi

the Veda, shall

unclean

jackal.

and

fertilizes the

of

arms

the

Ganges

of

sources

from

emitted

essence

is the

the

be senseless to attempt

not

may

soul, unites

mother, it

is

by

life be

the Great

itself to

the

the blood

we

is their blood, and

produces fruit.

of animals, which

is their sap.

of

mysterioussecrets

To

of

hundred

the foetus to the

of trees, which
not

may

body

it would

as

great river,so

unites

the sap

not

forbidden

the

as

soil; and

the sacred

body.

In like

perish,for

fluid that waters

drained, nor profanedas food.

uselessly
"It is through the blood that the Divine
is in all),and wliich
All (who is all and

"

permittedas

shall

his soul sliall revive in the

fecundate

dry up

to

animal

an

vampire, and

the blood

of

is the

blood

and

water

We

subject

same

with blood.

of which

matter

of

the blood

of

son

shall eat

The

"

of

eats

leprosy,and

die of

the

nourish himself
"

INDIA.

IN

on
prohibitions

is called the

Veda,

BIBLE

is to

created

existence,no

profane the

Creator's

ing
be-

Great

Work.
I^t

"

who

man

never

escape

has been

re-born.

may

The

"

has eaten

the

from

When

you

desire to

eat

the
having therein spilled
"Apart from pains of

Prohibition of animals
The

"

of

animal

the

throat

of the ox,

blood

the

hole

other

him

Who

be becomes

has not
eats

of

his

lamb,

or

souJ

the

example.
and

you

not

taken

others

or

in the earth and

the animal

of

the

animals, clean

dividingthe hoof,
a

transmigrationbe
in which

animal

the unclean

cover

would

den,
forbidin

the

it over,

ter
af-

eat.

world, elephantiasis,
leprosy,and

who

that have

or
naturally,
by

shall

transgress these

died

tions."
prohibi-

accident is

impure, although not

by the Holy Scripture,for the blood is still in the

been spilled
the earth.
on
it eats of the blood with the flesh,
which is forbidden,and

class forbidden

body, and
"

tliat dies

in successive

the flesh of

of

\ile attend

most

that

the altar ; let this be your

quadrupeds,make

or

diseases the

of

cuts

ruminants, and

whether

chase,fowls

on

it fear

body

Brahmin
sacrificing

it
goat, before offering
"

of

impure as

the animal

of which

he has eaten.

If

"

so

their

ivhich make

live,it is

because

Who

"

prey

they feed

upon

thus

SOCIETY.

to

should

eaten

they have
they find.

animal

dead

every

proceed

the tank

to

having washed his clothes,plunge his body into

prolonged ablutions,shall remain imclean until

after three

"

of vile disease*

before

even

worms,

t$

leprosy,and

of

classes die

lower

bodies

shall have
and

ments,

of the

many

HEBREW

AND

MOSES

ceased

to

for vile defile

the water,
the second

and
sun-

rising."

forbiddingblood

In
.

for the

than
prohibition

assignsno

food, Moses

as

other

reason

expressedin this line, Becatise

planation
blood,"and as usual offers no ex-

that

the lifeof the flesh is in the

"

of his idea.
We

that
plainly

see

rather

without

address

be

developed,to
understood
why
assume

because
The

"

fecundates

It is

"

the

the

the

body."
may

will admire

wrote

prohibition
requiresto
it
to make
understanding,

siderations
ordained,and then the attendant cona lofty
import,which the Bible has not perceived,
its version was
but an imperfectrecollection :

of which

matter

laugh at

fluid that

Divine

is formed
and

the

waters

body, as

is the

essence

and

the hundred

fertilizethe sacred
the pure

that

Whole, and which

Great

Science

accepted his prohibitions

it was

Ganges water
through the blood

from

And

itself to the

of the

arms

same

it is the
is the life,

blood

who

reason.

the contrary, the

India,on

In

taught,and

a
requiring

required

a people who
addressing

was

ruled,than

be

to

he

soil.

emanating

soul,unites itself to

this definition of the Veda

; the thinker

the emblem.
but curtailed his recollections when
he
certainly
simpleexplanationof the law he imposed, "Because

Moses

this

tlie lifeof the flesh is in the blood."

Do
Aie
know

not

Bible

these
is but

if I d-ilude
such

coincidences
striking
an

echo

of

myself,but

is the

In the "ive hooks

Oriental

it seems

conclusion

from simplestudy of the book

attribrred

prove

that

to

that
incontestably

institutions?
me

don't

considered,
that,seriously

naturallypresents itself

left by Moses.
to

this

ive find
legislator,

at

eaco

Step details,
manners,

the faintest

shall

sacrifice^

can
explanation,

did but

Moses

for
abridge,

Hebrews, those institutions of Egypt which

the

the lat

received from India.

had

tei

persuadedthat

become

we

of the

use

advance

we

of

onlj*
in imitation of ancient civilizations,
and
in this comparative study the more

find their raison d'etre

farther

ceremonies,modvis

customs,

laws, which, givenwithout

the

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

THE

IS*

Israelites forbidden

kill

Before

the
investigating
this
sheep, or
goats symbolic meaning of
curious
the
than
before
injunction against

their oxen,
elsewhere

to

the

slaughterof animals, ox,

lamb, or goat, except at the

tabernacle.

gate of
in

the

the

let

Tabernacle

hands

us

priest,

the

what

see

Hindoo

of

and

the

were

ordinances

the

on

subject.
says Leviticus

Thus

"Speak
and

sons

"

'

Every

who

the

ings to

murder, and
of the
blood
"

one

hath

shall

of

shall

said

ox,

out

ofTer-

guiltyof

be

the midst

had

shed the

of Israel present to

the

the

children

priesttheir

slaughter,instead of
in the fields,
them
that
daugl'tcrirg
animals

for

as

animal

on

he

shall

death

created

own

animals

for

in sacrifice is not

many

its
who

hairs

had

as

body, so

perishby

the
times

many

it
slaughters

manner

after

an

violent

each

succeeding birth by
transmigration.
Who

"

of

at

an

from

of his fellows.'

Therefore, should

For

"

slaughtering imlawful
as

exists by his

murder.

rael
Is-

perishin
if he

himself

committed

manded,
com-

or

camp

Beingwho

his

of

an

tabernacle

Lord,

peopleas
of

the

instead

before the

them

He

killed

have

goat, in

the camp,

of

hath

of the house

man

shall

sheep,or

Lord

Manou, lib. v

and
verse
sacrifice,
by sacrifice is this uniIsrael,
magnified,therefore the slaughter
to

of

what

behold

The

"

children

the

what

read in

will has

and

Aaron

unto

tell the

"Behold

him

said unto

and

Moses,

We

"

spake againunto

Lord

the

And

"

to

shall

only

of

eat

animal, bought

or

received

anotlier,after having ofTered

God, is not

for
guilty,

to eat

accomplishmentof

been

declared the divine law.

Brahmin

should

it

flesh

sacrificelias

after

"A

the flesh

never

cat

o\

MOSES

be sanctified

iheymay
to whom

have

they

HEBREW'

AND

by the Lord,
offered

been

before
peace-sacrifice,

the

as

priest

blood

been

cle
Taberna-

sh?Jl burn

the

fat for

sweet

And

"

shall

they

sacrifice their animals

whom

they

and

this law

and

for their

"

Say

by holywords.

Who

daily nourish

of

come

from

Israel,or

of

you,

bringingit

shall

has
be

kill an

of the

be sanctified

testimony life nor

wisdom

preme

by the Lord,

"'But

of his

You

the Sama-Veda

that

shall not,

which

the

governs

in its minutest

even
respected
"

are,

like

torment

"

You

shall not

afflictthem.

shall not

over-work

shall not

abandon

they have
"

Man

forbidden
"

Even

may

rendered

in

the

anchorite

animals
even

in his forest,

commit

never

without
under

murdei

sanction

of

distress."

that

world, and

wisdom

work

of

ought

to

su"

be

or
necessity,

for

kill animals
pleasure,

them.

them.
them

in

their old

age,

ces
remembering the servi-

you.

as

unclean.

in

them
killing

Let him

animals, his happiness

only kill animals for food

severelypunishedif he
"

urgent

yourself,of divine creation.

shall not

You

under

increase neither

not

should

retreat

therefore,without

You

*'

ing
conform-

works.

"

"You

offering,let

an

is the
respect animals, for their imperfection

should

We

animal

after death.

the Veda,

"

the

merely for his pleasure

shall

upon

from

an

rule, unless

shall kill innocent

people."

Extract

kill

flesh without

eat

"Who

are

animal

perish in the midst

knows

necessity.

the entrance

to

making it

to this

have

who

others to eat

who

desire to

never

never

of the

man

certain animals

and

eaten

fault,

no

created

the devotee

Let

without
him

and

without,

that it may

"

to

for them

of those who

the Tabernacle

he

If

food, commits

mitted
per-

them.

posterity.
them

even

the flesh of animals

on

for Brahma

sacrificed,law

shall be eternal

strangers amongst
without

shall

for

more

demons,

before

were

unto

house

to

no

let

the eternal

conformablyto

to

thus

prayers,

law,

Lord.
lli'e

to

by

not

but

after consecration

himself

savor

v.-hich have

eat

"

gate of

consecrated

of the Covenant, and

Tabernacle

at the

^SJ

him

sprinklethe

altar

the

upon

shall

W.

the flesh of animals

of the Covenant.
"The

SOCII

for food
observe

lead his animal

he

carefully
shunningthose that

commits

not

the

before

the

fault,for which

are

he will ':"

prescribedrules,

temple,and

the

shall slaugh
priest

BIBLE

THK

154

IN

it illoffering
it to tlie Lord, and

ter

INDIA.

the blood
he sliallsprinkle

of the TKcin

the altar.

upon

the blood

For

"

Who

is the life,
and

shall eat

should
life,in departing,

return

to

God.

rules of Holy
conforming to the prescribed
i*
Scriptureshall die ignominiously,for he has shed blood without offering
"

to the

*'

of all

Master

the

On

things."

subject,Ramatsariar

same

would

Who

flesh without

jntil after he has had

shall

sprinkleblood

Creator

to

them

prescribedlaw will
offered

the

upon

to

God

by

sanctifythe death.
of the flesh,without

in the other world

whose

sacrificing
Brahmin, who

has

said,"

Moses

elsewhere

from

than

He

shall devour

me

flesh I shall eat in this.'

the

above

the gate of the

at

to the

"

cited passages
prohibitedthe slaughterof animals

It appears

be offered

must

shall be cursed in this

sacrifice,

and in the next, for the divine Manou

world

the

the flesh of animaL*

eat

not

altar,for the blood

shall eat

Who

"

the

observe

(Commentaries)

that
Leviticus,

of

by

the

Hebrews,

penaltyof

Tabernacle, under

death.

But, as usual,the legislator

stoops

not

to

explainhis motives

and the objectof his prohibition.

Wherefore, in the words

all animals

Verse
contains

7,
a

chap, xvii.,Leviticus,which
semblance
of explanationin
imniolabunt

shall henceforth
But

what

of
slaughter
or

outside

ultra

qiiaquam

the

castra, in the camp,

in castris vel extra

of the camp

Bible,forbid

of the

no

does

more

host las

treats

these words

prove

"^/

It

they
false gods."

simplyindicates

formerlythe Israelites offered their sacrifices before statues

custom
gods that Jehovah had overthrown, and the same
continued
for the profitof the new
worship.
\\liat
that

we

wish

to

discover

in the works

of
suggestedthis prohibition

the gate of the

Tabernacle,

animal
slaughtered

ut

nc-

dcemotiibus,and

saus

offer their sacrificesto

this passage

of this matter,

of Moses

immolation

of
was

is the idea

elsewhere

Domino,
sanctificeniur

be sanctified by the Lord.

that

than

at

that tlie

156
which

the

the

by

BIBLE

THE

people brought
the

prieston

been

faithful to her ancient

in the

usages, and

partake only

even

of flesh that has

temple.
civilizations

all ancient

have

Thus

Brahmins

and

consecrated

of all kinds to be sacrificed

animals

altar,for generalpacification.

India alone remained

to-dayhighcastes

INDIA.

IN

proceeded

each

from

thus, in comparing their habitual usages in the

discover that community of
do we
minute details of life,

other; and
most

originwhich, so far from beinga paradoxicalidea,is the

and logical
result of the laws which govern human
Catholic

in another

ancient

opment.
devel-

Hebrew

viticus
Church, explainsthis chapterof Le-

type of the New

usages

in seeingin
opinion,which persists

able
inevit-

manner.

were
simply established
Accordingto it,these prohibitions
sacrifices elsewhere
by God, to prevent the Jews from ofi'ering

than

at

the Tabernacle.

I would

it remarked, that the Bible

have

si^n: Homo

domo

de
quilibet
an
slaughtered

shall have

employs this expres-

Israeli; that is,any Israelite who

animal

than before

elsewhere

the gate

of the Tabernacle.
If
had

sacrifice

rightto

has

to

the

offer it ;

intended, the priestalone

Divinitywas

while,in the form

rightto slaughterbefore

the

before us, every

brew
He-

Tabernacle, provided

by presentingthe blood of the victim to

the altar in signof expiation.
the priest,
to be sprinkled
on
It is,therefore,
only animals destined for food, and not foi
ceremonies, that are spoken of
purelyreligious
immolent cas hostias padAnte ost'mvi Tabertiaaili testimc7in

he sanctifies the

ficas. They

act

ofier up

their peace

sacrifices

at

the

of

entrance

the Tabernacle.
Such

is the command

to

the Hebrews.

Fimdetque sacerdos sanguinem super

sprinklesthe blood on the altar of
priest
Such

altare

Domini.

The

the Lord.

is the role of the Levite.

I repeat, if

symbolicsacrifice

to

the

was
Divinity

meant

AND

MOSES

the

alone
priest

the door

at

had

()fthe

but himself

none

Moreover, the

rightto

SOCIETY.

HEBREW

offer up

victim,and that not

interiortemple,where

the

Tabernacle, but in the

might enter.
explanationwhich

1$)

can
resist,

we

only be

ren-

distortions of the text.

possibleby singular
have
of this passage
Here
the interpretation
we
by the
in the approved edition of the Bible before
Father de Carridre,

dered

Levitical

Homo
ram,

qui

text

libet de

si
Israel,

dome

in castris vel extra

castra.

obtulerit ad

ostuim

Et

non

erit,quasisi

reus

sanguinem

occiderit bovem, aut

fuderit,sic

Ideo sacerdoti afferredebent

oblationem

Tabemaculi

oveni,

aut

cajy

Domino, sanguinis

peribitde medio

populisui.

filiiIsrael hostias suasquas

Occident in agro,

ut sanctificentur Domino.

Literal translation

Every
or

of the house

man

goat, within

And

who

shall not
shall be

perishmidst

his

this

which

cause

of Israel who

the camp,

Tabernacle,
For

have

or

shall have killed

ox,

or

sheep,

without.

offered it to

the Lord

guiltyof blood, and

people.
should the children

they have

an

slain in the

as

before

if he

had

of Israel offer to

that they may

fields,

the

gates of the

shed

the
be

blood, shall

priestthe

sanctified

by

tims
victhe

Lord.

Translation

by

the

JesuitFather

de Carrit-re:

of the house of Israel,

or
of proselytes
Every man
livingamongst i,':fm,
shall
with
the
the design,liave
to
a
to
Lord,
who, desiring offer sacrifice
the camp.
killed an ox, or a sheep,or a goat in the camp, or without
shall not have
who
of the Tabernacle
And
presentedit at the entrance
shall perish in
to the Lord, shall be guiltyof murder, and
to be offered
the midst of his people,as if he had slied the blood of a man.
For

this

cause

should

tlie children

they -would offerto

fledges

the

Lord,

of

tliat

them
TaiernacJe, instead of slaughtering

14

Israel

present

they may

to

the

prieststht

offerthem be/oretht

in the fields.

158

THE

BIBLE

italicpassages exist

The

lation needs

INDIA,

in the

not

Let

comment.

no

IN

; this

text

these unscrupulous interpolations

that
precisely
the

pretensionthat
speak of animals

to

and

Leviticus
offered

purelyin

of those destined for the food

not

of

seems
Moreover, Leviticus,
chap, vii.,

to

serve

port
sup-

in this

understood

was

trans,

that it is

remark

however,

us,

of
loyalty

chapter,
sacrifice to Jehovah,
the people.

itself to

exhaust

the

question,when commanding that the blood and the fat of all

be offered to the Lord,
slaughteredanimals,indiscriminately,
on
pain of death ; and that the breast and the rightshoulder
of each victim,immolated,be givento the priest.
then, the question here is of animals destined
Incontestibly,
food, and it is equallyincontestable

for
the

explanationof

East for that

extreme

the Bible affords

us

that

must

we

these

revert

to

which

customs

not.

from
Impurityoccasioned by the dead, and preservation
chap. xxi. :
accordingto Leviticus,

The
that
of

Lord

also said unto

theydefile not

Moses,

themselves

Speak

"

the

unto

sons
priests,

funeral ceremonies

at

of

the death

on

filemen
de-

Aaron,
of

one

their brethren.
Unless

such

as

ceremonies

father,a mother,

And

for those who

who
virginsister,

defile himself,
even

not

On

these

make

beards, nor

They
God,

they present

for this

daughter,or

son,

at the death

the

of

the

priestsshall

shall
priest
people.

But

princeof his

not

by blood,

brother.

married.

yet been

not

them

shave

their

the

heads, nor

the^

incisions in their flesh.

shall preserve

for

name,

occasions

has

nearlyallied to

most

are

cause

themselves

pure

incense

the

should

to

they remain

for

God,
Lord, and

and

shall defile not

offer the

bread

of

his
their

undefiled.

Leviticus,
chap, xxii :
Lord

The

Speak to
touch

Aaron

and

and which
unto

them

Moses

to his sons

the sacred oblations

offer Me

Say

spake again unto

of the

is consecrated
and

to

their

and

that

when
theybe careful,

children
to

said

Me,

of Israel
for I

am

not
defiled,

to soil that which

to

they

the Lord.

: whatsoever
posterity

man

of your

ract

MOSEV

AND

SOCIETY.

HEBREW

beingimpiwe,shall approach such thingsas

of

Israel to the

have

and

Lord,

been

have

159
offered

been

consecrated

shall

him,

to

O.c children

by

perish

Defore the Lord.

The

of

man

the

what

should

been

sanctified unto

defiled

Or

who

use

of

of

corpse,

or

of

man

Who

who

shall suffer
of what

eat

shall touch

sufferingwhat

should

has
man

only

marriage.
crawlingthing,and generallyall

any

shall not

and
e\'ening,

leprous,or
Marriage, shall not

until he shall be healed.

be touched

not

of

use

shall be

Me,

shall touch

that may

who

Aaron,

in the

only occur

the touch

in the

occur

and

by

of

race

eat

without

that is

defilement,shall be unclean

of consecrated

impure

until the

thingsbefore washing his body

in

water.

he
beingpurified,
permittedhim.

after sunset,

Then,
the

only food
They shall not
beast,with such
Let

them

they die

eat

in the

not

of the beast that hath

food

keep

shall eat

my

they shall

not

precepts,that

of

consecrated

killed

been

died, or

as
things,

by

another

defile themselves.

they fall

not

into

sanctuary after havingdefiled it,for

impurity,and
I

am

the Lord

that
who

them.
sanctify

Were

it

not

for

our

habit of,for the

most

part, readingthe

Bible without

its sense, we
troublingourselves to understand
should long since have perceivedand become
satisfied that it
is but a jumble of ancient mysteries,
of which
the initiated
alone held the keys,and of the most
of
vulgar superstitions
Egypt.
I'he two
development be
passages above cited requiresome
fore following
them up with their Hindoo
begottenordinances.
Chap. xxi. ordains that priestsshall not assist at mortuary
"

ceremonies, which
It is

are

defiling.

only permitted them to presideat

relations,carefullyabstainingalways from

funerals
what

may

of

near

defile

ihem.
at the death
exceptionto this funeral rule,even
of a princiof the jjcople.
while impure,to touch things
Chap. xxii. forbids priests
holy,
that is while leprous,
affected with certain maladies,or soiled
of the dead, or by toucli of
by the touch, direct or indirect,

There

is

no

/6o

THE

that crawl
things
accordingto the

BIBLE

the

upon
words

INDIA.

IN

of impurethings
earth,and generally

of Leviticus.

this is what

And

they would have us accept as a Divine rt\

elation. The priestis defiled who attends his fellow-creature to
his last home.
The
rect,
priestis defiled by contact, direct or indiwith the dead.
tary
The
priestis impure because an involunsufferer from disease.
The priestis impure from contact
with

crawlinganimals.

and
superstitions,

What

how

should

we

meetingsuch thingsin

on

of Oceanica
What
God

The

constrain
I

been

such

them

good

with

shoulders
some

pity

people

savage

such

to

fallen from

have

utterances

manifested

Supreme Being but

understand

can

the

shrug our
theologyof

of ridiculous

! could

collection
singular

the mouth

himself

to

of
to

men

!
practices
singular

that,to

certain

extent, all this may

have

for this

who, in their

brigandageand

people of Israel,brutified by servitude,and

in
themselves
emancipation,but distinguished
murder ; but to requireus at this time of day
.

to bend
to

the knee

such

to

proclaim,to despairforever

numan

is

tion that it revealed

nothing more

than

It is to be

about

of the

be,

sound

I hesitate

not

preceptorshipof

is,in the

nothing easier than to

nothing,and to prove

continue

institute the Levites

that

would

reason.

Fortunatelythere

to

absurdities

on

traditions

the

the model

of

that Moses
of the

in the Bible

of the Hebrew

five books

attributed

him, that

of vice,or if you preferit,of

impurities
from impure contact.
comes
not

the

dead, nor

nor
creepingthing,

you shall perishbefore the Lord.

This system of impurities
cleansed

"

Peribit

mins.
Brah-

legislator,

very littleis said

the

Touch

did

East, and

Hierophants and

remarked

to

this revela

show

sin.

filement
All de-

diseased person,

coram

Domino.

lavcrii
by ablutions,cum
is a simple code
of sanitaryregulation
suain
carncm
aqua,
adopted by all the peoples of Upper Asia,by all the peoplei
of the East ; and the Jehovah of Moses
is no more
the revcaler,

MOSES

than

Mali jmet,

who

ancient

who

only one
which

leaves

absurd
Et ad

pronounced worse

in fact be

mortuum

ovmem

ct inatre

omnino
ifigrcdittir

tion

And

contaminabitur.

non

near

I
the

Bible,that in all this there is

not

catch, because

of faith ; that these

from
essential

to

the

priestsof

and

the

and
disciples,

texts,
torturing

of

or

not

church.
Father

I also

Carriere

de

and

their system

know

that

now

father

even

of the purity
figurative

is but

new

opinions of

never

opened by the light

and this purityexacted
typical,

but

are

shall

been

not

Levites

ancient

of their

and

customs

the

all the

know

eyes have

my

super patre

comprehend
meaning that I do
figurative

it will be said that I do

quite aware,

am

he

it

person, whatever, be
any dead
wnother,for he shall be defiled."
come

motive, withoul

sue

quoque

himself,is the

God

of their

hint

followingprohibition
may

The

'"'"

even

burningsoil,and

to
legulations

these
not

of

cleanliness

make

to

absurd.

they are

than

it necessary

inhabitants

the indolent

attributes

Moses, who

thos"

religion.

found
legislators

imperativeupon

l6l

SOCIEIY.

placed ablutions (so r.ecessiry in

also

the rule of

under
climates)
But

HF.BRF.W

AND

they may

others,

of translating

longer torture

no

heretics.
It would

God

by
!

no

as

emblem,

an

we
sirs,

cannot

the unskilful workman,

and

when

to

expect

to

establish

"

and

universal

accept

; and

at

spired
in-

been
a

religion

later date.

some

ideas.

first nide

conscience

Away, then, with that Hebrew

never

people,had

For

God

is

not

ing,
retouchrequir'^s
with that mysterious
objectwhich we
life,
he, in sheddingupon us a spark

whose

only know in another

of his Divine Majesty,bestowed

shall

that all the

of
a prediction
figure,

accept your

creatingus,

beheve

to

us

the habits of life of

his intention

it was

Oh

absurd

too

the usages,

customs,

which

be

upon

work

us

belief the

most

lime
sub-

holds fast its recollection.

revelation

which

believe that the sublime and

reason

can

//;^r"r/(f
touching

62

BIBLE

IHE

of Christ needs

such

no

precursors

Manou, the Vedas, and

occasioned
lib. v.

Manou,
*"

for those who

know

(We
and

one

Hindoos

corpse

has been

declared to last tendayl

until the
ceremonies,

bones

collected.

are

practisecremation.)

night added

to three

have touched

for distant

by

the funeral

occasioned

who

on

the dead.

by

defilement

The

"

times.

Ramatsariar, tlie commentator,

occasioned

presideat

that

left as
superstitions

the

as

defilement

The

INDIA.

the initiatedof ancient

popularpabuhim by
defilement

IN

by death
times

the

extends

to all relations.

three

nights,the

are

and
purified,

corpse

near

In

day

one

funct,
relations of the de-

three

days are

sary
neces-

relations.

directors

accomplishesthe funeral ceremonies of his spiritual

is only cleansed after ten nights,he is placedm
rank as
the same

relations

who

"The

who
disciple

have

male

borne

the corpse.

children

caste)who
(of the priestly
is one
night; but if they have received
purification
of three nightsis required.
For

"

child dead

"A

before

the parents undergo

dwidja, if

of

age

his parents to

transportedby
"A

the

two

years

consecrated

die

before

the

tonsure,

the tonsure,

tion
purifica-

tonsure, should

without

ground, without

be

cremation, and

of three days.
purification

the

companion

of his noviciate

die, is

for

unclean

one

tiay.
maternal

"The

in
parified

three

; let them

ner

If

"

if he

bathe

of betrothed

The

days.

Brahmin,

girlsnot yet married,who

paternalrelations

are

in the
purified

die, are

same

man

"

during three days.

learned

defiled for three

;iim are
"If

relations

the

die, all who

Holy Scriptures,

approacJ*

nightsonly.

lasts,
King die,allwho approach him are defiled while the day-light
die during the day ; and while the star-light
lasts if dead during the
a

night."
in substance

Such

w'liO touch

the dead.

of the
from
Extract

"

The

destined

the funeral rules of

are

Let

and
priest,

contact

from

us

now

in what

see
manner

impurityfor

in what
he

those

purity
consists the im-

should

self
purifyhim-

with the dead.

the Veda

Brahmin, who

:
(precepts)

has received the sacred investiture,

and who

to offer sacrifices and

is thereby

should
expound the Holy Scriptures,

abstai"

THE

04
of his

the sole power

give it health

and

by

saith the

as

all mundane

Irom

with

water, which

by
purified

are

Divine

before

the tabernacle.

Fermented

ing
enter-

You

Leviticus, the

"

also said unto

drink

temple.

ye

shall

generationswho

the
alike

and

be

That

ye

And

that

have

may

what

profane,what

is

pure

the sacrificeof

ye

what

Temple.
enness,
"Spirituous liquorsbeget drunk-

"The

is
pure.
im-

mouth

hath

of Moses."

they

Divine

of

precepts

the

Holy Scripturemay not be uttered

ness,
by a mouth
poisonedby drunken-

instruct the

may

given

and

profaneprayer.

"

Lord

piation
ex-

in the

knowledge

and

cepts
pre-

stain
abBrahmins
officiating
from
spirituous
liquors

to offer him

Lord

succeed

holy and what

children of Israel in the

the

of

neglect of duty,

to discern

"

book

pleasuresof love, before

the

you.
"

the

confrontingthe Majesty of Nature's

followed

be

The

Brahmanas) :

"Let

nor

death; this precept

is eternal, and

entering
Veda
tract
(ex-

nacle
Taber-

Testimony, lest

punished with
all the

you

enteringthe

when
the

wine,

Aaron

toxicates,
anything that in-

your children,nor

by

Holy Scriptures,

before

from

shall not

of

the

sovereign

liquorsforbidden

Brahmins

to

Lord

The

is the

study of

the

"

"

and
life,
physical

prayer, "c., "c.

Manou, a Brahmin is purified
by separation

liquorsforbidden

Levites

the

chap. X

preserve his

affections.

Fermented
to

the soul

may

man

ablutions

strengthby

INDIA.

expiatorysacrifices and

And

"

will,that

own

purifier.
of
"The
impurities

iN

BIDLE

laws

them

which

by the

vices,for
a

is the worst

Drimkenness

Divine
"The

it obscures
ray

Brahma's

and

men

devotee,are

love

permitted

preparingthemselves
the

Great

the

to

the

to

is

self.

allowed

forbidden

of

which

reason,

pleasuresof

amongst

when

from

of all

priests

for

templation
con-

Ocvenior

of the Universe.
"

The

Brahmin

may

the altar of sacrificebut

pure,

No

in

not

approach

witli

soul

body uftdcfiled.^'

importancewill,perhaps,be
special

found

in the above

MOSES

AND

HEBREW

i6s

SOCIETV.

that all Oriental religions

have concurred
considering
in proscribing
fermented
potations.
of India stands forth to establish its priority
The
antiquity
in prohibiting
of religious
of
to
prieststhe use
legislation
in forbidding
and especially
the pleasuresof
spirituous
liquors,

passages,

love when

they are about to

last prohibition
has

This

^ich

This

from

the

much

how

Veda, however,

the

idea

gi'andcurof

adopted by the Bible,

questions of morals, except

immorality.

of

extract

been

not

itself with

rarelytroubles

givelessons

to

offer sacrifice.

and

Hebrew

Marriage
facts

of thought,
to
dignity

of

the

"

exclude

that

Brahminical

De-

priests
from

the

Sacred

Scrip-

xxi.

from

priestshall

"The

shall not

who

has

take

vile

shall not

"He

people, for

shall

but

one

ored,
dishon-

mingle
the

am

blood

the

who

spake again

Moses, Speak again

have

race

shall

he

spot upon

offer

not

If

Aaron:

to

familyand

of your

man

imto

of
his

your

body,

sacrifice to

his

God.
"And

he

ministryof
lame,

or

shall
the

have

not

approach

altar, if
the

nose

he

the

is blind

too

small.

:
(precepts)

Brahmin

Brahmin

marry

virgin, without

spot, when

he

plishedthe

time

shall

received

have
his

of

the

acconr-

noviciat'^

sacred

investi

ture.

him

"Let

Lord

from

Extract

"

the

young

seek

not

of

family

any

the Sacred
"

should
her

face

be

steps

studies

nov

Scriptures.
he shall choose,

agreeableand
modest

soft and

pure of

all

musical

and

tlie

o\

unhealthy,

or

that

wife whom

The

widow,

girlof evil manners,

or

Lord

Veda

Let

"

common

him.
sanctify
"The

Vedas.

the

and

his tribe.

that of the

with

race

or

or

person

daughter of

of his

divorced

been

or

widow,

marry

\'irgin.

marry

and
institutions,

marriageof priestsaccording
to

"

OT

inferior in

Scripturesare

priesthood. Leviticus,
chap,

strates
demon-

more

of the Hindoos.

ture

He

once

and

well

made,

bashful,her

smiling, her

kisses; let

her

mouth
voice

be

of
caressinglike mat
datyhoua, her eyes
express

innocence

ii

love.

For

it is tliui

i66

THE

crooked,

or

hand

foot maimed.

or

"If

he

be

or
blear-eyed,

have
a

that

the

large,or

too

or

incurable

an

and

itch

or

of

man

his

hath a spot, shall

who
priest,
approach the consecrated bread or

"Nevertheless
offered

veil
he

ikifUe my
*"ho

not

the

spot, and

sanctuar}',I

am

"

him,

pure
im-

their

tact
con-

and

thus

degradationol

family.
are

person

and

words

whose

woman

is

pure

celestial balm.
shall

"Happy
choice

within

enter

approach

nor

hath

of the

eat

race,

the

thoughts and

in the sanctuary.
shall

he

"But

he may

bring?
of

women

defile

cause

"The

to the Lord.

offer the victim

fc"ir

vulgar

shall he

tribe of Aaron

the

the

rte

shun

shall

"No

witi

house

happiness,and

him

and

hernia.

bread

with

"Let

or

scurvy,

fills her

prosperity.

or

his eye ; if he

on

wife

joy

hump-backed,

sty

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

is

he

be

whose
all

approved by

the

altar, good."

must

not

the

Lord

lib. iii:

Manou,

is ordained

"It

them."
sanctify

shall

chose

that

wife

id.

"

devotee

from

his

ovvn

class.
him

"Let

virgin,of
the

the

her

hair

who

"

woman

or

who

divorced

cannot

nothing can
"It

"

Brahmin

The

widow,

:
(Commentaries)

is not

by

be

marries
her

him

recorded,"
a

from
says

Brahmin

to

his

or

offer

lightdown,

shun

those

whose

the

whose

Holy Scriptures,

parents

are

afilicted

maladies."
defiling

id.

who

woman

husband,

permitted

cleanse

by tradition,that
gillof low class.

teeth small, and

study not
or

Kamatsariar

with

neglect the sacraments,

not
produce male children,

who

with

young

him

do

swan

charminglygraceful.

"Let

families

the

elephant; whose

fine,her

her limbs

of

agreeable name,

an

is covered

body

or

well-formed

gracefulcarriage of
of

or

take

who

is not

is not

who
virgin,

knowTi

for
sacrifice,

he

as

is

virtuous

is unpure,

and

impurities.

the
has

divine
ever,

Manou,
even

"neither

nor
by historj',

by compulsion,married

AND

MOSES

***Let tlie Brahmin

is, therefore, written

"It

extraction

of

or

The

divine

The

Brahmin

from

espouse

says the Veda.

Brahminee,'

that

Brahmin

16?

SOCIETY.

HEBREW

seek

not

may

vvife of

low

servile class."
further

Manou

says

the couch

shares

who

of

Soudra-woman

will be excluded

the celestial abode.

"No

soiled

is prescribedby
purification
by the lipsof a Soudra-woman,

the

law

and

him

for

who

has

whose

inhaled

lipsare
impure

her

b/eat'h."

which

Defects

priestsfrom
(Ramatsariar
Commentaries):

sacrifice.
"

The

"

the

impure, and
He

"

itch,may

"

receive his
while

impure

hf. shall purifyhimself

by

such as leprosy,
diseases,
defiling
elephanthe temple to offer sacrifice,
enter
for he is

not

will not

God

shall continue

three

by

malady

hot shall have

be

of

offering.
and for
affected,

so

ablutions

aspersionsof the water

If his

at
officiating

affected with

Brahmin

or
tlusis,

Brahmin

exchide

in the sacred

forever excluded

slaughteredfor sacrifice,for the divine

B':ahmin

who

live upon

temple,and

from

sacrifice,

of rice,honey, ghee, com,

offerings

arimals

shall

days after,and

ten

of the

purification.

incurable,he shall be

his share of the

tank

Manou

had

of

said, the

food shall be cursed

unconsecrated

and

all his

successive births."

Thus

we

India

of

only

that

see

invalid

Brahmins

and
diseases,

Having copied

that

application and,
,

the
as

books

and

sacrifice and

from

suspended

those

sacred

the

who

the

from

theologians
the

affected

were

temple

with

tagious
con-

only until restored and puj 'fied.

the Bible exaggerates its
principle,

usual, with

of

narrowness

thought

the ridiculous.
approacliing
\Vliat

from

can

his

(rooked

those

temple

to

be

nose

In the

think of this

we

all who

born

with

no
lightof faith,

sacU)

curious

have
a

7iose

Jehovah

of

squintI

or

too

who

large,or

doubt, will

thingswhich

Moses, who

so

be

found

have
too

expels
the misfortune

small, or

the

secref

of

to
profoundlytestify

l68

THE

the

grovellingspirito'

tlioughl and

of

narrowness

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

theii

author.

fonned
It
and

to

while

worth

well

was

the followers

it is

time

high
that

wanting,or

matters

Hindoo

of which

this

it must

social

Egypt,
in

to

us

proceeding with

the

in the

us

fluous
super-

of other

expense

which
fact

Hindoo

the

all

were

through
justifyus
of

of this

our

gramme.
pro-

work, and

it

conclusive, would

so

other

the

emanation

early parts

that

mention,

we

established
to
sufficiently
section
most
interesting

affinities

of

face

in

as

was,

generalperusal of

After

ground

the
to

seems

the

at

theory

antiquity,but

appears

it

comparison*

that

not

but

volume,

the

Judaism

civilizations of

these

from

treat.

Besides, the proof of

is, that

ill-

an

usages,

fail us;

texts

encumber

to

of Moloch

desist

to

and

Hebrew

so

or

of Eg}^pt,
abjure the superstitions

to

exterminate

between

squintingeye.

nose

But

is

on
disability
religious

found

To

be

not

simple rejectionof demonstration,to deny the influence of

societies
for the
all antiquity,
primitive Oriental
upon
blind
those
resemblances
of attributing
to
mere
purpose
chance
But
reverse

The

?
two

from
second
of

the

These
are

fair that
of

us

and

that
to

the

of

influence

India, may

them.

ancient

upon

just as

well

nave

Biblical revelation.

of
questionthe authenticity
Hindoos, or at least to assignthem

the
an

sacred

origin

Moses.

which

only important
should

this work

seeking to

that flow from

is, to

objections

they

adversaries

our

the conclusions

by

Moses

that of

two

to

maintain

attributed

to
posterior

pages

is, to

first

emanated

books

remain

these facts and

peoples
The

ways

be
were

in

have

appearance

examined, and

only

already heard

written

but

although
to

combat

duced,
pro-

it is

only

the

early

them, it

MOSES

remains

to

demonstrate

not

to

they

but

are

disposed of, will

question once

brightenthose
wliich

that

169

SOCIETY.

HEBREW

result of

the

historicanachronism.

and
philosophic
This

AND

traditions of

sublime

much

so

tlie

tlie Hindoo

more

Genesis

anxious
approach, and which we are especially
obscure by discussions that would onlytend to diminisli
we

their interest.

Vni.

CHAPTER

IMPOSSIBILITY

BIBLICAL

OF

INFLUENCE

ON

ANCIENT

THE

WORLD.

Catholic

Some

make

soughtto
of

the initiator of ancient societies.

Moses

Thinkingmen,
be

writers,with intelligible
enthusiasm,have
who

opinion that

we

honor

of discussion ;
mightarise from such
Let
I

can

Roman

can

us

see,

I think,
dipped into antiquity,
will,
might safelydeny this propositionthe
of objection
nevertheless,a semblance
pretension.

have

then, what it is worth.

understand

that the influence of

empire,to wit
by conquest to
understand

"

may impress itselfupon

its laws.

that

little people,
"

instance, by extraordinary
development
"

and
philosophic,
15

moral

great nation

genius,may

become

"

people

the
jugated
sub-

Athenians,for
artistic,
literary,

the
of

the model

of

suc-

I70

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

THE

that grand highway of progress tliat

on
ceeding generations,
Nor
fertilizes an
no
world, and knows
nationality.
intelligent
be expunged
will the ages of Pericles and of Augustus ever
the

from

of the civilized world.

scene

Judea lay claim

Can
Where

similar past ?

far the influence of

great conquests, diffusing

her

are

to

her name?
Where

her

are

monuments,

artistic,
philosophicand

"

?
literary
of

Bom

slavery,
progeny

pariasof Egypt, the Hebrews,

the desert,rejectedon all sides

of the

in
long wandering as outcasts
peoples who Avould neither accept their alliance
by neighboring
nor
permit them a passage through their countries,at last precipitate
like
slaughtering,
themselves,burning,
pillaging,

starving
savages,

of

the Amalekites

Never

path

robberies

which
In

brigands,of vagabond thieves,so

of ruin with blood.

is

even

fact,this God

and

of Peace

his
ferocious,
sufficiently
Had
wrath

unhappy

some

made

againstthe
and

the

mothers

heavens

Hebrews

promptly

It is true

these outrages

accomplished in the name

to-daya sufilicientexcuse

were

for many

the Midianites?

did rascal-rout of

flood their

Who

who

let all the

Love

bath of blood

with

tremble

old

not

Jehovah,
his

found

never

asked

myself

spared,his

denunciations
frightful
his orders ;
useless infants be

fullyexecuted
and

women

wherefore

the

partisansof

of
circumscribed
boundaries
Consideringthe necessarily
horde of 3,cxx),ocx), as impliedby their
peoples,the Hebrew

must, with

their

force
possible

600,000 fg/iting

men,

of eacli of their successive

shippers
wor-

full.
sufficiently

their infants been

and

had

of

let the virgins

only be preserved.
slaughtered,
Is it sufficiently
lascivious enough ?
moral, curiously

often

Who

"c., "c.

their conquests

Such

horde

tribes of Palestine.

the small

^^^lo the Canaanites ?

the Amorites?*

Who

and

upon

have

ten-fold

viciims.

"

revelation

these petty
own

out-numbered

Translvtor.

I have

report,
the

172

BIBLE

THE

IN

INDIA.

say SO, the most

insignificant
page of
simple tragedyof Sophocles or

most

from

Sacountala,a broken

Dahouta, would

sculpture of

to

from

arm

Plato

be

Vyasa, the
Euripides,a scene

of

by Phydias,oi

statue

of

or

much

instructive

more

me.

Do

brutinot, then, plainly

see, that this people of Israel,

we

traditions of its desert wanderings,

the
by servitude,retaining
oppressed by a Levitism

fied

carried into

constantly,
moreover,
neither

had
for great

the

things?

as

it

despotic,

was

nations,
captivity
by neighboring

time

the

nor

Hence, when

but articulate

we

idea

sterile

as

to

speak

we

acquire a

of Hebrew

taste

tion,
civiliza-

empty Avord.

an

Egypt, in Persia,in India,can we

d"itect the influence of Judea ?
She but resembles
those countiies in their most
vulgarsuperstitions.
In what

The

in

resemblances

in

higherclasses
themselves

to

Egypt
study

the

voted
throughout the East, desciences,to the pursuitof

and
of

tliose eternal truths whose

of mankind.

plantedin

the conscience

unity of an all-powerful
God, supreme
protecting
giverof all good,image of power
fice
of goodness; leavingto ignoranceand slavery,
the sacritute
of animals, the offerings
of bread and corn, which consti-

and
and

They

the bulk

of Hebrew

theology.

did but continue

Hebrews
be

germ was
in the
believed

absurd

too

to

derive

It is too

their servile
from

them

evident

that the

and it would
traditions,

the

animus
initiating

of

ancient times.
Did

the

not

at
perfection

driven

OTit

India

The
Its

the

throw
done

was

when

moment

Egypt

Hindoo

societies exist in their

these slaves either fled

or

were

into the desert ?

of the Vedas

splendorwas

Egypt

had

said its last word.

since

long

alreadypalinginto decay.

preparingto

herself into the

arms

shake
of

off the

kings
"

sacerdotal

if she

had

yoke, to
not
already

so.

How
the

of

Egyptian and

coild Judea have

morals, the

possiblybequeathed the customs,

the
at
creeds,which she adopted precisely

MOiEa

when

moment

transformed

these

and

HEDREXV

SOCIETY.

17J
creeds

morals, and

being
by other peopleswho had primitively
could she have possibly
bequeathed

customs,

modified

possessed them?
them

AND

How

were

her precursors ?

to

Were

in the

the Hebrews

not

of
representatives

ancient

world

the very last

purely theocratic

r'egime? Were
they
the last who retained those castes of priests
not
and Levites,
the model
of the hierophantsof Egypt, governed
who, on
the people by mysteries
and superstitions
the most
gross, and
hesitated

not

depose kingswho

to

would

be the slaves of

not

their will ?
Israelites

The

the

were

people

Neighboringnations had
when
origin
; and, accordingly,
knew
of

where

them, by

to procure

the most

never

slaves

scorned

tiquity.
an-

forgottentheir servile
were
required,they

incursion upon

an

of

the lands

Judea.
It needs but attentive

often

repeated,that

of the

found in

the

the Bible is
it

which

customs

perusalto demonstrate, as
an

book.
original
its

enjoinsare

ancient

more

not

have

we

None

They are
Eg)-pt and

own.

civilization of

so

all
the

East.
Will it be said that this book

bovine holocaust,for

introduced animal

into
instance,

the
sacrifice,
It would

the world ?

be to

lie in the face of

to

common

to forgetthat these sacrifices were

as
history,
ordained
India,long before Moses
Egypt, Persia,

them.
The

Asiatic

by ablutions is
system of purification
people,as

tlieirworld, and

Further, the Bible is so

sacred books

Pharaoh,

that

which
it

Moses

an

have

abridgmentof

Thus
"TJie

the

at

seen

constantlycopies passages

themselves,but found entire in those books

Vedas, which

old amongst

their innovation is stillimpossible

manifest
may

as

ancient

court

of

in
inexplicable

of Manou

and

the

it has

forgottento examine.
tliisprohibition.
meet
you constantly
nor
priestshiil not ouch any dead thing,
15*

any

crawling

174

BIBLE

THE

nor
thing,

an)^hingthat

IN

INDIA.

impure, for

declared

has been

he shall

be defiled."
is the

"Where

is forbidden

touch

to

It exists

of
specialcatalogueof impure things,

in the

not

impuritiesof
weai'isome

Bible.

the

all that is

animals,but

pain

on

of defilement
It
of

man,

it is

which

of

and

woman,

flooded, rightand left,in

from
repetitions,

there of

and

speaks here
the

all that he

tain
cer-

certain

confusion

impossibleto

of

extricate

the idea that dictated the law.

the Hindoo

In

sacred

books,

pleteand specialcatalogue of
of the

well

as

such

occasion

objectsthat
as

all conditions

it,udth

the

com

defilement,and

of

of

manner

the idea

explanationsof

numerous

find

the contrary, we

on

purification,
that suggested

ordinances.

Which,

then, must

it the detailed

Is

these

matters

It

be precursor

of the other ?

doctrine,the
is,on

raison

of

d'etre

the contrary, those

India, on

fragmentsof

the

Bible, hurriedly
written,without order and without connection,
which

and

only be explained by revertingto

that afford us the key ?
societies,

ancient
That

can

admits

unityof God,
from

To

more

question.

no

Will it be said that the Bible firstpresented the

the

those

which

had

none

before

been

grand idea
able

to

of

gage
disen-

?
mysteriesand superstition

that,we

that

Moses

he imbibed

from

answer

itive idea which

did

but

the primidisfigure

Egyptian theogony, and that

his Jehovah, wTathful,sanguinary,
and destroyerof nations,far
from being an
improvement, is but a perversion of primitive
belief

Such,

as

shall

we

SovereignMaster
I have

God

much

of Moses

at
morality,

human

soon

of all
more

blood.

not

was

India's

conception of

the

things.

respect for the Greek

; for if he

least he

see,

givessome

does

not

flood

Jupiterthan

examples

not

his altar with

for the

of the purest
streams

of

MOSK.';

Will

said

it be
creation

man's
We

tables,
that

prove

which

in

has

touched.

he

What

can

to

the

from

paradise,

humanity

the

have

of

in

in

such

pityth"

to

preserved

did

but

all

traditiors

the

us

obscure

Arabian

that

ills

the

do

with

Nights'

tale

to

expulsion

the

with

them

failed

never

apple

an

to

of

Hood?

has

of

I75

which

of

ridiculous

everything

which
first

our

since

have

attri
parents
afflicted

that

wisdom

human
it

things
ignorant

does

astonish

peoples

who

is

easily
me

have

that

contented

we

should

retained

their

sorcerers.

enough

subject

he

confessed

faith

presume

But

he

and

be

with

belief

that

SOCIETY.

must

but

the

think

theft

HEBREW

Moses

of

fact

we

butes

It

that
and

shall

AND

which

people

aheady

We

could,
who

have

have,
of

on

Ctedo

find

only

course,

inscribed

encountered

dwelt

perhaps,

upon
our

quia

their

road
"

absurdum.

too

much

supporters

flags,

the

upon

amongst
device

we

176

THE

BIBLE

INOIA.

IN

CHAPTER

AUTHENTICITY

"Prove

if you
sides.

wish

With
others

to

us

the

us

to

HIDOO

THE

admit

SACRED

BOOKS

the Hindoo

of
authenticty

sacred books

system," will

your

this demand

some
as

OF

IX.

in

made

will be

be

said

"

all

on

good faith,with

snare.

explain.

and the
to
explain Moses
European writer undertook
Christ and his mission,with the writings
of the Evango.lBible,.
to Chinese
or
ists,
Japanese,the logical
amongst these people
If

would
us

are

this is very
of all these people and
the authenticity
not

fail to

constrained

reply
"

to

admit

"All

that

have

we

If it concerned
Boudha
spoken of
altogetherdifferent."
would our compatriotdo ?
What
he would
"You

are

thus
infallibly

"It

"The

To

works,

even

heard

for

we

them

Confucius, it would
take but

himself

express

their

never

to

prove

be

example,
single

acquainted,learned Japanese and illustrious

the book
of our
gospels. Learn, then, tliat

not

Chinese, with

nothingis more

or

good, but

easy than

is tlie work

to

ts

prove

authenticity.

of four different authors.

Saint John, wrote

first.

"
"

MOSES

HEBREW'

AND

"Stop, if you please,prove

and

man,

will

then you

return

"Quite right. Saint

Christ

for

"

I bow

If you

name

fisherman

chosen

b}

nothingof him either."

reasoning,magnanimous Chinese.
your sound
In the thirty-first
year of the reignof Augustus,

to

birth had

child,whose

predictedby" r"
thing,"promptly
this Augustus of

been

it is

But

John by Christ,first prove

prove

know

we

Listen,then.
"

was

"

Christ

existence of tliia

firstthe

us

his book."

to

John

177

"

"Another

"

to

SOCIETY.

always the same

Japanese. "Who,
then, is
speak ?
"You
desire it
be it Augustus.

exclaims

the

whom

you

"

This

"

and

of Caesar

successor

this is

"Ah!

"you have
to

too

much," would

the truth of your

us

all these

son

"

perfectmania

prince,adopted

"

for

cry the

Could

names.

book

and

gentlemen of

whom

Chinese,in

its historical
we

now

not

you

turn,
prove

without
existence,

hear

for the

first

time?"

"Alas,
I

!"

no

would

clearlythat

see

should

be

ancient
mania

to

unfortunate

replyour
arrive

the

proof which you demand, I

of the
you a complete history

the

at

obligedto lay before

civilizations of

compatriot,"and

West.

And

farther,with

your

for

stoppingme at each step and at each name, I should

arrive at obscure
inevitably
pointswhich I could not explain,
of heroes,legislators,
and kings,
at the names
for whom
I could
find

precursors."

no

What, then, would

die Chinese

The

faith would

party of

Those

who

good

had

but

spread a

and
say,

snare,

Japanese do
"

"It

would

is true."
turn

to

their auditors,

saying.
"

"This

by

is but

man

mocking

us.

It is falshood

that

speaks

his mouth."
Let

it not,

"It

was

most

remote

then, be expected that I shall say,

the

Richi

Bhrigou,whose

ages of the

East, who

epoch

"

loses itself in the

firstcollected

the scattered

178

THE

honor

the
The
the

"\vhu

Manou,

deluge,""c.,

Or
"

INDIA.

alreadyhad for many ages

After him, Narada, who
throughout India.

of

laws

the

IN

BIBLE

thus

in

held

Uved

before

"c.

Vedas, accordingto

The

been

revealed

Brahmins, were

the

in

age),that is,in the first days of creation.

Crida-youga(first
dates back to
first commentary
these religious
books
on
of Bhrigou," "c.,
holy king Bhagaritha,contemporary

"c
This

would
and

be

would

fall into the

to

which

snare

posed,
just ex-

triumph from certain

fail to elicit cries of

not

I have

camps.
"

and

! ha ! you

Ha

your

whom

mock

holy king,Bhagaritha. Who

invoke

you

authorities ?

as

the trick would

And
And

as

articles,
a

I could

be

Narada,

Bhrigou,your
all these

may

be,

men

"

exposed.

in

replygive,in a couple of journalisthistoryof all ancient civilizations (a work

not

of

course

w'aich would

life of several

requirea

nothing the arguments

thrown

\\'ith your

us

of my

the
adversaries,

the admission

aside,without

to
generations),

that it is

book

not

my

people live in uninquiringignoranceof ancient

of
tliat have
earth by thousands
preceded us upon

reduce

to

would

be

fault if

so

societies

many

years ;

"

without

admittingthat it is not my fault if Greek and Latin are

the Sanscrit ;
to the mother-language,
taughtwithout reverting
if ancient
historyis taughtwitliout revertingto the motherEast.
history that of the extreme
of the authenticity
The generalproofs
tlie proofsmost
striking
of the holy books
of the Hindoos, I have given in the
"

"

"

first part of this work

myself had
my

researches

on

no

; the

other
Hebrew

examinations

object.
and

to

I have

Hindoo

which

also

have

voted
de-

given them,

and
societies,

in

in the

them.
comparisons following
I have

given them, also,accordingto

in which

these books

are

the

written,and

the
Sanscrit,

which

had

guage
lan-

alread)

"8o

THE

BIBLE

IN

INDIA.

X.

CHAPTER

SPIRITUALISM

This

chapter
those

"but
I

have

view,

of

work

distant,

short

generate

may

of

and

thought,

most

obscure

but

re-examined,

line,

from
is

sublimity
word

single reflection

volume.

whose

Moses,

BIBLE.

THE

embracing

"

examined

vainly
this

be

lines

few

discovering
most

will

OF

allusion

so

every

point

lauded,

out
with-

containing

faintest,

the

the

wimortality

debauch

and

to

of

tJu

soul.
In
not

the

midst

cry

to

future

and

this

of

frantic

-refreshes

heaven

life,nothing

streams

Jehovah

of

human

but

the

sacrifices
blood

of

revel

heart,
of

not

oxen,

poured

hopeful

dismal

forth

in

massacre,

gleam

of

superstitions,
the

name

of

AND

MGSES

HEBREW

CHAPTER

XI.

Numbers,
"

And

"

and

Moses

the

"Slay

"

he

the

But

said

children

against

tribunes,

and

the

the

chief

officers

centurions

of

the

returned

who

them,

unto

WHiy

have

ye

saved

the

women

therefore
who

women

enough.

enraged

was

BIBLE.

battle.

And
the

is

xxxi.

chap.

against

army,
from

citation

simple

THE

OF

MORALITY

One

r8l

SOCIETV.

have

all
been
for

reserve

virgins."
1"

the

males

the

amongst

children,

and

the

are

stiD

married.

youselves

all the

young

girls who

PART

THE

HlNDvlO

THIRD.

GENESIS.

GUY,

AND

CHRISTNA.

JEZEUS

CHAPTER

AND

ZEUS

\vriters who

Early
their

and

BRAHMA

BELIEFS.

with

themselves

country, and influenced

themselves
ceremonies

only to

which

that the
extent, from

the exposure

appeared

to

forms
particular

Hindoos

the

not

decadence

them
of

the

guage
lan-

voted
by pre-adoptedideas,deof superstitions,
and of
ing
reflect-

mthout
ridiculous,

worship,apart,

idea,vary accordingto
religious

the

character

I'hey did
whose

occupied

COSMICAL

rehgiousdogmas, ill-instructed,
ignorantof

of the

fion and

I.

RELIGIOUS

"

DEVANA

VIRGIN

THE

"

to

the

certain

imagina-

of the

people.
perceivethat they were
already dated

back

some

in

worn-out

three

or

country
four thou

HINDOO

sand years

by

; that the pure

GENESIS.

placed
primtiveages had been repoeticlegendsand myths, and that it

innumerable

to
tradition,

of

interior of

learned

consult

their secrets, to anive

of the past and
After them

of

our

"

such

astonished

We

had

of

the eyes

to

world,the primitive
languagefrom which ancient
descended.

are

truth with

regard to

the cradle of the white

was

occupiedourselves

but

exhumed

others,who

began to perceivethe

country which

the honor

Strange,Colebrooke, Weber, Schlegel,

as

idioms

modern

and

cords
Brahmins, and force from rea comprehension of the splendor

of the present.
degradation
those indefatigable
inquirers

and
Burnouf, Desgranges,
an

at

temples,to inquire

the

come

age,

83

beliefs of

necessar}' to penetrate the

was

race

this ancienc

; but until then

in

translating
fragmentsof the
numerous
philosophicworks and grand poems which India had
idea that
the primitive
bequeathed us, rather than in identifying
science and to the religious
had givenbirth to philosophic
myths
we

of poetry.
The

Hindoo

pure

dclined

thus

only God,

himself,and who
Manou,
"

Him

religion
recognizesand
by

the Veda

is in all,because

the Veda,
annotating
exists

who

"
"

Him

admits

but

who

exists

one

by

all is in him."
says

whom
by himself,

the

alone
spirit

can

ceive,
per-

is imperceptible
is without
to the organs of sense, who
visible parts, eternal,the soul of all beings,
and whom
none
who

comprehend."

can

The
"

Maha-Barata
is

God

worlds

to

nipresent,
omimmutable, without form or parts, infinite,
the heavens
and
and the
omnipotent ; He made
springforth from infinite void,and launched them

essence,
us

definition :
givesthe following

one,

into boundless

Let

also

is the divine mover,

the efficientand material cause

space

againhear

; He

the

Veda,

that in

the great

nating
origi-

of all."

poeticburst exclaims

it is God; the ocean

that roars
Ganges that flows
that blows
it is Him; the cloud that
it is God; the wind
that flashes
it is Him.
As from all
thunders,the lightning
"The

"

"

"

"

84

THE

BIBLE

eternitythe universe existed

IS

all that exists his

I do

call the

development

ages, and

of the

the firsthe is

It is of him

human

we

mind,

tionally
conven-

addeH

has

in

different situa

two

Zeus, that is,God,

that the

said,in

have

Pouranas

holy books :
Spiritmysterious! force immense
was

your

their commentaries

force,your lifemanifested before the

your

power,

immeasurable

! power

creation ?

period of
Didst

sleeplike

thou

it ?

ordain

Wert

decompositionin thee,or

that

thou

chaos

Wert

in thee all the lives that had

elements
destruction

If thou

wast

strife of

action

didst

ing
destroy-

foi
destruction,

also

wast

of

life,
comprehending

thou

fled the

life,thou

action,and

from

comes

in the bosom

sun
extinguished

an

Was

decomposing matter?
thou

not
vealed.
operating,
yet re-

not

the

on

now

what

In

*'

lapse of

God
theologiansdistinguish

Hindoo

"

to-u:n

so

these definitions.

anythingto
tions

of Brahma,
spirit

in the

image."

think that the

not

INDIA.

IN

existed

not

"w'ithout

thee.
"

to

Hadst

thou

the

cast

moulderingworlds

into

fieryfurnace

caying
purifyand reproduce them from decomposition ; as the deis born
tree
again from its seed which developes its
in the bosom

germ

"Did

of rottenness

float
thy spirit
?

Narayana

upon

since

the waters;

thou

art

called

"

Narayana furnishes another instance of singular

of expressionwith the Bible
further proof to be
affinity

This

of

name

"

added
Let

to
us

all the others

first

of the Hindoo

originof

explain the word,

but

let Manou

have

Naras

that book.

speak (Book

iSt).
"The

waters

productionof

havingbeen

Nara

been

named

(inSanscrit,the

the first s.ene

of Nara's

because

Divine

they were

the

these waters
Spirit),
unquiescence (inSanscrit,

him who

^-

moves

named

in consequence

(Brahma) was

He

Ayand).

185

GENESIS.

HINDOO

Naiayana

the waters."

upon

Bible,Genesis,chapteri.
"

Terra

"

Et

*'

The

erat inanis et

autcm

vacua.

Deiferebaticr
spiritus
super aquas."
and

unformed

eartli was

naked.

of God moved
spirit
upon the a aters."
himself (on the
Nara, the divine Spirit;
Ayana, that moves
Dei, the divine Spirit
super aquas,
; ferebatur
waters); Spiritus
""

And

the

borne

was

the

upon

waters

evident
Is it sufficiently
clear,sufficiently
Bible be

distinctly
caughtin

more

remains

There

but

mode

one

In the second

we

situation Zeus

book

or

the act of imitation ?

it is to

of escape,

but
scrit : nothmg is impossible,

Could

shall

deny the

San-

see.

Brahma,

becomes

that is God

God
the Creator.
revealed,and operating,
speak :
Again,let the Pouranas
"When

passedfrom

Brahma

existed from

nature, which

to create

all time

came,

and

in its essence

came

not

develop it

to

dissolution.

arrest

to

action,he

to

thought,he

its attributes in his immortal

and

inaction

Father, in what form clothest thou thyself,

God, creating
of thy powerfulwill,asof thy grandeur,
tonish
in action? the works
*'

perceptions
; the

our

subsides,the
it passes,

man

thunder

it,nor

see

Must

his

we

resounds

is

the wind
still,

moans

and

and

it."

kno\A

firstcause

deny

thought,because

I don't

and

dies,everywhere do we feel thyhand

commands, but we can neither comprehend

is born

protects and

which

raises itsfurious billows and

ocean

he

if those

Who

cannot

has

ever

dreamt

of

ing
deny-

it ?

see

gentlemen of

Rome

will find all this

orthodox ; for me, I feel myself penetratedwith an

sufficiently
admiration beyond comparison, for those sacred boc"ks which
g've

me

an

idea of God

with which
imperfections
16*

so

grandiose,and

certain

men

have

so

free from

all those

itin othef
surcharged

86

THE

BIBLE

INDIA.

IN

and above all

to hira their own
climes,in attributing
thoughts,
in making the Supreme Being the auxiliary
of their ambition
is subject to the sam"'
matter
belief,
According to Hindoo
laws of existence and decompositionas vegetables
and animals :
after a certain periodof life,
the period of dissolution,
comes
.i.

everything
decays,all returns
is at

end

an

extinct

germ

power,

little by

to fonn,
little,
a

the

and

produce

to

to

and

to

operate,
the

commence

again

same

to

en-

and

repose

regeneration.
which

but is restored

"

fact
Astonishing

and

ideas

whose

only one

are

old

by existence,
grows

vivified

by God.
which proclaims
revelation,

Hindoo

The

fades

gradual formation

the slow and

the

worlds,which

decomposition,followed by

new

same

dies

the

grow,

Intrinsic law of matter,

and

become

Pralaya,or destruction of all that exists ; but

itself by repose,
until the day
which
purifies
to develop it,to give it life,the
again comes

creative

by

of worlds

harmony

air,earth,water, light,
commingle and

"

Brahma

";Ounter

the

it is the

there is
when

chaos

to

in

of

worlds, is of all revelations

complete harmony

with modern

science !
in his intercourse with the

If Moses

traditions,
we

these sublime
them

too

lofty,too

much

must

above

of Egypt
priests
that

suppose

the

The

that

of
intelligence

the slavethem.

to

may

himself

periodof action and re-construction of the worlds

accordingto the Veda, one entire day of Brahma

day correspondsto

thousand
The

of

considered

he

he had to direct,to be communicated

people whom
he
Perhaps,also, as we have alreadyconjectured,
initiated in Egypt.
have been only partially

human

Pralaya,or epoch

These

years

the divine

as

doctrines of

which

we

of

lasts
dissolution,

night is equal

that

"

and

twenty

have

the

to

entire

one

night

number

same

of

day.

holybooks

struction of worlds,have
systems

and

pies,
occu-

years.

Brahma, and

human

four millions three hundred

of

knew

on

the destruction and

given birth

to

neither the time

crowd
nor

of

rccon-

philosophic

the desire here

to

l88

THE

theology. Moiem

have
religions

BIBLE

IN

INDIA.

placed

them

theii

among

mystenes.

CHAPTER

AWAKENING

THE

REVOLT

THEIR
UNDER

We

BRAHMA

OF

THE

have

OF

OR

RAKCHASOS

from

CAST

and

India

INTO

HELL

emanated, by

myths at the base

religious
modem
not without
; and certainly

read this legendof the

AMJELS

DEMONS.

all the

ancient

OR

DEVAS,

ARE

VANQUISHED

that it was

declared

OF

CREATION

THE

NAME

11.

of

all

grations,
emi-

religions,

interest will b'^

Vedas, which has been adopted unalterer^

without
by Christianity,

the
indicating

source

whence

it

waT

drawn.
the

As
to

nightof

create

the Lord

parts, resolved

and
"

with
tlie

to

to

portionof

people

whom

he

them

with

its end

itwith

before

ing
proceed-

plantsand animals,

the heavens

into twelve

beingsproceedingfrom

might confide

some

of His

attributes

his power.

having said : I
inferior spirits
who

will that the heavens

people themselves
shall obey me, and testify
to my
glory,
forth from His thought,and
hastened
to

angels spnmg
themselA

to cover

thingshaving divided

And

arrange

approached

this world, and

of all

Himself, and

Brahma

es

around

His

tlirone."

189

GENESIS.

HINDOO

created in a hierarchic o.'der of powei

were
spirits
ind perfection,
God followed the same
rule in assigning
to each
his dwelling
placed the most perfectamong tlie angelsin
; He
these

As

heavens

the

Himself,and

nearest

the others

in the

heaven;'

distant.

more

But
arose

scaicelyhad He given His order when a violent quarrel

had
been
in heaven, the inferior spirits
who
assigned

habitations in the

Vasouki

having placed
them

to

most

distant heavens, refused

at

their

revolt,they fell upon

head, who

the

had

to

go, and

first excited

better endowed

Devas

to

seize the

heritage
assignedthem.
These
last,having ranged themselves under the banner of
indra,bravelysustained the snock, and the battle was waged
illthe presence of Brahma, who did nothingto stop it.
Vasouki
having been overthrown
by Indra, all his companions,
abandoned
him, declaringthemselves ready to
terrified,
dience,
he, irritatedby their disobefrom
chased them
heaven, and interdicting
equally
left them only hell for a dwelling
earth and the other planets,
them
Rakchasos, that is to say, the
pkce. And he named

submit

to the will of Brahma

; but

cvirsed.
Hence

bom

are

all those

demons, who, under the

name

of

Rakchasos, Nagas, Sarpas,Pisatches,and Assouras, officiate in

poetry, which

Hindoo

the sacrificesand
call in the devas

or

represents them
devotions

angels,as

of
well

disturbing
unceasingly
mortals,who are obligedto
as

as

holy personages,

to

their

succor.

also the

Hence

astonish

to

me

archangelMichael
this legendin India.

myth

find

of the

It did not

long considered unworthy of the Supreme Being this

creation of a sort of demi gods, who, scarce
emerged from
I had

and
to the divine authority,
naught,I'isein opposition
by prideand the
eyes, engage in a conte,"t instigated
to

equal his
Before

which

ambitioxi

power.

understandingIndia

have

under its

sprung

all the

and

its received

myths, from

others,I already knew

that all

THE

J90

BIBLE

IN

INDIA.

had admitted this revolt of the firstcreateJ

mythologies
beingsagainstthe Creator, and that it was thus they accou.-.ter

ancient

fjr

of the

the descent

of
spirit

evil upon

earth.

struggleof the Titans againstJupiter,in

other significance
than
no
Olympus, had certainly
The

birth of

ihe

and

good

evil,and

of

the

influence

the
to

Greek

explain

of these

two

nature.
on
principles
Only, Greek mythology,derived from India,throughAsia,
the Vedas, was
unconscious
but an
of primitivebeliefs and
emanation
subdivided
the
of poetic legends,which
infinitely
in Egypt the
recovered
ancient proem
Christianity
; whereas
"

from

primitivetradition,free

invented
exaggerations

the

by

Oriental

imagination.
India,we
But, ignoring

stillsay that Hebrew

and Christian
in fact,
nothing; what does it signify,
may

revelations revealed
whether

only provoke

it can

the idea

Primitive

them,

the

are

too

witnessingthe existence
often, unhappily,
triumphant over

of

men,

sought also

who

idealized

God

Angels ?
and
tlie principle
or

same.

have

struggleof

words

about

contest

Titans

againstGod,

call the revolters

you

explainit ;

to

the

and

unable

evil amongst

good, would
assignit to God,
the

to

only find its originin a

produced by his goodness,against
could

good, they

the first creature

himself.
this

Be

which
which

it may,

at

we

find the
but

seems

India alone

from

have

to

in

same

been

the

came

Nosks

imaginedas

tion
antique tradi-

the

of

Zoroaster,and

an

explanationof

of good and evil,which divide the world.

principles,
its beand simplifying
lief,
Untrammelled
thought,in purifying
of
must
reject this myth as inconsistent with the dignity
and his sovereignpower.
God, his prescience,
will
The
more
we
rejectimaginationand poetr}',the more
become
idea of the Creator
our
worthy of him.
these

Let

two

us

weakness
there

that

not

seek

the

of human
we

can

originof

nature
no

there

evil elsewhere

than

begins the mystery

longercomprehend

the motives

in

the

; it is

of the

HINDOO

Supreme Being.

instead of

But

denyingthem

fables,or

by

I9I

GENESIS.

an

explainingthem

opposite excess,

let

by

absurd
abstain

us

goodnessof Him who has not

thoughtit expedientto initiate us in his designs.
be weak, let reason
If the light
He has given us
fearlessly
and prophets,have given
follow it ! Demi-gods,revelateurs,
which that lighthad not given,
us
nothing,taughtus nothing,
il is
them anything,
and taught,before them.
And, if we owe
and

confide in the inexhaustible

for the

and
their successors
by themselves
healthydoctrines of free will and conscience.

efforts made

extinguishthe

CHAPTER

rilNDOO

When

TRINITY

"

ITS

ROLE

to

HI.

CREATION

OF

THE

EARTH.

plete,
comwas
period of the "Pralaya" (dissolution)
of Manou, appeared
Brahma, accordingto the expression

the

resplendentin the eclat of his purity^and diffusinghis own

and developed nature,
splendor^dissipated
obscurity,
having
from his
resolved,in his own
thought,to produce all creatures
substance.
:
Bagaveda-Gita

"'WTien

thingswas

the

profound night,duringwhich

the

germ

of

all

itself in the bosom

persed,
of Brahma, disregenerating
immense
tial
an
pervaded infinitespace, md the celeslight
of hit
spiritappeared in all the stiengthand power

THE

I9"

Majesty :

sightof him chaos was changed into a fruitful

to bring forth the worlds, the resplendentstars,

at

womb, about

the waters, the

the

At

plants,animals, and
when

moment

that

Brahma,

man."

became
Zeus, unrevealed, unoperating,

is,the operating and

in him

reveal themselves

peisons

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

creatingGod,

aid in his

to

three

work, without,

his unity.
however, affecting

This
sacred

divine

Trimourti

books, is indivisible in

mystery profound ! which

" "

his soul shall be admitted

(Brahmatma), in
This
Brahma

Sanscrit,the
he

of

Son

Christna,who

divinity.

creative

receives,in

and
principle,

and preserving
protecting
principle,

God, the incarnate word

came

earth,both

upon

humanity,then

save

soul

Brahma, Vischnou, and Siva.

of

represents the

is the

universal

of Father.

name

Vischnou

of the

the

when

only comprehend

unite itself to the

to

the

represents

will

and

indivisible in action

and

essence,
man

the bosom

consists
Trinity

the Brahmins

(Trinity),
say

die,his work

to

in the

pastor and

of

person

prophet,to

accomplished,of

violent,

death.
ignominious

Lastly,Siva or Nara, that is to say, the Divine Spirit is

the principle
that presides at destruction and re-constitution,
"

image of Nature, unitingthe

of

decompositionand

directs that
which
The

of death.

It

is,in

and
fecundity

life_
Spiritthat

word, the

of existence and

movement

of

of

dissolution,

is the law of all beings.

function

Creation
and

eternal

attributes of

Brahma

"

Siva

of this

creates,

transforms,and God

attributes until
all existence

new

Vischnou

the first act

protects

continues

to

or

Vedic

returns

to

of

preserves,

operate in his triple

dissolution of nature, until the

ends, and all

According to
law, which

from

Trinitycommences

day

when

chaos.

matter
revelation,

is

subjectto

one

only

operates alike in all bodies,in all plants,and in aU

tnimals.
Thus

produces

seed is thrown
a

plant,or

into the
tree.

earth,a germ

This

plant,or

is developed,it
tree, grows,

de-

HINDOO

clines,
dies,and

returns

type which

But thisplant,or

earth.

disappeared. It

has

I93

which in its turn

produced seed,

has

to

GENESIS.

is th*

this tree,

reproduces the origins,

with animals,and
same

\^ith all that exists.

In the

same

way,

matter, born

by the
germ fecundated
fixed laws, and ends like the

of

S"i[)reme
Being,developsitselfby
plant,the tree, and the animal, in decomposition.But a germ
in the
fecundates
itselfanew
remains,Avhich regenerates itself,
of the great soul of power
bosom
and, anew, gives
supreme,
birth to the universe.
is lost in Unity as
During this periodthe Trinity
in action.

since unrevealed
WTiat channs

unity,and

me

if non-existent,

belief is that itleads allback'

in this Hindoo

logicalconsequences.
is that great law of matter.
And how sublime in its simplicity
all ploiloWe
I imagine,
explorein vain,all religious,
may,
in conformity
so much
sophicsystems, for ideas so rational,
and the dignity
of God.
with the laws of nature
Let us
examine the work
of this Trinity
under the supreme
now
to

.accepts all the

direction of Brahma.
From

matter, God

Then

from
to

common

the

Supreme Soul, he
animals and man,
plants,

conscience,the
be the

first produced light,

air,earth and

to

the

or
life,

Manas

ahancara,that is
individual mind {le7/101)
with all itsfaculties,
to

specialappanage

Next,

emitted

water.

of

then the

alone.

man

the operationof conscience,

he
distinguish

lished
estab-

ual
just,and the unjust,and gave thoughtto this individwhich was
destined to guidethe reasoning
mind (a ce inoi),
he was
about to produce from his substance.
creatures
After that God created plants,
trees, and animals,and when,
but one
chorus of
was
accordingto the holy books, all nature
and the
love,and of acknowledgment,Brahma formed the man
of the purest of himself,and this done, he rested
out
wouian
the

and

admired

The

himself in his work.

abridgedManou,

mutilated

newly established system, has

17

not

by
the

the Brahmins

to

suit their

and grandeur
of
simplicity

THE

194

the Veda

these

on

God

When

operations ;

he

does

then

"

that

is,life,becomes

does

this soul

universe

the folecho

an

accomplish its
in

spiritplunged

tranquil sleep,animated

principlesof action, forego

when

that

say

profound

dissolve.

with

"And

may

unfaithful,are

the

the

sleeps

the world
his

during

For

"

does

then

repose,

we

awakes,
when

"

however,

matters,

primitivedoctrine

of the

INDIA.

IN

although imperfect and

lowingpassages,
"

BIBLE

their

beings, endowed

functions

sensation,

and

inert.

together

dissolved

in

the

beings sleep tranquillyin

of all

soul

supreme

the most

then

perfect

repose.

retiringinto primitive obscurity,it long

"After
of

organs

it

sense,

accomplishes

its

not

retains

function,and

the

divests

itself of its form.

"

introduces
"

the

\\l-ien,
reunitinganew
itself into

It is thus

alternate

by

Being eternallyrevives
ttires,

moving

and

or

waking

it

does
and

visible form, becomes

repose

dissolves all this

of protector

incarnate,and

that

form.

new

that the

Supreme

assemblage

Vischnou

appears

primitive faith,whenever

to

assume

oi

crea-

motionless."

It is in his character

men

then

matter,

it
elementary principles,

subtle

assumes

earth

upon

they have

to

call
re-

strayed from

it.
This

Hindoo

in divine

incarnation,has

least,above

at

others, this logicalside of conceivingthat God

many

himself

on

earth

render
The

the

belief

whenever

his presence

the weakness

or

the

"juiredit from
Proofs

Opinion.

of

Christian

errors

of humanity

necessary.

Trinity in Unity, rejectedby Moses, became

foundation

manifests

theology,which

aftenvards

incontestabW

ac-

India.

sufficient will, in

their

proper

-ilace,establish

this

1^6
of

BIBLE

IN

with which he animated

life,

the

THE

INDIA.

two

whom

persons

made,

he

like plants
reproduction,
the a/iancara*
that is,conznd animals; and he gave them
science,
rendered
them superiorto all he
and speech,which
had yet created,but inferior to the angels,and to God.
the man
He
by strength,
shape,and majesty,
distinguished
for

female, that is,proper

and

male

"

him

named

and

(inSanscrit,the

Adima

and beauty,and he
gentleness,
what completes life).
named
her Heva
(inSanscrit,
Therefore, in givingAdima a companion, the Lord perfected
the conditions
the lifebestowed
on
him, and in thus establishing
which humanity was
about to be born, he proclaimed in
under
and the woman.
earth and in heaven the equalityof the man
The

received

firstman).

woman

grace,

which has been

principle,
ancient and modern,
by legislations,
Divine

less misunderstood

or

and

which

the deleterious influence of

under

India

doned
onlyaban-

at
priests,

the Brah-

revolution.

minical

Lord

The

eval

more

then gave

Taprobane

Adima

to

of the

to

his wife Heva

ancients,the Island

the

prim

of

Ceylon, for a
its climate,its products,
and its splendid

from
residence,well-fitted,
to be
vegetation,

and

cradle of the huma

the terrestrialparadise,

race.

It is still,
to-day,the loveliest pearlof the Indian

"Go, said he, unite,and

livingimage
to

upon

of all that

have
exists,

and those
throughoutyour life,
in me
shall share my happinessafter the end
instruct your children that they forget
me

worship me

with them

while

in these
"Your

they continue

he forbid Adima

Then

mission

terms

"

your

and

to

call upon

Heva

to

who

created

turned
re-

you

shall have

lo

faith

of all things. Thus

not, for I shall be
my

name."

quit Ceylon, and

tinued
con-

is confined

EnglishOrientalistsrender

of
pretatioB

shall be

earth,for ages and ages after you have

I, Lord

me.

produce beingswho

Seas.

to

this word

peopling this magnificent

by

the much

or egotism."
self-coasciousaess,

less amiable

intei

HINDOO

where
island,
and

I haAO

igf

GENESIS.

for your pleasure

gaihered'ogcthcreverything
; and to implantmy worshipin the hearts

convenience

of those to be born.

rest of

The
.

uninhabitable ; if hereafter the number

let them
known

of
inquire

crease
in-

so

them,

I will mak"*

and
sacrifice,

said,he disa]5peared,

Adima

"

in the midst of

me

yet

as

will."

my

This

children

of your

this habitation insufficientto contain

to render

as

is

the world

then

turned

towards his young wife

stood before him, erect and smiling
in her virgin
candor.
.

who

Claspingher in his arms, he gave her the first kiss of love

in softlymurmuring the name
of Heva.
Adima!
she received the kiss.
as
softly
whisperedthe woman,
silent in the trees.
The birds were
The
Night was come.
Lord was
for the birth of love had precededthe unior
satisfied,
"

"

of the
"

sexes.

Thus

had Brahma

union of the

willed

and

man

immorality,
contrary
Adima

"

no

"

and

stretch forth the hand

but
fruits,

and

to nature

to

his creatures

that the
be but

some

time in

perfecthappiness
quietude; they had but to

trees
pluck from surrounding

and

stoop

an

to his law.

disturb their

and
to

teach

without love would

woman

lived for

Heva

came
suffering

delicious

the

it,to

gather rice

the most

of the

finest

quality.
disquietude
began to creep upon them ;
and of the work of Brahma, the Prince
jealousof their felicity
the Rakchasos, the Spirit
of Evil,inspired
them with disturbing
wander
desires.
Let
said Adima
us
through the island,'
his companion, and see if we may not find some
place even
"

"

of

But

day a

one

vague

to

'

beautiful than

more
"

Heva

followed her

for months,
that

this.'
husband

beside
resting

protectedthem

theyadvanced

plicabkterrors:

the

clear

from

they wandered
under
fountains,

the sun's rays.

for

days and
Banyans
gigantic
But

as

seized with strange fears,inex'Adima,'said shi, 'let us go no farther;it

woman

was

98

THE

that

to me

seems

'

country of which
"And

he

this is

dwelling?

'

tliat fearful unhabitable

not

to us.'

spoke

and

smooth

it a

beyond
with

country, connected

from
rocky pathway arising

and

narrow

island,they beheld

the

of tlie sea, and

arm

narrow

extremityof

the

last at

apparentlyboundless
a

'

as

uol

we

they journeyed on.

"Arrivingat
a

Have

are

not,'said Adima,

Fear

INDIA-

IN

disobeyingthe Lord
place which he assignedus

we

aheady quittedthe
"

BIBLE

and

vast

their island

the

bosom

by

of the

waters.
"

The

wanderers

two

with

covered

was

midst their

"

beautiful

what

fruits such

trees

not

pure

things?
"

must

is better

thousand

produce ! let
than this,
we

colors

'Are

taste

will dwell

not

we

'and

go and

us

do

to

delicious fruits ?

and

water

thera

flitting
what

them,

there.'

nothingthat might
well here ?

Wherefore

seek

Have
other

'

True,' repliedAdima,

itself to

country before

things!'cried Adima,

againstthem.

it be to have

can

of

Heva, trembling,besought Adima

irritatethe Lord
we

; the

stately
trees, birds

if that country

and

amazed

foliage.

"'Behold,

good

stood

our

visited

view

but

will

we

this unknown

back

come

; what

harm

country, that presents

'

"And

followed.
approachingthe rocks, H6va, trembling,
his shoulders, he proceeded
"Then, placinghis wife upon

to

the

cross

separated him

that

space

from

the

object of

his

desires.
"

But

fruit,
birds,all
in

they had

did

sooner

no

an

that

they touch

they had

instant midst

crossed

sunk

remainingabove
which had been
brif'ge,

alone

Those
eastern

rocks

which

point of

India

the

shore, than trees, flo\vcrs,

from

seen

the

terrific clamor

beneath

the

ished
opposite side,van-

; the

rocks

by

which

few

sharp peaks
the surface to indicate the place of the
destroyedby Divine displeasure."
rise in

and

the

waters,

Indian

Ceylon, are

Ocean

between

still known

the

in tlie

GENESIS.

HINDOO

the

country under

of

name

T95
i. "?., Bridge o'

Adima,

Palam

Aclain.
When

of the

the bosom

from

with

crowned

peak, often

hUieish

Peak, and

Adam's

this mountain

delusive

mirage,raised

them

disobedience.

"

to

Adima

Heva

the

modern

the

of

name

geography

let

from

Rakchasos

sands, but

saying, Do
'

of all

the Author

to

tempt

to

naked

the

but

far,was

herself into his arms,

threw

rather pray

us

text.

our

they had seen

by the prince of the

him, and

to

came

pardon

borne

does

name

himself,weeping,upon

threw

despair;

not

this

under

has

vegetationwhich

The

"

was,

point of departurefor

first man's

majestically

foot of this mountain

close this parenthesis,

to continue

us

is

coast

it.

stilldescribe
Let

rises

the

coast.

earliest times

From

passed

of the Indian

clouds,which
The

waters.

accordingto tradition,the
continental

India, have

and

point they discern

lirst

Maldives, the

for China

bound

steamers,

things,to

us.'

"And

she thus

as

spoke

there

came

voice

from

the

clouds,

saying:
"

'

I commanded

whom
I

thou hast

Woman,

thee

happiness. Through

your
the

of
spirit

evil has

children,reduced
corrupt
shall

incarnate

bi ing to all the

to

and

in prayingto
life,

"They

arose

of
your

disobedience

to

and

But

Me

to

the

the

But

by
a

created

for

commands,
earth.

the

Your

fault,will

your

I will send

of

my

no

may

you

I had
to

in Me.

hoped

come
be-

Vischnou, who

woman,

of recompense

and

shall

in another

soften their ills.'

consoled, but

and commentaries

womb

means

labor,to obtain their subsistence

texts

suffer

thy husband,

to

hast

possession of

forgetMe.

hope

thou

thy sake !
delightwhich

labor and

in

love

for

obtained

himself

from

love, and

also

abode

the

to

return

to

him

pardon thee, and

more

only sinned

on

the

ever

from

after

subjectedby painful

the earth."

Vedas.)

(Ramatsariar,

200

THE

How

grand,how
legend!

The

CIELE

and
logical,

him

whom

This

is beautiful and

of her

deference

commanded

Eve, and

afterwards

her

to

to

the

we

love.

become

understand

that

the mother

of

is

what

ancient

we

that for

deemer.
re-

tradition of the

East.

charged

cowardly
legislator

In

ne.xt

our

of this conclusion.
justification
think of this legend?

seductive

cannot

one

our

to

it,in either Hindoo

from

of the age, that the Hebrew

found

are

Hov/ever

We

declare it intentional,
and

inanners

falsified the

But

love

awkward

to

not

chapterwill be

he

accomplice from

that the woman

or design,
forgetfulness
sin ?
with the whole weight of original

hesitate

We

the first

of the Hebrew
esis
Gencomposer
transcribe this version without mutilation ?

not

Moses

thus

had

nor

reward

to

woman

itfrom

Was

by

only an

was

had

the veritable

is it that the

could

doo
Hin-

consoling.

daughtersmay

How

she

the Creator

here

simple,this beautiful

how

despairedof God,

idea of offence,in which

Behold

INDIA.

Christna,will be born of

Redeemer.

Heva, ^or having neither

to

IN

it may

Christian

or

attribute such

alike

must

reason

appear,

reject

religion.

weakness

to

God,

to

as

believe

of our
first parents,
singletransgression
entire unoffendinghumanity to suffering
and

simpleand

could condemn

sin.
This
The

good

tradition

was

needful

of
earlyraces
perceivingtheir

them, preferredto
of their
justification
sin which

we
even

seek

miserable

find in all the

amongst

the ills they had

weakness, their

evil instincts ; instead

and

globe ;

all
feeling

men,
own

invention

the

of
in

port,
sup-

composed

nature

cursingGod

who

had

of

ated
cre-

primitivetransgressionthe

condition.

Hence

beliefs of all the

savage

to

tribes

of

that

original

peoples of
Africa

and

oui

of

Oceanica.

Perhaps,also, it may be out a souvenir of the easy

bappy life of the ancient inhabitants of the globe,at a

and
time

(vhen the

'fESIS.

GE

HINDOO

afforded in abundance,
earth,less chargedwith population,

labor,all thingsnecessary

without

and

WHEREFORE

ORIGINAL

IN

WOMEN

India

OF

when

of
dignity
of

Mr.

when

we

fact which
the

accuse

passions;"
remained

the

for

very

of

reverse

"ubtless,our

"

Trans

in

this

ANP

VEDAS,

respect for women,

East

its Oriental

ing
amount-

suspect in

little to

seem

we

extreme

as

Uxore,"
unlimited

ten-fold greater

'-ATOR.

of

havingdenied
of her

the

ment
instru-

an

voL

p. 294,

polygamous stage

or

in

everythingelse,to

interests of the individual

galizedconcttbinage,for

purer Oriental

THE

as

11)
garded
re-

of the animal
aspect, as a gratification
It
being the fact,as polygamy itself shows.

"^

blind

TIATIVE
INI-

THE

its sensual

in
Christianity,

dumb,

OF

(History of European Morals,

errs

and
to the passions
SL^^TwU
toncubitu^ cum
gravida

deaf and

WOMAN

WOMAN

of

speaking of "Marriage
exclusivelyin

THE

having only made

passiveobedience.*

and

pleasureand
Lecky then

THE

"

entertained

woman,

TO

BIBLE.

of the Vedas

Europe

SIN

THE

worship ;

to

ATTRIBUTE

MOSES

DOES

for subsistence.

V.

CHAPTER

THE

aOI

and

of

its direct

Noprohibitio

Christian

libidinous

marriage a mere
and
hence,
giatification,

proportionof congenitalinfirmities

malformed

conceptionof

making

animal.

make
"'

"

"

than

under

the laws, relations and

the

more

idiots,

moral

sacred functions of

and
sex.

202

Whaivvas

India;

and

was
antiquity,

of

true

which
position
humanity.

ages of
Let it be well

which has
Let

ancient

to

restore

the earhest

but sacerdotal influence

to

woman

these maxims

read

us

but

enjoyed in

taken

at

of subordination

state

yet whollydisappearedfrom

not

regard to

tion
decay that,in changing the primitivecondi-

East, reduced

of the

with

so

understood, that it was

Brahminical

and

not

she had

the social

"voman

INDIA,

efforts of Christ did

subhme

the

IN

i;il3LE

THf.

social system.

our

hazard

from

the

he is the

reason

sacred

of India.

books

is

"Man

strength

is

woman

"

beauty;

that

that moderates
cannot
; the one
governs, but she is the wisdom
exist without the other,and hence the Lord
created them two,
for the

one

purpose.

is

Man

"

not

He

"

Who

"

The

is cursed
of

tears

make

him

to

by

and

woman,

should
virility

is cursed

woman,

call do\vn

woman

does

who

man

as
stigmatized

be

despiseshis

the

mous.
infa-

mother.

by

God.

the fireof heaven

those

on

flow.

them

Evil

"

age of

despiseswoman,

who

"

the

at

marry

who

incompletewithout

who

laughsat

woman's

God
sufferings,

shall

laugh at his prayers.

The

"

songs

should

God

without

"

at

was

; cursed

"A
.

should

gifts,
by

man

Who

all who

allow

Lord

heard, sing the praisesof

to

women

burn

perfume

upon

for flowers,for
fruits,

the

holds,
house-

protectedwith tenderness,and gratified

^\^sh for lengthof days.

be

the prayer

of

be he who

it.
forgets

virtuous

even
filed,
'

of the

women.

Women

It

be

ears

for creation.

and

"

to

he offers sacrifice for

altar,when

with

they wish

in the

sweet

are

priestshall

The

"

women

not, if

men

"

of

woman

by

shall

contact

needs
of

that the Creitor

woman

no

for
purification,

she

pardoned
is

never

impurity.

of his mother
forgetthe sufferings

at

his birth

204

THE

households

In

"

where

INDIA.

BIBLE

IN

the

husband

with his wife

is content

a.nd the wife with her husband, happiness is ensured

We

also read

"WHien

the

in the

relatives,
by
of

property

If

her, she will

the husband
"

When

is

and

happy
fill her

not

possession of

her

carriages,or

into the infernal

not

regions.
in

dressed

husband's

jewels,sue"

ing
becom-

manner

heart with

woman

and

joy ;

joyful,the marriagewill be sterile.

is happy, the familyis in like

not

the

her

woman,

is

woman

subterfuge,take

some

evil-doers shall descend

"

work

same

forever."

if

manner

happy.
"

virtuous

The

should

woman

have

but

husband,

one

wife."
should have but one
man
right-minded
Under
the regime of the Vedas, marriagewas
that

death

even

could

if children

had

exile upon

earth,should

until the

been

of

day

How

live

The

iiponmemories,

the

was

sense

humanity,had

not

yet

the
since,in partitioning

with

made

sacred

in

in

it had

of

so

forget his

of
lost.

duty and

near

die

fancy
in-

baneful

strewingit
and the
origin,

earth and

celestial

accept Judaism, with its train of superstitions,

cannot

immoralities

revelation,and

iosom

the

idea

mourning,

of his first existence.

innocence

Manifestlywe

man

liberty,

and

the rise of those

seen

ambitions, which
ruins,have

to

remainingin

h(mor, of this civilization of earlyages, which,

of

soluble,
indis-

so

one

half,the holy affection which

in its moral

grand

the union.

permitted re-union

death

with its other

Brahma

of

born

either party

restore

not

held

the

as

the

and

atrocities,
as

inspirerof

the

modem

guardianof primitive
intelligence.Judea,

and of Hindoo
Egypt, is a product of Brahminism
decay ; and has but gathered a few of the grand traditions
the mother-country,to mutilate and adapt them to the morals

like Persia

of

of the
The
T/as

and

epoch.
first result of the baneful

the

abasement

respectedand

honored

domination

of

priestsin India,

degradationof the
duringthe Vedic period.

and

moral

woman,

so

HINDOO

The

sacerdotal

in

caste

Brahmins, and took

GENESIS

Egypt

followed

make

to

care

20j

the

of tht
inspiration
that situation.

change in

no

brutalized

If you would

reignover the persons of slaves,over

the history
of these infamous
intelligence,
epochs
of

means

and

wojnan,

will

you

ture, without

for,accordingto the
How

wife and

But

be

to

severed

for

Moses

unknown

that the

author of the

woman

daughter,

"

the

sacred
chaste

society.

that there

more

to

times
primitive

this

change

she

the knot

to

of their dominion

of

state

role,that which

true

joint,there

the

was

establishment

secure

come

her

woman

and
mysterious

foi
well, too, did those corrupt priests,
thirsting

understand

Did

crea

familyby the heart's most

the family with her gentleand
inspiring

moralized

how

power,

the

held

"

ties,and that in
she
virtues,

debased

"

of India understand

mother

man

"

humanity!

books

of

againstthe darkest despotismsj

struggle
line expression
the woman
of the Vedas,

did
perfectly

sacred

made

to

energy

is tlie soul of

have

soon

deitioralize tht

and

:
Degrade
unequalledsimplicity

presents

thingsand

had

before

to restore

fulfilledin

of the East ?

No!
Did he concede

contend?

powerless to

was

another
Ah

giveus

for

reason

the morals

to

"

to
talking

"

us

partisansof Jehovah,
of God

"

and

what

on

which he
epoch,against
Possibly, but then it is only
of the

no

revelation !

more

about

paltryidea

what

curious

you

seek

traditions repose

to

your

beliefs !
What

! here is

older than your own,

the

and
are

civilizationwhich

you

cannot

deny

to

.be

which

on
a level with
places the woman
man,
ciety
givesthem an equal place in the familyand in soand reverses
these principles.You appear
\ decay comes
proudly call yourselves the people of God," wliile you
only the rotten produce of Hindoo
decomposition,incapable
of recovering
the pure doctrines of primitive
ages, or of re"

bibilitating
your

mothers

Avaunt, then, people of Israel,

"

18

of parias,
cease
offspn'ng

2o6

THE

preachingto
of violence

us

and

bloodshed
who

prehendingwoman,
You

how

role you

she

It

alone

him

boast.

We
to

what

she

worth, and

was

Boaz, by the advice of her mother,

of the

will

times,you

reproach against
you

ciselymy

con)-

regeneratedyou !
and touchingpoetry

have

know

one

her.

marry

the usage

was

could

incapable of

were

you

but

reignwas

your

"

; and

herself
prostituted

make

to

origin,

Ruth, it is true, of the candor

have

of whose

divine

of your

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

reply,and

that is pre^

professyourselvesthe

who

gotten
be-

of revelation.

Wherefore

did you

Remember

the

usages? You knew

how
the code
of conquest by pillage,
to
construct
fire,and
for purity,
sword, but you were
propriety,
powerless to legislate
and social morality.
themselves
to
daughtersof Lot prostituting
Abraham
children by his
castingout his own
Thamar
!
herself to her father-in-law !
delivering

their father !

maid-servants
Recollect

that

priest,that

the

furyof

out

his wife for their

drunken

some

It is time

If you

to

are

with you

their

escape

appreciateall thingsat
I accept
not
revelation,

are

revelation

sive and

calm

to

violence,turned

new

your

is immoral
have

law

! I tell you

true

her

to

value

whole

and

admit

and

excuse,

the usages

were

of the time.
I tell you

tha^

believe

us

that God

perfectible
morality? that

and

their

I repudiate you,
revelation,

would

! you

Well

and

Ephraim, who,

and abandoned
gratification,

that these vile abuses

If you

Oh

m"=.i

levite of

violation !

nightof

your

these

change

not

there

created

is

an

progres-

old law

ing,
tolerat-

proscribing,
immorality?
in

reply,that

there is but

law ordained

the

those

ignored it

by God at
peoples who have

cradle

of

one

eternal

humanity,and

have

violated

the

moral
that

all

law

oi

God.
A

circumstance

pranches

of modern

that has

always astonished me is
of that religion
of
Protestantism,

to

see

free

the

judg

HINDOO

lightof
A

called illustrious because

"who would

overthrow

because

himself

latelydevoted
is

He

not

he overthrew

others

many

unemployed

moment

Taith in the

whose

those

denies revelation.

reason

man,

207

their communion

rejectfrom

ment,

GENESIS.

but

Catholic,for he has

for that he

books.
that ardent

not

holy

that would

freedom
is

He

Protestant,for he proscribesindependence and

of

thought.

not

He

was

disdained

who

man

his

is no\y in

has made

fair way

it

The

is,that
may

is

you

preachingin

his

books,

revelation.

Hebrew

; he

cause
rejectsthat,beit is of his

but
eclectic,
of his

free

own

own

thoughts,

other.
to

this last
his

proceeding?

that I

can

dishearten

respect

one

with

name

Guizot, quit your

ministry.All

subjectwho

bestowed.
liberally

so

it suits him

; he

desire to surround
M.

of

but
freethinker,

none

impels him

he

about

set

champion

the

displeaseshim

Come,

We

has

this,because

he will have

Wiat

receive what

to

eclecticism ; he is
and

despised

each and all,

who, after freelydespising

who

himself

believes

He

electors,and

scorned

man,

! this man,

Well

minister who

men,

king.

short,he is a

In

ancient law for the past,

the present.

ministers,a deputy who

contemned

the

is he ?

what

Then

he admits

Jew, for

it for
rejects

and

faith

his Catholicism.

excuse

is not

He

is for the

has
inaptness,
disqualifying

of

preachingin

to

throne,and

pen,

tell you.
both
who

as

final ec/af.
you

behalf

on

believers and
defends

an

have
of

quittedthe

ers,
youthfulthink-

freetliinkers.

idea

or

standard

have
other idea,or other ilag
but never
those who
no
(flag),
than si'/f.
1 have just re-perused this entremet, which, perhaps,ought
not to soil my
ought I to efface it ? No ! my pen may
pages
perchance have met a cry of publicconscience.
"

The

name

presenteditselfamong

many

defenders of Hebrew

2o8

THE

and
revelation,

only one

the

was

BIBLE

IN

INLIA.

that attracted

only one

because

me,

the

the Ego
impressively
suggestedthe individual,
and religious
personifiedsocial,
political,
egotism in

tnat

(Moi),and

so

itself.
Let

us

suppose

all this but

said

that
revelation,

and
parenthesis,

return

to

oui

subject.
I have

to

constructed

not

rehabilitate

to

the traditions of ancient

but continue
The

revelation

not

and

woman,

because

because

rejecting

India, the India of the Vedas, it does

the traditions of Brahminical

of the Vedas

woman

of the Bible is but

woman

it is

is chaste

times.
and

"

sometimes

slave,and

the

respectable,
but

pros

titute.
The

of the

woman

honor

Vedas

of the domestic

The

woman

The

Hindoo

The

Israelite made

procure

It is not

have

but

found
to

necessary

the parts, and

mutilate

which

version

not

in the

than

of

books
at

of

had

Let

the courage

have

us

to

understood

own

corruption

touching figure,
"

to

change

creation,which

the

priests.
duce
epoch, intro-

this lawless

chaste,and devoted, reigningin the hearts of

her children.

sell his

to

impelledMoses

Hindoo

the sacred

and

hesitate

not

elsewhere

seek

could
legislator

beautiful

neighboringterritoriesto

into

good price.

the

he copied in Egypt from

Hebrew

the

wife.

did

he

morals, the motives

of Hebrew

and

concubine.

one

excursions

and
virgins,
he

for man,

hearth.

could

himself

the

companion

of the Bible is but

daughterwhen

The

is

the

free,

woman,

husband

her

and

admit, further,in his defence, that had he

make

it,and

the

attempt,

he would

"

his

people would

have
infallibly

sunk

not

under

generalrevolt.
the

Throughout
master,
to her

and

none

place ;

nor

East,

yet dreamt
had

had

woman

of

Moses,

traditions.
vivingprimitive

become

the

slave

of

her
emancipatingand restoring

more

than

others,an

idea of

re

HINDOO

could

He

legend in

Hindoo
To

made

have

minished

transcribe
circumstances,

all its sublime

simplicity.
sin
of original

it is not

Jehovah announces
idea

redeemer
it is

See what

says

had

despot,and
wrongfull)'

the
been

to

Moses,
our

and

Adam

to

without

not

relyupon

the Messiah

announced

she

'lave di

would

Divinity.
Moses
forgotIndia

only that

no

I confess

the Christian

that

prideof

the

of the

name

in this

the

shocked

understand

woman

fault ; and

the author

man

in the
disfranchised,
But

20g

then, in such

and
prestige

the

made

have

not

GENESIS.

to

; in Genesis

Eve,

astonishment
maintain

after their
that I

see

that the Lord

first parents.

Adam

Genesis, when

is

expelledfrom

dise
Para-

(Jehovah)said.Behold

he

"And

Adam

is become

almost like

(Jehovah does not appear to me quitecertain that he

is the One and onlyGod),knowing good and evil,
he must
now
and
be expelled,
lest he againraise his hand to the tree of life,
live eternally.
eatingof its fruit,
that he
God then turned him out of the garden of delight,
of

one

us

"

might cultivate the earth,whence he was taken.

And having expelled him, he placed cherubim
garden of Paradise,with flamingswords to guard
"

before the
the

tree

of

life."

vainlyexamined

I have

onlyof
and

have

apply to

Redeemer.

had

India

prophets recovered this tradition

bequeathed to all the peoples,and which we

later that the

find in all the sacred books

be

It may

about

of the world.

well,also, to remark,

that

Moses

says
which we
the creation and revolt of the angels,

another
Thus

not
expression,

book,but also of the four others attributed to Moses,

tinctly
found it impossible
to discover
anythingwhich, discould possibly
plainlyor figuratively,
indistinctly,

but

was

which

sentence, each

this

or

It

each

adoptionfrom the
posterior
dres this Hebrew

parts and

18*

word

regardas

traditions of the East.

form
religion

pieces,gathered here

not

and

from
itselflittleby little,
there

from

all ancient

THE

2IO

BIBLE

IN

and placed under

mythologies,
which

will

It results

sacred

books

phetswho

from

India

and

Eg}-pt,than
completed his -work.

afterwards

of

CHAPTER

THE

ACCORDING

DELUGE,

Here
cord
to

we

have

of ancient

but

THE

India, treatise

giveits specialversion

MAHA-BARATA

of Adima

sons

that

clamor

pro-

BRAH

on

or
theology,

of the great

Heva

grew

is

earth became

so

n-

"

all

cording
Ac-

peopled,and
and

numerous

which

that

narrates

that fails

poem,

cataclysm of

event

not

so

wicked

themselves.
They
longer agree among
him with
aiid his promises,and ended by Avearj'ing
of their bloody quarrels.

they could
God

and

AND

de cJioix : there

peoples retain the tradition.

An
abridged Vedic version of the
the
to the Lord's prediction,
the

and

TRADITIONS.

embarras

an

the Levites

VI.

TO

MINICAL

less of the

much

knew

this,that Moses

all

of

of a revelation,
guardianship

examination.

bear

not

the

INDIA-

no

got
forthe

the audacityto launch his

day,King Daytha had even
heaven's thunder, commanding silence,
and
imprecationsagainst
"

One

in default,to
threatening
warriors.

conquer

heaven

at

the head

of \-\"

THE

212

Vaiwasvata
the

fish

IN

INDIA.

the "willof
perceived that he was accomplishing
in expectationof wonderful
events.
was

Lord, and

The

EIRLK

to
transported

him, and

recalled

soon

which

the ocean,

this time

demanded

accomplishedwith

was

be

to

the

sanie

promptness.
It then said

listen,O

"

be

its preserver

to

wise and

submerged,and
of the Lord

wrath

beneficent

man

all that inhabit it shall

shall breathe

the clouds

upon

charge them with the chastisement

and the
forgettheir origin,
race, who
can

longer contain

no

defy their Creator,but

law of God.

their

their offences

throne, and

Brahma's

the

the seas,

Your

pride,and

have

is about

Brahma

and

to

of this corrupt and wicked

to

creatures

globe is about
perish,for behold

the

to

the foot of

make

to

dare

even

reached

fellow-

his

known

power.

Hasten, then, to

"

yourselfwith
*'

each

speciesof

pors

and

"And

you

shall

bark
em-

plant and a couple of

animals, leavingall such as are begotten of va
also

rottenness

from

in which

vessel

family.

all your

will take

You

construct

seeds

of every

for their

"

life does

of
principle

not

anate
em-

the great Soul ?

you

Vaiwasvata

constructed

will wait with confidence."

hastened

instructions,
and, having

these

ship,shut

himself

plantsand

the

with the seeds of

obey

to

up

couple of

with
all

his

familytherein,

animals,as had been

said.
When
strous
at

the

to

the

the rain

to

fall and

with

seas

to

overflow,a

mon

of all the unchained

those in the

ship saw

them

until the work

not.

This

or

of God

the violence

protected

of the

waves

days and months and years,

ments
completed. The eleentirely

lasted for

of destruction

havingcalmed,

elements.

that the hand

them, for the furyof the tempest

harmed

the

and placed itself

horn, came
gigantic
head of the ship,and Vaiwasvata
havingattached a cable
horn, the fish darted forth to conduct and guide the ship

fish,armed

in the midst
And

began

the

was

always guided by
navigators,

their

HINDOO

mysterious

conductor,

GENESIS.

able

were

land

to

summit

the

on

of

the

Himalaya.
is

It

"

Vischnou

leaving

on

them,

humanity

"

has

it is

at

saved
his

that

Brahma

earth

and

prayer
the

said

death,"

from

you

-people

re

now,

go

"

that

the

fish

pardoned

has

accomplish

the

woikofGod."*

According
had

promised

and

obtained
of

might

This

legend,

perceive

According

to

of

progeny,

all

According
left

mud
he

the

back

to

men

transgressions,

Vaivvasvata,

of

that

that

that

the

he
the

nou
Visch-

promise

the

commentary

no

and

er
read-

the

conclusions.

consequent

Vaiwasvata

father,

the

was

his

through

peoples.

new

had

he

others,

to

by

all

some,

lead

to

their

needs

think,

we

Brahma

fulfilled.

thereafter

be

easily

earth

upon

redeem

to

reminding

by

was

preservation

the

God

will

him

send

to

faith

primitive

it

tradition,

to

produce

to

waters,

but

to

tlrrow
in

men

into

pebbles

as

the

numbers

great

as

desired.
On

side

one

and
On

brought

Mr.

it

other

to

is

Miiller

seems

and

adopted

by

ism
Juda-

dogma.
is

in

Greece

recovered

myth,

the

Christian

the
the

it

the

to

tradition

the

poetic

connect

this

of

chants

legend

Deucalion
of

with

and

Pyrrha,

emigrants.

the

name

of

Maatt,

THE

ilS

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

VII.

CHAPTER

THE

LEGEND

Obviouslywe
of

Bcendants
that touch
confine

cannot

ourselves
to

PATRIARCH

THE

here

Vaiwasvata,

upon

resemblance

OF

enter

ADJIGARTA-

upon

of
history

relate all the

nor

Hindoo

de-

the

legends

shall
life after the deluge. We
patriarchal
to that of Adjigarta,
which, from its striking
of the

that of Abraham

Bible,will signally
sup-

obtained
his traditions of
proposition,that Moses
Genesis, patriarchaland others, from the sacred books of
and
of the Vedas
but a rescript
themselves
Egypt, which were

pxjrt our

beliefs
religious
no

India,

"

conclusion

which

from

there

is

judgingthose ancient epochs by

by persistently
aided by a chronology,
absurd fables of the Hebrew
legislator,
science has established the impossibility.
of which modern
but

escape,

the

of

It is

curious,in fact,in examining this chronology,to

die determination
I doubt

the

most

common

lived

Mathusalem

ninety-six
years
lived

of

laws

According to the Bible :

Moses
was
long a contemporary
Levi lived thirty-one
years with
Isaac lived fifty
years with Shem
Shem

attaches himself

Moses

of finding
anythingin
possibihty

the

to
repulsive

with which

common

the world
sense.

of Levi !
Isaac

with Mathusalera

forty-th-ee
years

with Adam:

to

see

Adam.
more

HINDOO

Tims

would

Moses

the world

four

by

GENESIS.

only separatedfrom

be

and
generations,

creation of

the

the

from

deluge,by

two

!
generations
It is to be remarked

from

Adam

who

separatedMoses
chronology,have lived.

men

would, accordingto biblical

four

thousand

two

that the four

hundred

years for each

This audacious

and

thirty-tliree
vears,

life.

pleasantry,which cannot
nevertheless
inspiresthe Jesuitde

reflections
following

become

iltalspersonallymade

to

known

him

Carriere

to

he

and

deaths

the numbering
patriarchs,

and

their

and
families,

each

became

which
Spirit,

the

the

the dates

even

from

of births

of their children

of the different countries

names

established

under

guidanceof

the

the

the chief author

always regard as

must

we

recorded

have

may

Perhaps

and
Israelites,

the

those recollections

which

with

through re-

Moses

his fathers.

by

yet existed amongst

of the

discussed,
seriously

world, and all that is recorded

of the

j.iGenesis, might have

the memories

be

So that the creation

"

six hundred

or

in

Holy
of the

sacred books."
We

must,

however, understand

each

other, my

reverend

father !
knew

Moses

his work

Trinity. I defy you

no

I understand

; it is

are

at

never

the aid

by

loss when

Bible,and there discover what

It

was

bad

nine hundred
to

introduce

nothingin
It must

enough
years

the

common

be
since

of

to

like

make

of these

singleline

for
adjunctions,

needful, that
does

of

you

which

explain the

exist.

not

these

men

live five,six,seven,

Mathusalem, without takingthe trouble

who
Holy Spirit,

ought,if respected,to

hav^

with these gross traditions.

confessed,however,

malgre

science,she

Qgy.

cite

contradictoryof this affirmation. Wherefore, then,

You
the Holy Spirit
for Jehovah ?
do not say, but

substitute

you

to

the

that

our

twenty times

in
still persists

is easilycontented,
history

triumphant refutatio?i"j

adopting this

Hebrew

chrono!

ei6

THE

BIBLE

INDIA.

IN

Hindoo

the delugeoccun'ed at the

chronolog}^,
end of the Tvvapara-Yauga,that is,the third age of the world's
than four thousand
uiore
existence,
era, and
years before our
in the folio"vingage lived Adjigarta,
the grandson of Vaiwas

Accordingto

vata.

foUomng legendrelates

The

diousand

hve hundred

suggestedlo
"

of

this

to

years before Moses,

:
legend of Abraham
Ganga, lived a virtuous

In the country of

the

to

and

who,

no

twc

doubt,

the

Moses

of rivers whose

banks

waters

of the

man

retired

Adjigarta;morning and eveninghe

or

lived

who
patriarch,

are

name

woody glades,
naturally
pure, to
to

offer sacrifice.
"And

the sacrifice was

his mouth

purified
by Divine nourishment, after having softlypronounced the
is an
Aum
he
! which
mysterious word
appeal to God
chanted the consecrated
hymn of the Siivitri:
when

offered,and

"

"

Bhauar

"

Bhauvah

^ther.

(Earth.
"

Lord

of the worlds
from

turn

glance shall
"Come

in the

the

all creatures, receive

of

I may
of

waters

thy voice

hear

the sacred

fire).
Avasathya (consecrated
"My soul longs to breathe the
listen to my

humble

invocation.

"

Bhaur

(Earth.
"

the

Thy

word

my

humble
:

power

tions,
invoca-

Thy single

"

soul.

that

murmuring

and

Heaven.)

contemplationof thy immortal

purifymy

to me,

Shauar

shall be sweeter

of the leaves,
fluttering
flame of the
the sparkling

in the

river,in

air that emanates

of all woilds

Lord

Bhauvah

^ther.

to my

from

Shauar

Soul;

Great

of all creatures.

Heaven.)

soul
thirsty

than the tears

than the voice of the young

sandy desert,sweeter

and

the

mother

of

who

nightto
caresses

her infant.
"Come

whom

to

thou

by

ripen, by

whom

me,

harvests

the heavens, mothers

glitter
"

My
to

soul

the

thirsteth

to

enjoymentof

whom

the

all germs

blooms

earth

thee, and

flowers, by

develop themselves, by

produce children,and
know

into

to escape

celestial bliss,
absorbed

in

sages
from

learn

whom

virtue.

its morta]

thy splenaor.

em

ope
el-

HINDOO

Bhaur

""

GENESIS.

Bhauvah

1"

Shauar

Heaven.)

iEtber.

(Earth.

BI7

(Extractfrom

**

this invocation

After

himself

God, the sage Adjigartaturned

the Sun, and to it,as the most
magnilicent

towards

radiant

ever

and

young

Deign

'

as
spirit,

Sun

'

to accord

my

thy rays

which

I address to thine

descend

may

upon

my

hungry

the earth and

both
rejoiceth

the

resplendentSun, let us consider

""iay brightenand direct our intelligence.
The
priests,
by sacrifices and holy chants
discovers in thee
Sun, for their intelligence
and

Pure

'"

to receive the first kisses of his mistress.

that fertilizethand

orb,

me

that

prayer,

lover hastens

young

upon

hymn

attributes.

excellent

ever

! lustrous

! shine

sea

this

Sun, accept the homage

glorious

and

Veda.)

to

creation of Brahma, addressed

'

Sam-

'

thine excellent

honor

light,that

thee, O

the most

it

resplendent

beautiful

work

of

God.

Hungering for celestialfood, I solicitby my

Sun
O sublime and glorious
gifts,
precious

"

add

humble
!

prayers,

(Extractfrom

"After

day

Rig-Veda.)

these
reciting

the direction of

v/ho
true

the

lutions,
abprayers and making the prescribed
the sage Adjigarta
stilldevoted
the greater part of the
studyof the profound and mysticmeaning of the Veda,

to

under

thy divine

'

should

of God

servant

named

holy person

far from

not

was

Pavaca, (thepurified),

that age (seventy

years)when
retire from the world to lead

the
a

life

of seclusion.

Adjigartahad completed his forty-fifth

year, having

"When

Tliis beautiful

tasio's

**

Inno

hymn might

almost

be

of
supposed the original

Venere."
"

Scendi

"O

bella

"Tu
"

19

Fai

col
propizia

tuo

Venere, madre

colic

splendore,
d'Amore;

lucide,pupille
cLiare,
la terra t'l mare.**
lieta e fertile,

MetaS'

Sl8

THE

passed his days in studyand

sacrifice

when

was

"

'Behold

which
"

him

to

morning;

one

heifej,^vithout

the Lord

ordains for those who

have

structi
study of the Veda, you no more
requiremy inof procuring
for yourselfa
Adjigarta;think now
accomplishon your tomb the funeral ceremonies

the
O

who

prayer, his master,

flowers,saying:

giftwhich

the

completed
son

with

INDIA.

presented

over,

spot, and crowned

IN

BIBLE

may

introduce

should

the abode

to

you

of Brahma.'

stand
Father,'repliedAdjigarta,I hear your words, and under-

'

'

the
desired

necessity
;

but I know

love,it knows

to

not

where

not

heart

its prayer.'

address

to

if my

and

woman,

said Pavaca,
given you life by the understanding,'
1 ^\dllnow
giveyou the life of happinessand love.
all virginsfoi
'"'My daughter Parvady excels amongst
from her birth I have destined her foj
beautyand discretion,
"

'

I have

'

your

wife

her

"

beheld

man
"

On

*'

The

slippedon

Years

tended; their

best

But

thingwas

one

her

husband

child,and seemed

"

Ing

Vain

them

numberless

the

harvests

"

which

their herds

jigarta
Ad-

of
felicity
the

were

largest

rice,of small grainsand of

of

their

though
happiness: Paivady alble
always approached her at the favora-

wanting to
had

with

of

and

of her

God, had

given him

no

sterility.

the sacred

vows

was

law

the

waters

prayers;

"

of the

Ganges

had

she

not

approached,when,
sterility

law, Parvady should

son,

disturb the

the finest.

struck

eighthyear

The

Parvady :

to
pilgrimage

her

her

to

hat

nor

man,

Dwidjas.

nothingto

accordingto

season,

vain

with

the beautiful

always

"

of the

manner

safiron,were
"

upon

graciouscountenance.'
filled with joy.
was
hearingthese words, Adjigarta
secrated
wedding feast took place,and the marriagewas con-

and
and

yet rested

not

her

after the
"

have

eyes

be divorced

subjectof

as

not

continued

"

ceived.
con-

accord

having produced
desolation

to

both.

"When,

one

day,Adjigartatook

young

red

goat, the fin-

THE

2aO

another

INDIA.

IN

for their beauty,but God

of the house

ornaments

"

BIBLE

her no!

gave

son.

all for

above

him

proceed Avith
mountain

where

"After

approached its twelfth

child

the

As

strengthand shape,his
offer

to

the Lord

having,as

goat, without

year, and

spot, and

of

thf

on

prayer.
selected
first occasion,
a
young

red

sacrifice

to

granted his

before

the

on

father resolved

commemorative

had

guished
distin-

was

fleece,from his herd, Adjigarta

his way with his son.

Advancing on their way, through a thick

proceeded on
"

upon

dove

young

pursued by

seipent

having killed
nest

and

"

with her

Avhich had

it with his

and

his

in its

dove

him

head, thanked

delightedto

that his

see

son

was

courageous

good.
reached

Having

"

for the

yhich

they had
said

"Then
have

we

'

to

Return,' said he

it will

serve

us

as

'

saved, to

allowed

have

serpent

to

'

He

address

to

who

knew

fled.

for the

not

what

to

pile,but
to

do, for

not

return

vow.

his son,

'

the

to
me

nest

where

you

; in default of

placed
re-

goat,

victim.'
about

to

obey

your son
immolate
it in

escape

Did

the

orders

of his

heard, as it said

was

to

go in search

father,

of the dove

place of the goat which

it from
you then only save

imitate its evil action ?

agreeableto
"

he

command

Wlierefore

v.'hich he

and

voice of Brahma

the angry

is wood

here

dove, and bringit to

"Viashagana was
"

and

habitation ; and yet he would

any

his
accomplishing

the young

when

victim

its rope

broke

tree

Behold
Adjigarta,

far from

without
"

tied

longera

no

theywere

the

mountain, they set about gathering

sacrificial pile;but while so occupied the goat

W'ood

to

upon

joyous cries.

was
Adjigarta

"

unfledgedand
and
the reptile,

he replacedthe young
staff",

about
mother, circling

the

its nest,

fallen from

Viashaganadarted

forest,they came

Such

sacrifice would

net

yoi.
the
be

me.

destroysthe good

his prayers

to me.

that he has done

is no'

wortlij

HINDOO

"'Behold

the

first fault tliat thou

eiface it thou

To

garta !

GENESIS.

231

hast

shalt immolate

committed, O Adjithe

that I have

son

giventliee,on this pile such is my will.'

"On
hearingthese words Adjigartawas seized with profound
he sat himself do\vn upon
the sands, and tears flowed
anguish,
have

"

abundantly from his eyes.

O Pan-ady,'he exclaimed,
"

'

'

shalt

see

when

thou

alone

return

me

the

to

of

shalt demand

wilt thou

what

say, when

house, and what

what

me

has

can

become

of

thou

answe"

thy

first

born?'
"

himself until the

thus he bemoaned

And

resolve

evening,unable

to

accomplishingthe grievoussacrifice. Nevertheles*^

of disobeying
the Lord, and Viashagana,
not
notwith

on

he dreamt

standinghis

tender

age,

firm,and

was

encouraged

him

to

cute
exe-

the divine commands.

Having gatheredtlie wood

tremblinghand he bound his

and

"

knife of

in the form

of

pile;

'

cut

sat

pile,with

with the

arm

his

throat,when

upon

the head

Vischnou,
of the child.

the victim's bands

and

scatter

is satisfiedof

God

hath

courage

cut

and

the

his
and, raising

son,
to

dove, came

said he,
Adjigarta,'

"*0
the

about

was
sacrifice,

constructed

found

thy obedience,and thy son by his

before him.
Let the days of his life

grace

long,for it is from
conceive by a dixine
be

him

that shall be born

germ

the

virginwho

shall

!'

the
to
"Adjigartaand his son offered long thanksgivings
Lord ; then, the nighthavingcome,
ward
they retraced their homeof these wonderful
things,and full of
way, discoursing
in the goodness of the Lord." *
confidence
phecies.
Pro(Ramatsariar,

)
The

two

hymns

to

Brahma

legend,which confines
the mountain.
on
Adjigarta
the

and

to

itself to
The

the Sun

are

not

recordingthe

reader

prayers

Other

19*

in
of

will,however, approve

Oiientalists appear not

to have perceived eitLer the
of ihis most
the signififfuico
interesting
legaicL
*

found

beautyof

of

BIBLE

THE

"22

extracted

having

our

is

Such

which,

from

them

the

Rig-Veda,

and

sacrifice

of

Adjigarta,

with

profound

the

Sam

this translation.

for

Veda,

INDIA.

IN

on

memoir

antique

the

the

with

acquaintance

first

our

of

it,filled

us

astonishment.
We
the

indebted

are

first
of

Manou,

of

the

idea

fixed

of

have

been
with

in concession
his

to

have

been

to

whom

so

pages

the

precious

to

Hindoo

which

in

cess
suc-

complaisance

from

us

the

who,

of
librar}'

Ramatsariar, which

theologian
support

our

studying Sanscrit, and

produced

of

of

for the

but

this

to

became

this event,

of

mentator,
com-

arrested, after

inextricable

were

prayer,

works

us

we

God

it

impossible,

tons

our

the

pagoda,

the

lation
trans-

Hindoo

Thenceforth

original record

the

Brahmin,

from

recover

religiousbooks
would

it.

his

allusion

found

we

Jones, for

day,

the

father, which

the

by

commanded

to

consult

to

us

Batta, where

son

himself

having

reading, one

In

led

note

Collouca
sacrifice

Orientalist,William

great

its existence.

of

trace

the

to

in the

preparation

of this

volume.
\\^'len

such

it not

would

should
I cannot
that

be

all modern

philosophic
maintain

of

the

legend

thus
to

in the

have

peoples

beliefs

of

resist

myths
if it be

that

quaffed

of

the

the

of the
true

from
how

can

their

aggregate,

conclusion

that

which

structure
sub-

the
East

extreme

and

the

antiquity did

logicalto

same

it be
but

predecessors?

patriarch Adjigarta, manipulated

of Abraham.

with

accord

origin,of

common

religiouslight,then

all the

modifications, the

repeat,

peoples

and

that

had

sought

often

too

in detail

against evidence

be

traditions

ancient

all

proofs

by Moses,

source

say
of

illogicalto
adopt,
This
became

under

legend
the

GENESIS.

HINDOO

VIII.

CHAPTER

INCARNATIONS

""

ANNOUNCING

PROPHECIES

COMING

THE

OF

CHRISTNA.

We

shall

nobody, probably,in announcingthat

enlighten

say, the descent

his creatures, is the base

that
incarnation,

That
upon

is

is

to

known
sufficiently

India, to place

in
priority
"country's
But if the truth

no

other
to

as

which
missionaries

For

came

book

that
vindicating

no

one

to

ridicule these

contests

avatars

and
traditions,

of Brahma

among

lutely
absomen

superstitions.
be

easy

could

for

not

us

be

of all these

to

discover

the

source

of these

to

ions,
opin-

impartial,
emanatingas they did from
forms of worship,who found themselves

in competitiveantagonismin India with beliefs similar

Ihey

incarnation,there has hitherto appeared

her

represent the different

It would

in

religion.

opened

ever

generallyadmitted,if

than
disposition

senseless

ease

Hindoo

generate
re-

belief
religious

seem

that India has had

have

eartli to

upon

of the

at
perfectly

us

this

all who

to

of God

the

to

those

preach.

this puq:)ose

describe ;
we
they adopted the very means
instead of studyingthe religious
of tlie Hindoos
in
principles
their special
books of theology,
where theymighthave found
not wars, but sublime instructions,
they addressed themselves to
to enable them
at theii cast
poetry, fable and heroic traditions,
to mock
and at trinities.
at Brahma, at incarnations,
"

rH3

"24

IN

BIBLE

INDIA.

role in Euiope,
the same
priest
might playprecisf^ly
if rejecting
Gospel morale, and the sublime lessons of Christ,
in studjingour
tie persisted,
only in the
designedly,
religion
sacred dramas
and religious
farces of the Middle
Ages, where

Hindoo

God

the Father

comes

they assignto

throat ; where
and

absurdities
saints,

to

obscene

even

In

upon

introduce

study with

India, and

the

at

at

the

of

God

operationsof

and

and
the

of
apparitions

all the

that Europe assigns

superstitions

earth

upon

made

Redeemer

predictionof

incarnation

belief,there have

the ninth alone is

tion of the

report of

few interested
to

up

to

to

renew

Adam

and

but

been
short

holyindividuals,
after their

Heva

incarnation,that is to say,

an

men.

this time

the firsteightwere

Divinity,
coming to

the

promise of

and study their books,

priests,

interested

of God

avatars

This

in works

religion
ation,
imagin-

Brahmin

Hindoo

According to

"

of poetry,

men.

must

fall;

and

less than elsewhere

much

and smile with them

the

the most

constantlyin

them

actions of

nine

Virgin,to Jesus,to apostles,

and sometimes
sacrilegious,

and demons,
angels,saints,
multiplyto infinity,

which

to

the

studied

be

We

stage to take the devil by the

East, the region of dreams

the

should

the

realiza

Brahma.

is that of

Christna,son

of the

Virgin Dev-

anaguy.
Here

are

of the

some

which
predictions

by Ramatsariar, in

collected

the

his

announce

ing,
com-

Atharva, the Vedangas,

the Vedanta.

and

givebut

We

small number

of these curious

poetry, which, in fact,nearlyall resemble

each

other

in

substance.

and

form

gious
pieces of reli-

(Atharva):
"

He

from
the
sea,

shall

the great
waters
as

bound

an

crowned

cuxne

soul,the

of the

T^oman

of her infant.

the
lights,

pure

of all that hath

essence

Ganges

enceinte

with

shall thrillfrom
who

their

feels in her

fluid

issuing

existence,and
sources

bosom

to

the

tlie first

GENESIS.

HINDOO

and

shall come,

"He

jo)Ous,die

shall

stars

shall be

spk-ndor,the

vision,too small

to

shall

sun

earth shall be too

contain him.

for he is

power,

wisdom, for

in all.

all animated

and

shall come,

ihe worlds

the
givehim light,

to

he is beauty,for he is all and

"He

his

for he is
infinite,

he is the

Por

and

heavens

before

pale

find his rays too feeble

for his boundless
narrow
"

the

225

beings,all the flowers,all

the infants,
the
plants,all the trees, the men, the women,
the lion,the white-plumed
slaves,the proud elephant,the tiger,
in the air,on
all the fish,
all the birds,and all the insects,
swan,
the

the

earth,and it the waters, shall togetherintone the chant

he is the Lord

joy,for
"

the

refugeto
"

the accursed

and

and

shall come,

flyfoi

shall

cease

to

beingsshall

dismayed;

longerfind

in which

retreats

nor

no

be

to

hide

ness
rotten-

selves.
them-

life shall

shall regenerate all bodies

of all beings,

blood

the
revivify

purifyall souls.
shall come,

"He

than

pure

that shall
!

happy

the breasts

the

happy

their blest milk

shall be

day

and shall make

earth

that

honey and ambrosia,more

the lipsof a virgin,
and

love.
cars

men

south, from

the

his power

his first footsteps

!
shall press ! it is by

purified.

to
rising

exultation,for God

his first

that shall hear

shall support

shall be

the blest womb

Happy

that his celestial mouth

to

of

the

happy

that all

north

spot, and

with
transported

words

From

without

him

bear

than

sweet

more

the lamb

all hearts shall be

"

shall

defy death,and the period of

and he
suspended in its sinister operations,

and

shall come,

dissolution shall be

and

Pisatchas

jackalsshall

foul

for their sustenance,

shall

Rackchasos

impure

the

all unclean

ill-omened vultures and

"He

of all that exists.

of the dead.

the bones

"He

and

creatures

deepest hell.

shall come,

He

gnaw

and

shall come,

He

of all

of

the

that day
setting,

shall manifest

his

resound, and shall reconcile

glory,

himself

Ivithhis creatures."
I do but transcribe ;

"

all commentar}' would

but enfeeble the

Z26

THE

of
inspired
breathings
flection should

is

reader

The

and

compare,

'"It is in the bosom

Splendorwill

"

and

The

from

of

the

their

an

and
a

the

ram,

the kid
a

by

the

the

born

of

Vischnou."

he shall be

bom

who

shall terminate

the earth."

reignon

Paulastya:
the earth ;

on

in the

of the

; the waters

the winds

heavens,
shall warn
holy

voices
mysterious

hermits in the forests ; the celestial musicians

goal

Yackchas, the Rackchasos, and the Nagas tremble,

air,and

flowers

be

thoughtof

shall be strange and terrible sounds

joy ;

of

; but

man

universe)shall

"There

with

divine

defiled her."

and

woman

of

choruses

of the

:
ewe

(soul of
Narada

shall have

contact

child of

goat, the

the ray

Extract

ia the

comprehend, to

to

form, and she shall bringforth,be

when
day ".;"proaches

for the

that

woman

the Pourourava

from

Extract

ourselves

as

shall be fecundated

who
virgin,

Let

impure

no

divine Paramatma

"

of

is bom

lamb

buck

able

receive human

for
inga viigin,
Extract

re

judge.
the Vedangas :

to

from

Extract

for that iiiatler,

wiiat

these pages ?

on

well

as

INDIA.

prophet,and

the

follow

IN

BIBLE

seas

shall bound

shall load themselves

at the first cry of the

shall chant

theii

in their

with

the

deep gulfs
perfume ot

divine child all nature

shall

ognize
rec-

its Master."
of Vedanta

Extract

earlypart of the Cali-Youga(the actual age of the

world, which,accordingto the Hindoos, began three thousand
"In

the

five hundred

of the

son

must,

citations of
Redeemer.
sacred
But

years

afford

plan

mere
satisfy

the Cluristian

era)shall

be

born

the

Virgin."
however
confine myself to these few
unwillingly,
prophesiesannouncing the coming of the Hindoo
unable
It is not
because
for the
to give more,

books

the

before

on

this

of this work

curi

5sity.

subjectan

embarrassment

does

permit

not

ne

of choice.

completelyto

"aB

THE

IN

BIBLE

INDLA.

CHAPTER

BIRTH

OF

VIRGIN

THE

GITA,

VEDA

We

have

AND

BRAHMINICAL

at

the first in date among

""

ACCORDING

DEVANAGUY,

arrived

now

IX.

BAO-

THE

TRADITIONS.

this marvellous
all the

TO

Hindoo

incamalion

incarnations
religious

of

our

the first equallyto recall to men

those eternal triiths
globe
conscience,and which are too
impressed by God on human
often obscured by the strifesof despotismand intolerance.
"

shall

We

Hindoo
that of her

ble
simplydescribe,accordingto the most incontestathe life of the VirginDevanaguy, and
authorities,
divine son, reserving
for the present, all comment

comparison.

and

sister of the

The
her

Rajah, mother

accouchement, had

the future destinies of the

by

for

or

tiiatthe
food
be

her

wnh
the

act

God),

said he

designsof
ever

to

God

fore
days be-

splendor,came

to

reveal

ing
appearto

her

expected child.

slialt call the infant

Thou

infant,some

dream, in which Vischnou,

her in all the ic/af of his

to

*'

of the

the

Devanaguy" (inSanscrit,formed
mother, "for it is throughher

should

be

approach her lips

"

accomplished.

Let

no

mal
ani-

rice,honey, and milk should

Above
all,preserve her from union
only sustenance.
man
by marriage he, and all who would have aided in
before its accomplishment,would die."
"

Tlie littlegirl
at her birth received

the

name

cf

Devanaguy

GENESIS.

HINDOO

commanded

had been

as

palace of
be able

her

of

house

brother, who

of her

one

on
\-ill:ige

virtues.

the

Her

was

wicked

of the

Ganges,

brother,to whom

announced

she

her

designs.

Nevertheless,to show

his

he
discontent,

not

mediocre

most

would

escort

scarcelyhave

Towards

only of
consisting

sufficient for

been

evening, scarcely had

march, when

her

that seemed

And

all those who

derstood

that it was

infant

the

by

views
the

Vischnou,
and

escort

and

would

; send

hope

to

holy hermit

side

of low

commenced

than

traction.
ex-

hei

hundred

phants,
ele-

ously
sumptucolumn
of

of

ous
mysteri-

departureun

that the mother

road, armed

his sister

then hav^e said

scarcelyhad

sightof

to

"You

"

make
in your

the

the

so

his

see

and

the

disperse

to

men

palace.

the roads

not

are

safe,

ger
long a journey without danplace,and he will accomplish

of

escort

soldiers whom

infant

cii

he

had

sent,

Lakmy, when, enlightened

by

God, theyjomed themselves

And

vow."

But

of

her

the Lord.

by

sent

bringback

cannot

you

your

departure

became
Rajah of Madura
jealous,and urged
exceedingly
prince of the Rackchasos, who desired to thwart the

of

He

for his

heaven.

ordinary,and

not

small

of the

woman

this marvellous

at

the

to

which
elephants,

two

more

from

come

assisted

protectedby

were

The

to

her

allowed

caparisoned in gold,and conducted

by men
clothed,joined her ; and as nightwas come, a
fire appeared in the air to guide them, to the sound
music

not

murmurs

but

Lakmy

suite,composed of

might

celebrated

river,fearingthe

sacred

the

and

oppose

people,dared

she

man,

Nanda, lord of

named
relatives,

banks

to
pilgrimage

on

that in the
mother, fearing

her

prescriptionof God, conveyed

fulfil the

to

and

229

to

come

the

in

Spirit

it,to protect the mother

and

route.

the

Rajah

'oisevil action

became

The
M

same

furious

on

nightit was

hearingof
made

the failure of

known

to

iiim io

THE

230

that of

dream,

dethrone
He

and

then

assured

BIBLE

would

that later he

should

it would

possiblefor

the fate with which

he

with many

presents

son,

s'iouU

who

projectsin

to

in

heart,

enticinghis

return

effect her

to

his

to

niece

him, and that

death, and

escape

menaced.

was

his

loaded
design,he sent messengers
conveyed to I.akmy,for presentation

be

to

easilysucceed

him

better to conceal

The

his dark

his sister refuse

to his court,

be

be bom

for all his crimes.

conceal

thought to

INDIA.

should

Devanaguy

chastise him

IN

their relation Nanda.

to

journey of Lakmy to the banks of the Ganges was but

all sides the populationcrowded
her
a triumphalmarch
; from
is this
Wliat
saying amongst themselves
queen
passage,
who possesses
such a splendidescort, this must
be the "wife of
The

"

"

the

of

powerful prince

most

they brought her

flowers

to

the

And

earth."
the way,

strew

from

and

all parts

fruits and

rich

presents.
But

what

most

the

crowd

Devanaguy, who, although but

yojng

the serious
what
was

astonished

the

countenance

her and

passed around

few

beauty

days old, had

seemingto

woman,

of the

the admiration

ready
al-

stand
under-

of which

she

object.

During the journey,which

fire,invisible with
ceased

of

the

was

the

sun,

lasted

of
sixtydays, the column
reappeared at night,and never

direct the cortege until its arrival.

to

And,

most

derful
won-

tigers,
panthers,and wild elephants,far from flying,
came
as
usual, with terror at the approach of man,
gently to
their bowlings became
and
the suite of Lakmy;
observe
as
that they might not frighten
tender as the songs of nightingales,
the

"

the infant.
of the arrival of his

Nanda, informed
Vischnou,

from
to

meet

her, followed

perceived Devanaguy

Bayingto

two

came

all those who

by
"

relative,
by

days'march

he saluted
were

her

astonished

by
at

the

the
name

the

ger
messen-

his habitation

from

all his servants, and

moment

he

of motner;

word,

"

she will

HINDOO

be mother

io

us

GENESIS.

23I

of her will be born

all,for

the

that
Spirit

shall

MOTHER

HER

regenerate us."

CHAPTER

INFANCY

OK

DEVANAGUY

first years

house

of

entice

to

occasion

send

to

which
hospitality

the

daughter,which
had

touched

In

led all

better

to

believe

the

that

to

Lakmy

the

of
light

become

surpassingthem all in
than she, althoughscarce

Nanda

for

and

her

the

Lord

good.

virgingrew

young

thank

to

extended

that he had

him, and

the meantime

had

he

the t}Tant

the contrary, he seized

On

presents, and

her

by

the

peace

the least attempt

him.

to

in

glidedon

Devanaguy

her

HER

MADURA.

TO

without

Nanda, and

of Madura
every

of

OF

DEATH

"

RETURN

The

X.

up

discretion and

midst

her

beauty.

six years of age,

knew

panions,
com-

None
how

to

spin flax or wool, and to

diffuse joy and prosperity
throughoutthe family.
lost in the contemplation
Her
happiness was in solitude
conduct

duties of the

the

house,

to

"

of

showered

God, who

afforded

celestial

her

upon

her

all his

presentimentof

and
blessings,

what

should

often

happen

to

her.

One

day

as

she

was

performingher

ablutions

on

the banks

BIBLE

THE

i^2

GangeS; midst

of the

crowd

INDIA.

IN

of other

bird came
gigantic
her
deposited
gently descending,
upon
for the; same

head

come

her,aad

saiUngover

purpose,

had

wno

women

of lolus

crown

flowers.
And
child

all

people

the

destined

Avas

Meanwhile
and

for

the death

before
it

and

her life had

not

to

was

of

necessary

after

Lakmy,

dream

blest abode

her, because

had

her mother

that

of Brahma

short illness,

themselves

open

always been pure and chaste,

nies
perform the usual funeral ceremo-

her tomb.

on

Devanaguy, whose
in

were

in

learned

the gates of the

seen

this

that

great things.

occurred

Devanaguy

imagined

amazed, and

were

mother

person

was

not

weep,

heaven, did

nor

customary, for,as it is

as

earth, but whose

on

mourning for

wear

the execution of his treacherous

with many

to Nanda

Devanaguy

presents,

himself,as her

to

her

taught in the sacred books,

the new
life.

regardeddeath as a birth imto

that had
Having heard of the misfortune
niece,the tyrant of Madura judged the moment
she

thoughts

his

fallen upon

for
propitious

and sent
designs,
prayingrestoration

ambassadors

of the young
since the death
relative,

nearest

of her mother.
Nanda

the child

loved
of
of

was

for he
profoundlygrievedat this proposition,
self
equallywith his own, and could not divest him-

that
forebodings

Devanaguy

at

the court

the request

Yet

gave

darkeningaspect

to

the future

of her uncle.

beingjust,he

left the young

girlfree

to

cept
ac-

rejectit.
Devanaguy, who knew that destinycalled her to Madura,
accompanied the ambassadors sent by her uncle,after invoking
or

all God's
"

to

blessings
upon

Remember,"

said

the house

Nada,

"

she

that

we

should misfortune bringyou

again,
of her protector
The
forebodings

you

Scarcelywas

throwingoff

Devanaguy
the
20*

in the power

mask, had

her

leaving.

was

shall be

back

to

had

not

happy

to

us."

deceived

of her uncle, when

confined

in

see

him,

he,

tower, of which

GENESIS.

T-rXDOO

the door

he commanded
of
bility
But

to

be walled

233

up, to

precludethe possi

escape.

virginwas

the

received from

heaven

distressed.

not

the

knowledge

had

She

alreadylong

should

of what

happen

her,and, full of confidence, she waited the moment

God
for accomplishinghis celestial designs.
'Yet

tjTant of Madura

the

of all his

one,

his

desolated

famine

not

was

children,and

he

fixed

undisturbed
had

Death

states.

: a

him,

robbed

lived in

to

b}

frightful
by

one

fear of the

constant

dismal

catastrophes.
Pursued
by the idea,suggestedby his dream of long before,
stead
born of Devanaguy, inbethroned
that he was
to be
by a son
crimes he had committed, and
of repentingof the many
for which
he had been
already so severelychastised by the
most

to reUeve

Lord, lie resolved

himself of all

apprehensionon

this

he had
subjectby destroyinghis niece. For this purpose
of the most
dangerous plants mixed with
poison extract
and food
the water
passed each day to Devanaguy in her
fact
prison; but he was filled with alarm at the extraordinary
"

"

only did the young girlnot die,but

have perceivedthe poison.
not

"

to

He

left her without

then

she

seemed

even

food, thinkingthat starvation might

powerful than poison.

vain ; Devanaguy continued
to enjoy the
It was
it was
health,and, despitethe most active vigilance,

be

more

if she received

know

to

the

of
spirit

God

alone

Seeingthis,the
her

some

perfect
impossible

most

mysterioushand,

or

if

sufiiced for her support.

tyrant of Madura

death, and

to

food from

was

content

strong

the idea of putting

abandoned
to

surround

guard, threateninghis soldiers

|)unishmentif Devanaguy should elude
a

not

with

her
the

their

prison\nth
most

fearful

vigilanceand

escape.
Bui

it

fulfilment

"The

was

in vain ; all these

of the

divine

joinhimself

to

precautionscould

not

prophecy of Poulastya:
of Vischnou
spirit
passed through the

his well beloved."

obstruct

walls tc

TIIE

t34

BIBLE

INDIA.

CHAPTER

'niE

PROMISE

OF

GOD

PERSECUTION
OF

ALL

AS

CHRISTNA.

Vischnou

BORN

overshadowed

ON

made

to

THE

MASSACRE

SAME

Brahminical

in all

her

fell in

{\s the

her

CHRISTNj*

"

NIGHT

tradition).

ears

denly
sud-

were

ated,
illumin-

the eclat

of his

profound ecstacy, and

Sanscrit expression) by the
a

itselfj//^ conceived.
her

of continued

time

divine infant afforded his mother

; the

jovments,which

MADURA

her
praying,

that desired to incarnate

of God
spirit
The
period of her gestationwas to

enchantment

OF

music, her prisonbecame

appeared

Majesty. Devanaguy

having been

OF

Virginwas

with celestial

charmed

divine

TYRANT

Bagaveda-Gita and

the

BIRTH

"

CHILDREN

the

to

evening,as
and

THE

MALE

(According

One

ACCOMPLISHED

OF

THE

XI.

infinite en-

and
forgetearth,her captivity,

even

her existence.
The
born

nightof Devanaguy* s accouchement,

uttered

through
with

her

its first wail, a

the walls
son,

by

of the
a

belongingto Nanda,
Madura.

violent

prison,and
from

messenger

situated

on

wind
the

and

as

opened

the confines

to

newly-

passage

conducted

Virginwas

Vischnou,

the

of the

sheep-fold
of
territory

9^6

THE

of the

the banks

to

more

once

shall

We

EIRLE

INDTA.

IN

(Janges,and

tlius

behold

ihe abodes

of her

here

transcribe

the

not

Christna, they

of

the first years

with

whether

poets who

have
things,

men

events, that

in the midst
had

those who

to

of

interest

an

victorious from

these

tests,
con-

miracles,and with

with

would

volumes

all these

on
imaginations

their

them

dozen

passed

were

exercised

surrounded

so

details that refer

with demons.

or

have

Devanaguy enablecl
infancy.

many

dangers without number, devised by

out
in his death, but he always came
The

was

derful
won-

suffice

scarce

to

count
re-

them.
there is

Yet

in

over

Jesuitsin

silence,because

stilldo

and

so

which

fact of the God-Man

one

day

every

India

maintain

to

have

cannot

we

made

Christna

that

pass

of

use

it,

solute
of dis-

was

examples of impurity.
the banks of the Ganges, Christna perceived
themselves
who had completelystripped
girls

morals, and gave many

day, walkingon
some
fifty
young

One

for their

ablutions,and

thinkingwhether

laughingand romping without

they might be seen by passers-by.
were

not

with

child remonstrated

The

them, in this condition,

of

some

laugh and to throw

Seeing which, Christna, by a gesture, sent
decent

scattered

on

tliey
began

to

sands,

the

them

making it impossiblefor
of the

out

made

their

river

to

after

make

to

own

removed

on
wear

to

dress

ail their

tamarind

themselves

clothes,

tree, thus
on

coming

fault,the young
condition
a

of

veil when

imploredpardon,
girls
the promise which
they

they

to

came

the sacred

their ablutions.

Jesuitshave

The

their

accorded

was
ever

of

top

in his face.

water

water.

Perceivingthen
which

the

to

it was

that

tellingthem

them,

not

or

seized upon

this

it after
legend,recounting

fashion,and making it appear

the clothes of the young

that Christna

to
girls,

see

them

had

more

but

at

his

leisure in their nudity.

This
not

version

us.
surprise

is consistent
Not

with

their programme,

and

need

permittedto acknowledgeChristna,they

HINDOO

him mth

combat

they are

at

been

ever

Have

to

not

of modem

seeingwhat

them

seen

nobody

clever
else has

what

wonder

if the

spirit
presidesin.

same

missions ?

BEGINS

ARDJOUNA,

how

attemptingto garblecertain chapters

CHAPTER

CHRISTKA

know

we

find.

history?

tlieirOriental

at

SJ)
and

weapons,

texts, and
altering
able

we

their usual

GENESIS.

TO

MOST

HIS

CF

SARAWASTA.

At

the age of

PREACH

scarce

his relative Nanda,

to

XII.

NEW

THE

ZEALOUS

LAW

HIS

"

DISCIPI

sixteen,Cliristna quittedhis mother

India in

"

"

CONVERSION

COADJUTOR

perambulate

ES

preachingthe

and
new

doctrine.
In

this second

hirn

as

the

people, but

in

constant

period of

his

Hindoo
life,

strife againstthe perverse

also of

princes;

he

surmounts

poetry represents

only of
extraordinary

not
spirit,

tlangers
againstwhole armies sent to
; contends, single-handed,
his way
with miracles, resuscitating
the
destroy him ; strews
the deaf and the blind,everydead, healinglepers,restoring
where
the
weak
the
the
supporting
against
opi^ressed
strong,
againstthe powerful,and loudly proclaimingto all,that he is
the second person of the trinity,
tltat is,Vischnou, come
upon

238
earlh

redeem

to

of evil,and to restore
spirit
And
the populationscrowded

the redeemer

promised

to

put aside the miraculous

We

which, like all the

"
This is in
God, saying,

as

fathersI"

our

of the lifeof this reformer,

events

for that

acts

eager for his sublime

his way,

him

and they adored

instruction,
deed

INDIA.

to ejectthf
original
transgression,
the reignof good.

from

man

IN

BIBLE

THE

prophets,who, at different epochs, have

to us
to belong only to legend.
seem
I believe

no

in

more

I believe in other incarnations

than

Supreme Being who

nou

Christna,God

Moses, Christ

or

philosopherand moralist,I
so

that,later,the founder

pure,

ceived

could

that he

After

his

of

earth,

miracles,
of the

Zoroaster, Ma-

or

I believe in

Christna,

lessons,so sublime

and

in Europe per
Christianity

do better than imitate them.

not

years of

some

other messengers

But

admire

on

of

worker

Boudha

Mahomet.

or

appeared

and

or

call themselves

dififereni

assignedto

matter

the
preaching,

Hindoo

refoiTner felt the

and courageous
necessityof surroundinghimself \s\\h earnest
he mightdelegate
to whom
the duty of continuinghis
disciples

work, after havinginitiated them

Amongst
him
young

man

leftall

to

those who
in his
of

had

for

in his doctrines.
time

lowed
folassiduously
he distinguished
peregrinations,
Ardjouni, a
some

of the chief families of

one

attach himself

to

most

Madura, and who

him ; he confided

to

him

his

had

projxtsv

and

life to his service and to th,to devote

Ardjouna swore
propagationof his ideas.
Graduallythey were joinedby a small troop of the faithful,
in their fatigues,
their labors and their f?.ith.
who participated
They led a lifeof hardship,and we understand that the equalizing
precepts

Christna, his example, and

or

lifeliad wakened

the

people from

vitality
began
partisansof

the past,

tyrant of Madura,
persecute
tremble

their

to

circulate

as

well

ceased

not

as

to

lethargy;

spavk of

his
viving
re-

throughout India, .'^nd the

the .rajahs,
urged o^' by the
for then* and to
lay snares

them, for they felt their

before the

purityof

the

popular wave.
rising

power

and

their thrones

HINDOO

with them

nothingijucceeded

But

potent than

more

and
designs,

them

GENESIS*.

239

it

determined

all,had

if a power,
frustrate theii

appeared as
to

protect the proscripts.

to

Soir.etimes whole
arrest

tlu-ew
One
and

and chased the soldiers sent to

rose
villages
Christna and his disciples;
sometimes
the soldiers themselves,
and persuaded by the divine word of the prophet,
moved
and besought his pardon.
away their arms
a chief of the troops sent
day, even
againstthe reformer,

who

had

withstand

to

sworn

fear

both

and

persuasion,

having surprisedChristna in an isolated place,was so struck

with his majesticbearingthat he strippedhimself of his symbols
of

command,

the faithful.

and

entreated

His

prayer

faith had

new

His

name

Often

no

more

to

be admitted

into the

granted and from that

ardent disciple
and defender
was

of

number

the

moment

than

self
him-

Sarawasta.

was

Christna

the midst

disappearedfrom

of his

disciples,

dilhcult
leavingthem alone, as if to prove them in the most
their
suddenly re-appearing
moments,
amongst them to restore
sinkingcourage and to withdraw them from danger.
munity,
During these absences Ardjouna governed the httle comand
all submitted

But,
less

as

we

took the master's

without
have

place at
to

murmer

us

than

prayer, and

his commands.

alreadysaid,the

importantto

sacrifice and

actions of Christna's life are

knowledge

of his precepts and

hij

morale.
He

came

destroywhat

found

not

to

He

had

once

for all declared

his

objectwas but to purifythe

the impurities,
which from many

had

graduallyintroduced,and

hatreds
At

and

all the

his death

for
religion,

new

old from

God

could

good, and revealed ;

all the turpitudes,
all

ages the lierverseness of

he

men

sucn^oded, despiteall the

antagonismof champions

the entire of India had

his principles
vivid, young,
; a faith,

not

of the past.

adopted his
and

fertile in

docti ine and

results,had

and the vanpermeated all classes,their morale was

quished
purified,
spiritof evil had been obligedto take refuge \i\ his

BIBLE

THE

240
abode

Aiombre

regeneration
promisedby

the

"

INDIA.

IN

Brahma

was

accompHshcd.
The
teaching of Christna was familiar and simplewhen
addressed to the people,elevated and philosophicin communion
with his disciples
view that we are'
; it is in this double
9-bou't to consider

him.

CHAPTER

CHRISTNA's

to

lessons

FISHERMAN

Parable
Hindoo

XIII.

people

the

THOUGHTS

"

plays a large part

OF

PARABLE

AND

THK

MAXIMS.

in the familiar instruction of the

this symbolicform when

preferred
himself to the people,who could less readilycom
addressing
prehend his philosophiclessons on the immortalityof the soul
and

of future life.

This

manner

idea from

moral

fable and

pa

to
appealing

"

the

and evokingthe
intelligence

the action of certain persons

allegoryare

Nothing,we
C(

of

is conformable

purpose,

more

Cliristna

redeemer.

to

the

Oriental

produce of

introduced

habits,and

we

for the

know

that

Asiatic literature.

think,will render the popular labors of Christna

than
nprehensible

citation of

one

that of the fisherman,which

-vbles,

of his

most

ted
celebra-

is held in such

high

HINDOO

respect and honor

the memories
Christna

in

At

with

to

overlooked

"

the banks

sacred

and

tender

distant

to

inhabitants

his way

strew

age.

expedition,and

disciples.The

of the

Ganges,

divides itself into

course

of the

fisherman

the most

entering
re-

Hocked

with branches.

of the Fisherman.

Parable

On

him

meet

carefully
impressedupon

leaguesfrom the citythe people halted,demanding

that
a littleeminence
holy word ; Christna mounted
the crowd, and thus began :

some

The

his

24I

be

to

returningfrom

was

hear the

to

India,as

of children from

Madura
in crowds

GENESIS.

above

the

hundred

its

place where
lived

arms,

pooi

of

Dourga.
he proceeded to the river to make
dawn
At
his ablutions
after the manner
prescribedby the holy books ; and holdingin
his hand a freshly
cut
sprigof the divine herb,cotcsa, he piously
repeatedthe prayer of the Savitri,
preceded by the three mysterious
name

"

words

Heaven)
to
"

The

Bhour,

six

work

supply the wants

had given him by

Lord

four

pious and good

"

His

eldest

his boat and

make

the
the
"

his

wife,whom

who
daughters,

of his

he had

married

virginbeauty,

joy,for they

were

like himself
son

was

alreadyable

and

the

confined to thn
daughters,
long and silkyhairs of the goat
for their repast, the

pounded

continued

honesty and

assisthim in conductiuji;

to

nets, and his

house, wove

vestments,

spiteof

his

were

and the saffron,

for
coriander,
juiceof red pepper, should serve
In

largefamily.

in all the flower of her

years,

castinghis

interior of the
to

of his

to

and

sons

(Earth, ^ther,
he went
purified,
ously
courage-

then, soul and body thus

the age of twelve

at

Shouar

Bhouvah,

paste, which, mixed

to

againstDourga, and

the
virtues,

pursued

with

dress the fish.

labor, the familywas

his

gingei,

him

other
with

poor;

for,jealous

fishers had
their

bined
com-

daily ill-

treatment.
"

Now

boat up

they deranged his

into the

sands, that he

in restoring it to the

water.

duringthe night drev/ his

might lose tiie whole next day

nets,

or

BIBLE

THE

842

Again,when

"

his

they
fishing,
them

throw

might buy
"

that

his way

on

would

INDIA

IN

cityto

the

to

his fish ft-om him

snatch

soiled,nobody

thus

dust, that,seeing them

into the

produce of
by force, or

sell the

them.
in sadness

returned

Very often Dourga

ere
long he would

be unable

to

his

the

provide for

to

hut, thinking

family. Nevertheless, he failed not to present the

received all the
he caught to saintlyhemiits,and
who came
knocking at his door, sheltered them under
shared

and

and

subject of derision
directed

all the

"^d

Dourga,

find

miserable
his

roof,
stant
con-

was

enemies, who
him, sayingto them, Go,
'

to

from

only fishes

who
prince,,
disguised

finest fish

for his

mockery

beggars they met

he is

possessed,which

littlehe

the

with them

of his

wants

caprice."
"

they ridicule

thus did

And

miserywhich

the

was

their

own

work.
times

the

"But

became

for all the

hard

very

world:

the whole
famine
desolated
country, rice and smaller
frightful
grainshaving completely failed at the last harvest. The
enemies
fishers,

of

Dourga,

himself, and, in their

were

misfortune,no

common

miserable

as

soon

very

as

longer thought

tormentinghim.
the Ganges
from
returned
One
evening,as the poor man
without
having caught the smallest fish,remembering bitterly
in his hut, he found a little child at the
that nothing remained
foot of a tamarind
callingfor its mother.
tree, weeping,and
of

"

child

"The

"

arms,

and

going

was

it came,

who

and

had

thus

it.

abandoned

she

it whence

of

demanded

Dourga

Moved
and

replied that
to

with

seek

it

somethingto

pity,Dourga

conveyed

kind, said hs

it

had

to

well

there,saying

eat.

the

took

poor

; his

his house

done

left it

had

its mother

not

to

little

wife,who
leave

it

one

in his

was

good

to

die

of

hunger.
*'

But

there

was

no

more

rice,nor

smoked

fish ; the

cuny

THE

244

BIBLE

and Dourga,
generosity,
the remains

INDIA.

IN

the spot, distributed

on

of his miraculous

aniongr! them

capture.

During the whole time of the famine, Dourga cortinueJ

not
only to feed his old enemies, but also to receive all the
him.
He
his
about
had but to cast
unhappy who crowded
into the Ganges, to obtain immediately all the fish he
nets
"

desire.

could

famine

"The
him

; and

to build

that

he

became

temple

it and

Brahma

it is

"And

rich,that he

so

of such

all parts of the

to

protect

able

was

alone

magnificence;

sumptuous

in crowds

globe came

thus, inhabitants

weakness, aid each

protect

continued

of God

to

visil

offer their devotions.

to

enei7iy ifihis

offences
of an
Let

last

at

to

pilgrimsfrom

hand

the

over,

at

now

us

maxims

legacyof

other, and

remember

never

tJu

misfortiaie."

hazard, gather
with

should

that you

Madura,

of

it

which

few

from

his

was

the

abundant

pleasure to sprinkle

his familiar instructions.

"

who

Men

have

self-command,

no

capable of

not

are

ing
fulfill-

their duties."
and

"Pleasure

The

should

renounced

be

when

not

proved
ap-

conscience."

by
"

riches

wrongs

we

inflict upon

neighbors,follow

our

us

like

shadow."

our
"

are

knowledge
when
he
illusorj',
The

of the

man

knows

is but
not

of his fellow-creature

Love

"

of

in all his

justman

vanity,all
ascribe

to

should

works,

be
such

for

them

his best
to

actions

God."

the

rulingprinciple
in the
weigh most

celestial balance."
He

"

he has need
As

"

by
* '

his

is humble

who

the

in heart

and

in

is loved
spirit,

of God

of

nothingmore."
body is strengthenedby muscles, the

soul is fortified

virtue."

There

is

no

neighbor."

greater sinner than he who

covets

the wife of

believed
"

attention

call

We

be of

to

with

its bosom

rend

many

only yesterday:
the

foot,and

trample it under

who

the earth supports those

As

which

followingmaxim,

the

to

245

GENESIS.

HINDOO

should

plough,so

good for

return

we

evil."
"

is useless, fear

societyof

the

frequent

If you

amidst

dwell

to

not

the

good,

example

your

wicked

the

their

for

conversion."
"

If

inhabitant

one

he should
it should

expelled;

be

we

services

which

do

render

we

district,

whole

village

whole

loss of the

written
the

earth

on

the
spirits,

perverse

But

them.

trace

we

as

to

characters

sake, for it is not

for its own

done

ruin

villagecan

resembles

them

effaced

are

of

be abandoned."

Whatever

good

if a

ruin

the

cause

but if a districtoccasioned

destroyed;

be

soul,it should
*'

can

water,

upon

should

we

b"?

should

good

expect

reward."
"

When

die

we

and

our

friends

and

our

vices,our

the other
"The

"

*'

The

conduce

to

is like the

man

shade

the

; but

tomb

and

relatives

our

virtues

our

faults,follow

our

us

in

giganticBanyan

freshness

affords

lifeto the

and

tree, whose

plants

that

it."
is useless

to

man

without

judgment,as

mirror

man."

to

only appreciatesmeans, according as they

loses his perceptionof the just,
soon
success,

who

man

his

of sound

and

us

actions

good

virtuous

Science

to a blind

only follow

behind

remain

life."

beneficent
surround

riches

our

doctrines."

inventors
(For yoic, gentlemen, casuists,
the means
end justifies
/)

of

the

maxim,

^the

'

"The
the

infinite and

boundless

and

die
the

boundless

God
infinite,

can

alone

only

can

comprehend
comprehend

God."
"

The

honest

man

should

fal. before

the blows

of die wicked

246

THE

the

tlie counsels

to

now

himself
sanctify

would

recompense
"
Let him

by

INDIA.

woodman's

the

stroke,perfumes

it."

tliatwounds

axe

Listen
who

IN

sandal-tree that,felled

the

as

BIBLE

Christna

of

in

the

the

to

Lord

just man

merit

and

eternal

"

himself each

devote

submit

piousdevotion,and

his

of
day to all the practices
meritorious
body to the most

austerities.
"

him fear all worldlyhonor

Let

Let him

"

abstain

that
imperfection
"

him

Let

him

"Let

God

chase

has

all evil treatment,

from

ought

we

respect in the

to

assignedthem.*
sensual

away

refrain from

creatures.

anger, and

animals, whom

towards

even

from

all,is the respect of

is above

that what

the love of his fellow

him

Let

feel

well know

himself and

poison,and

for this world's riches.

only contempt
"

than

worse

the

and

desires,envy

cupidity.

dance, the song, music,fermented

drinks,and gambling.
him

"Let

be

never

calumnies,or
guiltyof evil-speaking,

impostures.
"

him

Let

look at

never

with

women

love,and abstain

from

embracingthem.
"

Let

"

Let

him
his

have

quarrels.
house, his diet,and his
no

clothes

always of

be

the

plainest.
his

"Let

righthand
let him

and
"

\M"en

poor

him, refresh him

that

it

Now

besides

was

one

never
man

be

always open

and the

to the poor

happy,
un-

boast his benefits.

shall knock

by washing

of the

most

at

his

his

door, let him

him

feet, serve

important

services

receive

himself,

of

Christianity
affections,it definitely

quickenmg greatly our benevolent

and
dogmaticallyasserted the sinfulness of all destruction of human
of amusement
of simple convenience, and
life as a matter
or
thereby
existed
than
which
then
in th"
formed a new
standard, higher
any
Worldw"
Lecky, Hi:tory of Eufopean Mo-als, voL IL p. ai-2.
'

"

GENESIS.

HINDOO

and

what

eat

84)

remains, for the poor

chosen

the

are

of ihp

I.orcl.

all,let him

"But, above

refrain

liislife from, in Avhatever way,

assist his

and

agreeableto
It

is

thus

Christna

that

of the

protect, love,

the virtues

most

were

diffused

this

amongst

purest morale, thus

that he

people
initiated

of abnegation,
grand principlesof charity,

at
self-respect,

the West

flow

of

course

God.

his auditors in the

of

molestingothers

thence
fellow-creatures,

healthydoctrines
and

^vhole

through the

an

epoch

when

stillonly occupied

by

countries

the desert
the savage

hordes

of

of the

forests.

What, then, has

its

and

so
civilization,
proud

our

what
enlightenment,

has

it added

to

of

its progress

these

sublim*

lessons ?

CHAPTER

CHRISTNA'S

It is necessary
in
ciallj

to

philosophic

read in the

XIV.

TEACHING.

Sanscrit

text

and
itself,

espe-

the

Bagaveda-Gita,the sublime discourses of Christna

and particularly
with Ardjouna, to compre*
disciples,

with

his

hend

that the

which
enlightenment

had their long existed in the East

has been

reflected even

to US|

848
of the

Problems

who

man

treated

In

becoming

opment

Ardjouna
Canst

are

shall confine

we
great subjects,

discourse

the

to

the devel

space,

Christna

of

judge

selves
our-

the

on

the others.

is that pure

Christna,what

tell us, O

received from

the

which

and

Lord,

must

fluid
return

again?

Christna

is the

soul

The

employed
the

not

have

Him

; all

thou

we

confined

our

the soul ; it will suftice

of
immortality

to

these

reproduction of

to

the law of God

lessons.

new

to give,within
inability

our

which

accordingto

the

monologues, where the auditor's

give replies,and thus afford the professoran

only to

opening for

mosi

sublime

of in these

role is

the

morale

soul, the future destinies of

the

lived

shall have

INDIA.

IN

a
loftyphilosophy,

most

immortalityof

the

pure,

'

BIBLE

THE

animate

to

thinks

soul

principleof

born

^vill,and

man

is the

bodies,

and

life which

of the will is born

perfect

is inert and

matter

it is immortal.

acts, and

most

of

action.

freely in

intellectual nature,

the

from

false,the just from

the

perishable,

Of

thought

creatures,

knowing
the

to

is

it is that

Thence

terrestrial

operates
true

SovereignWisdom

for

he

distinguish

unjust,good

trom

evil.
That

inward

judgment

knowledge,

towards

it dislikes,
renders

for its choice,and

and

it likes,and

what
the

that will which

withdraws

responsiblefor

soul

for this

cause

itself from

its action,responsible
established

has God

what

rewards

punishments.

When

soul follows

the

the eternal and

it,naturallyit is inclined to the good.

Evil,on the contrary, triumphs when
submits

to

The

soul

from

itselfby the

conveys

which

be

governed by

is

stain,it cannot

re-ascend

lightthat guides

its origin,
it forgets
and

exterior influences.

immortal, and

it issued ; but

pure

must

as

it was

to

the

return

into

given to

the

man

celestial abode

Great

pure

Soul

from

aU

until it shall

GENESIS.

HINDOO

have been

purifiedfrom

union

matter.

-with

249

faults committed

all the

through

it?

Ardjouna:
Christua

purifiedby

soul is

The

faults,in

its

to

effected?
purifiction

is this

How

the infernal

and

to

(hell),the

exclusion

posed
im-

Whole, is the greatest

the Great

feel,for its desire is to

infliction that it can

source

with

according

longer course,

or

heavens

re-union

it from

upon

shorter

return

the

to

itive
prim-

itselfinto the soul of all tliat exists.

merge

Ardjouna:
Whence
a

portionof
Christna
The

the

conies

the Great

soul

itself;if

is

imperfectin

not

there

does

ahancara

existed

in

the soul would

itself,

body.

the

its pure

which

its

of the

nature

destroyit,and
perishableand
with

is the

obscurity from

soul

germ

this germ
mortal

alone

matter

comes

as

well

its

as

fection,
imperfor it

which
intelligence,

supreme

of

ing
develop-

affect its essence,

not

light

the

essence,

draw

not

imperfectiondoes

in its cause,

not

be

its union

J'rom

but that
is

is

Soul ?

imperfection,
nothing could
the

soul,which

the human

this sublime

of

imperfectionof

is

God.
We

here, in spite of ourselves, arrest

must,

Its continuation
of the

most

affords

subtle

occasion

Christna

metaphysics,and

his

to

this citation.

rise into

regions

reasoningwould

not,

by people who had

particularstudy and explored the

think,be perfectlyunderstood, except

we

devoted

their lives

to

the

depths of philosophicsciences.
Moreover, this simpleglance suffices completely to elucidate
which we
the conclusions
professto draw from the work of the
Hindoo
To

refonner.

epitomize:

Christna
free

came

will,that is

to
to

preach to

India

say, fi-eedom

of

of the soul,
immortality
of perthoughtand liberty
the

THE

25c

belief

son,

life

tlie

of

He

merit

the

the

lived

He

lived

He

of

good
of

pu..isl\menl

in

love

of

each
and

sake,

own

other,
faitli

in

Creator.

the

sustained

feeble,

its

for

commanded

revenge,

to

the

and

evil,

for

good

return

unhappy

inspired

by

oppressed,

the

few
with
in
the

this

Master,

domination,

theocracies,

plunge

into

moral

the

as

we

finished,

step,

forgot

and

have

despotic

and

seen,

Hindoo

briefly,

haps,
per-

his

cessors
suc-

by

traditions

sublime

the

for

people,

too

played

role

tlie

up

degradation

absorbing

the

issue,

by

beer

Manou.

have

take

that

had

Moses

as

of

figure

regeneration,

of

himself,

shall

grandest

the

work

and

Manes

we

step

his

inspired

to

who,
to

possible

and

redeemer,

India,

chastity.
declare,

from

of

works
lines

more

poor.

to

was

period,

later
the

not

it

and

the

prescribed

hesitate

we

at

loved
and

chaste

times,

Christ,

and

i^oor

was,

ancient

of

and

tyranny.

He

reward

charity,

peoples

good-will

proscribed

denounced

the

practice

the

inexhaustible

consoled

INDIA.

in

demerit,

and

teach

to

came

He

IN

future.

self-respect,
the

BIliLE

the

benefit

abasement,

reign

of

Brahminism

of

their

that

dered
ren-

ancient

THE

"J9

IN

BIBLE

INDIA

XVI.

CHAPTER

CHRISTNA

TWO

THE

AND

AND

NICHDALI

WOMEN,

HOLY

SARASVATI.

Christna walked
followed by
ciples,
said

on

all

in the

great crowd

eager

him, and they

behold

to

delivered

sides,"Beliold him who

with his d's-

Madura

of
neighborhood

from

us

oppressedus," making allusion to Kansa, who

Christna
penalty of his crimes, and whom

who
the
from

they

said

further,"Behold

dead, heals the lame,

When

two

the

had

suffered

expelled

of

women

to

heart

is of

more

has refused
And

us

Christna

the

to

near

the

boldness, Christna

their

your

the
sacrifice,

of

me

little Avhich is

given

all the riches offered

than

worth

by

they, the brows

happinesshas fled from

Lord," answered

cloudeC with care,

vase,
at

drew

perfumes which
they worshipped him.

his head

upon

desire you

What

ostentation.

the

I accept

"Women,
the

them

resuscitates

who

extraction

lowest

the

they had brought in a little brazen

And
the people murmured
as
kindlysaid

him

the blind."

deaf,and

Christna,and havingpoured

"

had

Madura.

And

by

the tyrant

"

of

our

husbands

arc

homes, for God

our

joy of beingmothers."

havingraised them, for theyhad

his feet,said
kissing

to

them, "Your

demand

knelt and

shall be

were

granted.

HINDOO

in

believed

for j-QU have

GENESIS.

253

and

me,

shall re-enter

joy

youi

houses."
Some

time

Sarasvati

were

afterwards

these
thereafter,
delivered

became
under

reverence

each

of

named

women
a

son,

and

whom
personages
and
of Soudama

holy
the

two

names

these
the

Nichdali

and

children

two

Hindoos

still

Soudasa.

(B".gavpda-Gita.
)

CHAPTER

CHRISTNA

GOES

TO

PERFORM

HIS
HIS

work

The

younger

of

blood

XVH.

ABLUTIONS

AT

THE

GANGES

DEATH.

redemption was

accomplished,all India

circulate in its veins,everywhere labor

was

sane

tified by prayer, hope and faith warmed

all hearts.
Christri understood
that the hour had come
for him
the

earth,and

to

return

into the bosom

of him

felt a

who

to

had

qui/
sent

him.

Forbiddinghis disciplesto
make

follow

his ablutions oh the banks

the stains that his mortal

of
struggles

e\cry

nature

the partisans
of
against

Arrived

at

the sacred

him, he went,

of the

Ganges

envelope might have

which

he had

been

day, to

one

and

wash

contracted

obligedto

out

in the
sustain

the past.
he plunged himself
river,

three

timei

254

therein,

then,

peeling

death.

kneeling

position

this

In

crimes

whose

of

assassinating

Ganges,

man

of

the

jackals
The

of

the

dead,

on

of

conducted

the

by
his

recover

celestial

crime,

diffused

and

would

amidst

not

the

with

ex

those

journey

the

design

it

the

sacred

remains.

suspended

he

than

the

remains
with

company

the

dearest

of
But

the

in

came

of

tures.
vul-

of

prey

crowd

of

Christna,

mortal

frame

of

it had

regained

the

disciples

the

tree

branches

the

people

doubt

no

"

the

to

become

might

and

to

which

it

had

the
the
been

covered

suddenly
it the

Christna,

people

wanders

earth,

in

constantly,

spread,

disappeared

victim

law,

because

of

with

red

great

flowers

perfumes.

sweetest

his

recognize

on

food

other

no

was

that

become

life

belief,

popular

to

animals.

Ardjouna,

around

ended

Thus

eternal

feeds

he

having

death

According

an

God-man

the

had

his

of

followed

of

one

hearing

troop,

having

abodes

attached

to

unclean

had

Redeemer

by

arrows

who,

Angada.

murderer,

his

and

prayed,

he

heaven,

to

with

strong

which

body

of

unveiled,

Ganges,

other

News

to

his

and

by

tree

looking

pierced

was

named

for

banks

the

INDIA.

IN

him.

was

condemned,

and

with

had,

the

This

he
had

he

to

BIBLE

THE

of
and
their

(Bagaveda-Gita

the
who
vices

and

wickedness
had
and

those

who

expelled

from

of

been
their

Brahminical

hypocrisy.
traditions.)

HINDOO

GENE";K

XVIII.

CHAPTER

SOME

I do

in the least

to

VirginDevanaguy
of poetry

which

are

the

Bral:imins

the

of
spirits

her

the

to

masses,

Christna.

rejectedall

in the domain

back

than

after the
had

the

death

adventures

knows

in
th"*
nr*

that

is,more

of the Hindoo

Christna

on

poems

was

written

than

reformer.

three

date

farther

no

about

two

thousand

These

turies
cen-

years

productions

is constantlyoccupied
originin the idea that die Divinity
affairs at his will,
and human
human
contests
directing
even
on
earth,rewards and punishments to
distributing,

in

good

It is the
and

era,

heroic

the

tion.
domina-

own

their
in

and

our

their

which
imagination,

Maha-Bharat, which

the

before

they have

of the marvellous.

celebrated

most

the

about

Christna,it is that they are

after-inventions of that Oriental

The

advanced
Doubtless

profit of

the

poets introduce

Hindoo

bounds

I have

ward
for-

come

myths of the Hindoo

religion
produce of decay and of the superstitions
allowed
the
to
on
impress themselves

If,therefore,I have
which

son

what

will

that the modern

long understood
and

thinkingOrientalist

contradict

and

EXPLANATION.

OF

WORDS

fear that any

not

9^%

Hebrew

or

to

the evil-doer.

Greek,
pervades ancient FgyjJtian,
of
have demonstrated
as
we
civilizations,
offspring

same

idea

that

256

period during

that
of

Vedas

the

saints, of
Permit

heroes,

and

of

Some

attempts

of

Mars,
Christ,

Jupiter,

Had

such

have

two

his

East),

the

thousand

mixed

thus

his

forced

all

Brahmins,

teenth
six-

the

epic poetr"',

of

by substituting
delivered

without

if

in

the

exhume

to

civilizations

serious

civil

them

the

as

past,

had

come
be-

idea

of

Christ,

finding

these

religious wars,

and

pain
and

ing,
seek-

disappeared,

Christianity had

forming

it

doubt

inquirers,

not

if Western

pur

reject

to

would

doctrine, under

in

up

of

Jerusalem

years,

or

legend,

and
and

Apostles

personages

being

in

transformed,

or

The

general (and

become

obliged, especially

been

in

Minerva,

of

hering
of ad-

and

during

ourselves

Venus,

ex

temples.

introduction

the

in

model.

three

or

abjure poetry

of

as

Christna,

their

amongst

of

Juno,

succeeded

extinct
to

made

custom

have
after

in

preserved

served

had

Tasso

of

arms

times

teaching

the

to

apostles, angels, saints.

the

the

utterly repudiating

of

appreciate

to

supersede
of

into

modern

our

necessity

theology,

were

to

century,

from

absolute

pure

traditions

pure

demi-gods.

seeking

of

the

herself

threw

example

traditions

tlie

to

would

the

works

India, forgetting

of

an

when

poetry
to

and

take

to

INDIA.

IN

Christna,

of

us

Hindoo

which

and

emplification

of

BIBLE

THE

of

inventions

of

stition
super-

My
have

mode

of

Christna

studied
;

considered

sole

the

by
their

traths.

procedure

only by

point

of

been
his

view,

Brahmins,

learned
lives

has

to

the

study

no

other

philosophic
moreover,

who
of

even

the

than
and

under

to-day
law

and

this, and
moral

which
in India
of

lution
revo-

he

is

secrate
con-

rcligicws

Pmnf)0

GENESIS.

CHAPTER

SUCCESSORS

OF

CHRISTNA

""7

XIX.

GRANDEUR

"

AND

DECA\

OF

BRAII-

MINISM.

immediate

The

by

practiceof

the

hopingonly in

of Christna

successors

of self,
a complete abnegation
virtues,
and
future life,
pied
they lived poor, and wholly occuall

with

themselves

sanctified themselves

the celestial mission

the Master

had

queathed
be-

them.

How

splendid the figureof

ancient
and

times of India !

how

We

worthy of

shall see,

Brahminical
win

was

the God

"Of

they served

the Manava-Dhamia-Sastra

and

the

are

his

contrast

motives

littlecommendable,

exempt

and

priestsof the
their worship,
majestic

faithful to his duties,

priest,
may
the moral principles
he should follow

how
theology,

estingafterwards to
our
Interrogating
as

whom

Brahmin

imperativerules of conduct ; what, in a word,

it will not be uninterpriestof primitivetimes,whom

what

the

pure

accordingto

immortality
; what
;

How

those

from
the

facultyof

and

with
of

the actual

action,Manou

yet he finds

Brahmin.

repelsself love

nothingin

this world

it.

hope

of

e.xertion :

possiblegood,"says he,
the

greatest sacrifices

austeritiesand
somethingto aci]uire
; devout
springfrom llie hopi;of reward."
22*

"is

begotten the
for object,
have
all

good

action!

258

He

"

"

has fulfilledall his duties

who

without

expectingfuture

The

INDIA.

immediatelyadds:

he

But

IN

BIBLE

THE

which
Scripture,

is

recompense,

piness.
hap-

study the Holy

to

of Christna

of Bralinia and

is the word

alone,and

immortal

of

sure

all duties is first

importantof

most

pleaseGod

tD

revealed

men."

to

of
authority

The

"

contestable.

in the
felicity
without

The

Brahmin

other

world,can

Lord, in what

He

to

spoken. Thus,
and
by self-love,

if it is

should

motive

have

no

through lifethe

common

hurls

India,Manou

of revelation and

phemers

of the

of

which

not

offer each

has

at

be

guided
the priest
for guide

revealed

has

realized

hiio

to

silent."
his time

by Boudha,

tempted
at-

who

was

this anathema

them

holy

should

to

take

the

should he

read

the

He

should

bla;

he
chastity,

at

the

at

the foot of the

must

pure.

altar,

Holy Scriptures.

firstpart of his

militant.

of

vow

which
he
holy sacrifice,
God, but with heart and body

present himself

morning

atheists and

books."

himself with respect

And, in prostrating

until about seventy years should

life,
mstruct

his fellows

and

direct them

be
wards
to-

God, duringthis time he does not belong to himself; all

should be consoled by
are
unhappy, ail who are afflicted,

who

him.

by

he

be expelledas
tradition,

initiated Brahmin

The

The

to

men

not

who, embracingthe profane opinions of tliC

of the law of God, refuse to recognizethe authorixV

enemies

may

law has

where
(smriti)

all those

Let

"

inexplicable.

alone, and

but God

afterwards

reforms

of

him

reward, the actions of

of

perfect

the orders

upon

Holy Scriptureis
free-thinkers who
already in

the

Denouncing
the

tradition

of the Lord

word

to

attain

himself,
by submitting

so

comment

to

permittedto

hope

would

tradition where

his will ; and

the Luther

the

or

appear

may

also bend

must

only do

be in

should
(srouti)

who
priest,

understand

seekingto

of the
"

the divine revelation

All

him.

that is

httle,poor,

or

should
helpless,

be

sustained

26o

lifHLE

THE

becoming a priestand instructor

is obligedto i^ass many
years in the

before

But

the Brahuiiii
and
and

philosophy,where

of

in which

that of God

periodof

INDIA.

IN

of the

faithful,

ology
schools of the-

learns the science

he

instruct others

he should

life,

of

this is the

"

his noviciate.

the studies he pursues :

Sanscrit,that sacred language which

followingare

The
The

himself

he revealed

Theology, with
Philosophy,more

to

when

spoKC

men.

complete

God

treatise

in
especially

ceremonies.
religious
tutes
bearingupon what constion

its

duty.
Astronomy.
Mathematics.
General

and

grammar

And

what
lastly,

The

Vedas,

prosody.

is considered

with
Holy Scriptures,

or

of difficultor
if

And, says Manou,

and

mother

how

much

.imongst the
rules
following

the faithful
should

servants

of conduct

to

the

God

and

and

his

duct

us

becomes

God,

consecrated

vant
ser-

under
is,a priest,

that

the

"

alms, that is,upon

he should

made
offerings

have

in his

turn

no

the

he should extend

he

has

has thus

by
possessions
;
ample
people an exprayer and

neophytes.
become
priest,
to

his way

strewed

with

good

the greater part of his life to the sen'ice of

remains

for him

final absorptionin the bosom

to

life,

there
neighbor,

listen

material

virtues,and divide his time between

devoted

his
attaining
Let

of

professor,when

then

works,

them

the life of the soul ?

Brahmin, from catechumen,

the

When

planations
ex-

his spiritual
respect his instructor,

temple,for

the instruction which

and

from

and abstinence,show
practicefasting
of all the

and

respect his father

love and

received

the Brahmin

subsist upon

should

He

to

commentaries

priest.

passages.

should

son

has

givenhim

noviciate over,

His

ought he

has

father,who

obscure

he

because
more

essential to the

most

the

last ordeal before

Divinity.
prescribeshis

of

Holy Scripturethat

con

HINDOO

Let him

"

ingthat

be

26 1

GENESIS.

that he has abandoned

of all the world, and

he is abandoned

dream-

companions, and without

alone, without

all.

him

Let

"

neither hearth

have

him, let him leave

the herbs

feet grow
"

Hm

Let

God

to

desire

the

he shall

peaceably for
night-rt^aits

so

let him

him

Let

"

purifyall

if

hunger

torment
at

"

long for
at

death ; and

as

reaper

of the master,

the door

them
actions,in consecrating

his

his

eat.

his wages
wait until his hour is come.

at

of his nourishment

care

nor
life,

not

house

nor

to

the

Lord.
*'

should bear offensive words

He

for none,

above

and

If he

"

and

let fall the

and

it without

restore

of any

staff

behalf ol

on

employed, let

murmur.

this the buffet of the New

(Isnot

should

He

all

shall strike him

who

him pick it up

"

have contempt
patience,

guard againsthatred
perishablebody.

and

iliisweak

with

seek

never

Testament?)
subsistence by explaining
prodigies

dreams.

"

him

Let

above

the
all guardagainst
perverting

of
spirit

true

Holy Scriptureto educe therefrom precepts of a

moralityin favor of worldlypassionsand interests.
(\Miat say you. Messieurs de Loyola? This lesson

the

from
"

casuist

comes

afar.)
And

when

be extended

to

request

the hour

let his last word

continue

to

be

suffer when

of death
on

and

mat

shall sound
covered

for

him, let hinj

with ashes, and

prayer for entire humanity that must

he is himself re-united to the Father of

all things."
Such

the

were

priestsof

Brahma

of other times ;

their life's

occupation: first,
prayer and instruction ; secondly,meditation
eternal truths,the Holy Scriptureand the grandeurof the
on
Suineme Being.
Priests
but
them

at

afterwards
first,

place
to

of exile and

recluses,this world

was

expiationwhich

should

of

eternal bliss in another

life.

for them
conducl

262

BIBLE

THE

INDIA.

vvlio passed thirty

years of his life in

man

assuredlywill

ing the

is what

Here

to a

judgment

same

the

whc

vnih.

the ancient

ourselves upon

as

missionaryDubois

of his work

volume

India,and

in such matters, could

partiality
of justice,
from pronounc
profoundspirit

be taxed

not

refrain thanks

not

IN

says of them

entitled Mcetirs des Lides

Brahmins.
in the

ond
sec-

"Justice,
humanity,good faith,compassion,disinterestedness,
all the virtues in fact
both

familiar

were

anci
theiii,

to

taught

to others

it comes
that the Hindoos
by precept and example. Hence
moral principles
profess,at least speculatively,
nearlythe same
allthe reciprocal
as ourselves
; and if they do not practice

duties of

they do

u'Ccause

This

is what

priestsof

each other in

towards

men

not
a

know

it is not
society,

them."
Christ

priestof

Christna.

civilized

Yet

he

did

of

say

acquainted with

not

was

fear to

not

the

the
merous
nu-

theology,philosophyand morals, which early

bequeathed us, and which the study of Sanscrit is
ages have
now
enablingus to explore.
His principles,
his religious
would
doubtless have prefaith,
vented
his going further in his appreciation
would
; but what
works

have

he

on

said if it had

all the ceremonies

ical Church

of his

permittedhim

owti

worshipin

find all his

to

the

beliefs,

Brahminprimitive

After many
of domination

Their

been

ascendant

ages of

began
once

the
simplicity,
abnegationand faida,
to

in the bosom

ferment

secured

the

over

germs

of Bralrminism.

perceived
people,priests

of acquiring
complete dominion, both civil and
possibility
and they set about the
temporal as well as spiritual,
religious,
ity.
authorwork of bending political
to paramount
religious
power

the

In

the first part of this work

by
to

sink

We

caste-divisions and

into brutish abasement

have

how

ceeded,
they sucby graduallyallowingthe people
we

and

the most

seen

shameless

alization.
demor-

tion,
equallyseen how, after ages of unresisted dominaol
powerlessto resist the invadingconquerors
theywere
have

their country,

people whom
and

the otraiigera
powerless to re-animate against
all liberty,
they had long deprivedof all initiative,

consequentlyof

Sad

example of

all courage.

with

the

havingneither

of

conscience,nor

his domination

to

judgment,freedom

of

priest,
submittingto

the

freedom

of

self-respect.
freedom

that resists tolerance and

religion
is but an industrious combattant
the priest
liberty.
In all

Hindoos

The

demoralized

were

Brahmin

priestsof

but
priests,

and

the

day

the present

of

judgment,
and

againstprogress

the

by

to
them,
degradationextended even
turned against
themselves.
were
j-loyed

The

the
identify

peoples who

the lot that attends

idea
religious
extent

ZOj

GENESIS.

HINDOO

are

the moral

they em-

arms

but the shadow

themselves,crushed, in their poverty, their weakness, their

of

their actual

vices,and
with

memories

decrepitudeunder

of the

exceptionsthey but divide amongst

very rare
inheritance of immense
but
pride,which harmonizes

an

some

"^ith their
These
and

and
degradation
have

people

long ago

no

this

would
had

publiccontempt,

not

their

past,
them

sadly

inutility.

or
longereither dignity
self-respect,
Brahmin
have disappearedunder
caste
India been India,that is,the country,

of immobility.
par excellence,
If their power

of

the

them

the

over

highercastes,

no

they are
Ramble
wherever

is stillgreat,intelligent
people

masses

without

avowing it,however, consider

lightthan as vagabonds,whom

longer in any other

obligedby prejudiceto protect
of an eveningthrough towns
hear

you

or
birth,a marriage,

celebrated.

Look

the sound
the

under

are

pared in
This

Bralimins

who

puberty of
the veranda

come

sujjport.

and

country, approach

of trumpet

house, those ragged beggars who

those

and

girlthat

young
and

on

it is

tom-tom,

is being

the stairs of the

squalland distort themselves,

to eat

of the ceremony.
tribute is their due, and

and

the rice that has been

pre

honor

not
society,

they levy it upon

nor
familyfestival,
public fete can

all classes

take

of

place

264

BIBLE

TKE

it is customary

it,and

wthout

IN

in ^^llich they have

for them

gold,and expends

of

satisfied and

then

are

vulgar metal, iron or brass,it

that a Rajah, impelledby pride

million

served

dishes of

on

all Oriental

exhaust

in the

hyperbole

interchangeof

requiringsome

or
silver,

the Brahmins

for that purpose,

praisesthey address to the liberal prince; but it

they are not obligedafterwards to separate them,
of their riches

lishes

off the

cany

of

has the Brahmins

ostentation

to

served.

been

Generallythese dishes are

sometimes, however, happens
and

INDIA.

is

that

rare

the division
from

blows

the

ratan.

There

however,

are,

of this debased

members

from

separated themselves
rigidly

"R'ho have
consoled

few

for the loss of power

themselves

faith,and it is not rare to

primitive
midst study and
Brahmin
priests
living

people,who

the

example

them

reverence

of all virtues.

as

Some

have

by plenaryreturn

find in southern

the

to

it.

caste

saints,the

Others, takinga

most

forward

more

India,

presenting

and

prayer,

to

perfect
stride,

eries,
againstpresent misrenouncingparents, friends,and rebellijig
of all
the equality
themselves
to preaching
have devoted
men,

the

and

their country

of
regeneration

by oppositionto

the stranger.
From

their weakness
nant

and

inertia and

off the

they have discovered that

resulted wholly from their stag
inferiority

with

contact

Europeans

their divisions of

yoke, they

endeavor

to

that flows in the veins of their

againstthe

caste

and, anxious

the
revivify

shake

to

enervated

and
compatriots,

to

blood

unite them

common

Impotent
; for the

enemy.
which
efforts ;
"

present they have

may
but

ture
perhaps bear fruit in the furesulted in placingtheir au-

of
index,expelled from the bosom
their families and repudiatedeven
by their own childrei
is graduallyarising
anSide by the side with the Brahmin
otlier caste which
a
portionof southern India,
alreadycovers
with perceptible,
some
pretensions,
disguised
althoughcarefully
day to supersedethem in their popular domination : they are
tliors under

the

national

HINDOO

the

Commouty

dream

of

their

the

Living

only

the

people

this

caste

other

by
and

for

tneir

dear

so

this

that

than

seize
I

of
in

all

centralize

of

condition

into

that

fic,
trafbut

power,

of

pretext

restoration

each

they support

formidable

under

them

that

country,

imposts

for

theocracy

past

the

future

century
rich

ruled

be

not

has

of

force

Brahminical

governed

be

to

envious

to

iron

ment
move-

any

hand,

the

tally
fa-

nor

for

layas,
Hima-

the

over

but
"

which

by Russia,

waiting

"

have

population

authority

glances

Hindostan

priests

entire

the

by England's

cast

plains

which

its whole

it under

replace

in

the

on

members

weight

capital,

become

itself,contribute

to

must

destined
more

fleece

hands

accumulate

complete

would

that, it

for

who

their

would

unhappy

if left

would,

in

semi-brutified

is the

plunged

the

upon

India.

to

Such

is

is the

object

imposing

immense

of

for

country,

of wealth.

certainly

English

and

manners,

force

associations,

very

the

command

commerce

vast

their

who

influence.

real

vegetables,
of

of fanatics

in their

exercise

to

and

austerity

soon

that

entire

The

the

will
"

rice

upon

by

countries

they begin

multitude

of Brahminism

reconstruction

profit

own

of

composed

caste,

tfi"\

GENESIS.

hour

to

them.
will

dwell

no

into

demoralization

xeligious idea,
fathom

ceremonies

kbip.

this

have

subject
which

in

more

this

which

the

involved
more

have

chapter

the

on

sacerdotal

India;
deeply

in

supplanted

of

Siate

abusing

castes,
shall

treating
those

of

the

the

occasion

have
of

profound

the

feasts

ancient

to

and
wor-

266

THK

BIBLE

INDIA

IN

CHAPTER

CEREMONIES

AND

XX.

SACRAMENTS

BRAHMINICAL

ANCIENT

OF

WORSHIP.

ancient,as in

In
forms

religions,
worship assumed

two

under
first,

the

By

it addressed

By

modem

the

to

the

the
Divinity

second, under

the

the

the faithful certain

upon

of ceremonies

name

in
; it regulates,

prayers

and

and

of mortals.

vows

of sacraments,

name

acts, certain

sacrifices,
it

expiationsor

imposes
tions
purifica-

their relations
life,
word, their spiritual

with God.
We

about

are

instituted
Brahminical

what

to

see

by

the

the sacrifices and

are

the

of Christna in the

successors

ments
sacra-

primitive

Church.

In the first part of this work

thus written

have

we

Sacrijice
of Sarvaineda.
is considered

by the
only did

Vedas

regenerate and

lead

back

immolated

Himself

Brahma

helf for creation.

to

He

even

idea,which

Not

us

God

to

find

"*

Brahma

is

at

once

sacrificer and

havingsacrificed him-

incarnate
to

giveus

expressed,"says
the sacred books of antiquity."
Hence, say the holy books :
we

as

M.

our

Himself

divine

existeiice.
de

and

source,

but

"Sublime

Humboldt,

victim,so

fer,
suf-

that the

"in all

priest

268

THE

Within three

distant,

the

by

Brahmins
This

before

of the

water

which
purification
pagoda.

in the

his death

has been

if

too

consecrated

ancient in India ; it dates from

is very

plunge into the waters of

amongst Hindoos, who fail not

all cei emonies

sprinkled,

Ganges, or,

it

epoch, and Christna himself consecrated

stillin hono]

The

INDIA.

of

water

reUgiouscustom

the Vedic

IN

birth the child shoul 1 be

days after

is,purifiedby the sacred

that

by

EIBLIi

by going
Ganges ; it is

the

to

it with

observe

to

of the ancient rite.

sacred

books

of
sprinkling

of India

infant,is

the

to

wash

stain of

the

away

objectin

that the

loudlyassert

original

transgi-ession.
However

it be, and

the

is

if

this

consider

we

as

simple ablution
accomplished b)-a
a

and is
imposed by religion,
Bralimin,which suffices to place it amongst the sacraments.
is not
of
the water
custom
isolated,
Moreover, this religious
which has purified
the infant,continues to purify
purification,
"

him

form

whenever

used

duringthe

the system
doubtless,

of his existence ;

course

of ablutions

adopted by

hence,

all Oriental

re-

lij^ions.

Of Confirmation.
Let

us, without

citation of

to

from

two

texts:

one

from

the

Vedas

tnis

on

and

subject

the other

Manou.

Atharva
"

confine ourselves

comment,

Veda

of

(Book

Precepts):

^\^loever shall not, before

the age

of

have
sixteen,

had

his

in the temple by unction of holy oil,by

confirmed
purification
consecrated
and the prayer of the Savitri,
should be
investiture,
vine
expelledfrom the midst of the people as a despiserof the diword."
division
Notwithstanding
of ancient
and

the
doctrines,

extended

it

to

people into castes, and perversion

Brahmins
ment,
preservedthis sacra-

of the

all

classes,except

tlie

Soudras..or

pioletaires,
slaves,and parias.
and modified
Manou, abridged
thus

(Book iL

sloca

38

"

39) :

to

suit their

interest,
speaks

HINDOO

269

GENESIS.

"Until

the sixteenth year for a Brahmin, until the twentyfor a Tchatrias,

until the twenty-fourth
for a Vaisya,the

second

time for

intestituresanctified by
receiving

the

is not yet
Savitri,

passed.
"

But

beyond

who
classes,

have

In

the contempt

these
collating

of confirmation

two
a

was

infant's

the

at

terms,

excommunicated
initiation,

of

to

over

the young
of these three
men
clared
duly received this sacrament, shall be de-

not

unworthy
delivered

these

texts

of honest
we

continuation

cradle,that

and
(Vratyas)

men."

perceivethat

this sacrament

of the first ceremony

is,a

confirmation

formed
perof the rificati
pu-

by water within three days after birth.

atid Absolution.
Purification
Confession.
is subjecton earth to dififer
According to Biahminism, man
ent taints
of the soul,others of the body.
some
Contaminations
of the body are effaced sometimes
by simple
of purification,
"water, at others by the water
accordingto their
sometimes
by abstinence and mollification.
gravity,
And on this subjectwe
may say that it is diflicultto form an
and flagellations
which hermits imposed,
idea of the tortures
stillimpose upon themand which the Fakirs,their successors
selves
"

in India.
of
Impurities
to
pilgrimages

by

the soul

the

are

effaced
well

Ganges, as

the lifeand

the death

by
as

prayer, by penances, and

to different placessanctified

of Christna.

ing
easilyconceived,under the empire of this absorbwhich at last so governed both soul and body of its
religion
adepts as to regulatethe most insignificant
usages of dailylife,
allowed to judge his owti faults,
than he was
was
no
more
man
permittedto questionHoly Scripture.
As

may

For,
"The

as

be

says Manou, book first:

is the eternal incarnation of
birth of the priest

the priest is born

to

administer

for
justice,

in his

justice
;
judgments he

identifieshimself with God."

"The
tst rank

in coming into
priest,
of eartli ;
2^j'

the

sovereignlord

world, is placed in the highof all

it is for
being'^,

him

to

270

THE

watch

DIBLE

conservation

over

IN

of the

INDIA.

of cixdl and

treasures

religious

laws."

religious
judge

As

indicated

and

in this

guilty
"

Each

the

manner

in the

"

formula

there,at

know

And

was

as

the senior Brahmin

is what

ought

you

And

would

the Divine

the

near

by

over

rehensibl
rep-

the

received

sa'

oldest
the

tence
sen-

Srouti

(revelations)
what ought
(sacraments),

answer

have

we
Spirit,

decided,and tliis

of the offence,the religious

then, accordingto the gravity

fines

to God,
offerings

either

and abstinence,
ablutions,mortifications,

pilgrimages.
offences which no purification
could atone
meration,
(see the enuwere
chap. v. of Part First)
punished by partialor

or

The

complete privationof
fell to the rank

prayers

of

better than
Loiseleur

quote

the

sacraments

the three

is the
jSIarriage
were

(Vratyas)

translated

of the formula

sacrame7it,

cannot

we

of the

the translator of Manou

above
do

Orientahst

ceremonies
(sanscaras)are purificatory
culiar
pefirstclasses.Brahmins, tchatrias,
andvaisyas;

last sacrament."
in callingthe
justified
Brahmin
a
priest,
sacrament,

therefore

Hindoo, by the

"

sanscaras

followingannotations

Deslonchamps,

The
to

have

we

excommunicated

parias.
"

which

or

The

caste.

explainthe expression

cited,and

We

pagoda

the Divine

do

to

imposed

To

the

"

tribunal

alone

sions,
transgres-

felt themselves

follows

the

Enlightenedby

"

all

perfonned by

and
faults,

expiatingsanscaras
Statingfaults.

"

do ?

1 to

"

their

of confession

who

presided

table

Holy Brahmins, guardiansof

)ou who

be

of the

court

priests,
they confessed
imposed upon them.

The

sirs,and

those
morning,after sacrifice,

tank, and

of the

all

expiations to

the

assembled
cred

priestknew

absolution

of the

followingpublic

confession.
We

shall

find earlyChristians adoptingtlds custom,

presently

HINDOO

doubt,

tlianks,no
tli:ir Urst

instructors

for

by

According

the

to

which

directlyintervene

not

in
religion

""5rahminical
officiate

""0

the

at

such

eldest

the

on

Loiseleur

of

note

son

charged to accomplish the

was

of this
"

text

of

the
Briefly,
I

dil the

required of
2d.

the

conferred

right

the

sick,who

of the

that opens

son

We

Brahmins

are

five in number

have
in the

amongst

servant

tion
studyingthe educaprimitivechurch, how this

seen,

in

attained.

was

Ablution

baptism

or

of
newly-bom in the waters
purification.
of sixteen for Brahmins, twenty-

of the

of
Ganges, or in the waters
3d. Confirmation, at the age
of
and twenty-fourfor vaisyas,
tivo for tchatrias,
the cradle

The

in fulfilment

ceremonies

consecrated
priest,

the

at

priest

dying.

relation of the

nearest

sacraments

of God.

servants

,'jacrament

the

last

of the blessed."

Brahminical

anointingof

The

St.

pillow of

the

Hindoo

the

that

it is the prayer

of death

the father the abode

to

marriage is

correct,

funeral

above

scripture.

the hour

At

memory

Deslonchamps,

circumstances
or

the

valid,should

be

to

priest."

for it is remarkable

of the sacraments,
did

of the sexes,

of the

and

man

species; also,in

the human

recognizeas

we

East.

marriage in creatingthe

prayers

by

by th.e Brahminical
followingtext of the Vedas

the

by

work, the union

b"" consecrated

the

studied

sacrament

reproductionof

uf the divine

cited,and

and

Egypt

established

2JI

traditions of India

many

held

created

Ijrahn"'a

woman

in

also

Marriage was
religion
; it is so
'"

the

to

GENESIS.

of the

4th. Absolution

the

purification

newly-born.
of faults,
by public confession.

5th. Marriage.
We

have

said littleabout

this last sacrament,

and

the

reason

is plain.
There

can

be

no

discussion

on

this

point,for

needing no demonstration, that ancient

tie.
considered marriageas a religious
liuth

it is

vulgar

societies have

all

t9a

THE

IN

BIBLE

im"TA

CHAPTER

BRAHMINICAL

FEASTS

XXI.

CEREMONIES

AND

OF

PRESENl

THE

TIME.

The

of Hindoos

mass

of the

present day have but

feeble

impressionof their ancient worship,and the Brahmins, after

pervertedthe loftiest and purest principles,
havingdespotically
which they
have in their turn sunk into the moral
degradation
of their own
fostered for the maintenance
authority,^^"hen
invasions

had

their

ruined

political
power,

their

temples, multipliedfeasts and

each

other

and

in pomp

refugein

they took

ceremonies, and emulated

splendor to

preserve

their

religious

prestige.
It may

Hindoo

not

be without

interest

to

see, from

of
description

degreeof hebetude the priestshad reduced

the people,after havingproscribedduringtheir domination, all
civil and religious
liberties ; and that,too, in the name
of God,
who

fete,to what

has

always been

of all sacerdotal
Let
and

if

without
to the

the

those
we

do

same

not

in

Europe,

as

in

Asia, the grand pretence

castes.

liberties be

quitesink

to

proscribedamongst
Oriental

we
degradation,

doubt, retrogradeto the subjectionof

thraldom
religiouf.

rind
grand inquisitor

crucifix ir hand.

of
his

ourselves,

the middle

shall,
ages,

kingsand people,to Torqueraada,

wit!',
torture
executioners,
inflicting

It would
nominal

alike,witn

the

of

amount

Saints and
liuudced
them

more

of
offerings
heroes

and

simplest

celebrated,and

they are

the faithful.
been

have

that
multiplied,

so

sixty-five
days of the year
if passed in batches,as

all,even

trie

en

worship,which, however,
and solemnity,
according

less pomp

or

givee

to

me

richness of the temple where

the

10

for
quiteimpossible

list of the fetes of Hindoo

all

are

be

273

GENESir.

HINDOO

three

the

insufficientto bono*

are

as

many

possibleeact

day.
completelylost the idea of God, and
has replacedhis worship by that of Devas
or
angels,and Richis
be the end of all religion
such
must
or saints ; and
infallibly
Brahminism

that refuses

submit

to

will take

We
brum

as

This

ends

example

five

commences

five

The
Hindoos
remain

firsteightdays

are

to

existing
superstitions,
grandeur.
of

of
the

minute's

to

repose

assist from

from

crowd

May,

of

grims
pil-

all parts of India.

the interior of the

far to

of

without
intermission,

being alone admitted, the

highcaste

moon

new

the immense

passed in

in the courts, content

the sacred
The

days before

assembled

devotees

of

reason.

feasts,that of Chelam-

appearance

days after,without

a moment's
affording

and

of the

one

stillpreservedan

feast

lightof

itselfto the

India,which, in the midst

of southern
has

and

has almost

common

hear

temple,

people

the music

and

chants.

first day is consecrated

celebrate his beneficent

to

action

on

Siva, and solelyemployed

nature

decompositionspringsthe germ that

the perfumed llowers,and
to man,
the earth with their

to

by him that from

ful
produces the rice,so usethat adorn
the lofty
trees
; it is

foliage.

During night they chant the mysteriousunion of God \vith

sun
by a hymn to the holy perNature, and salute the rising
sonage
whose
Cartigna}',
prayers relieved the earth from the
to torment
demon
humanity,
Kayamongasaura, who had come
under
The
At

the form
second

of

monster

day isdevoted

night they

are

offered

with the head

of

an

elephant.

prayer for the souls of ancestors

boiled rice,honey,
(consecrated)
to

THE

274

BIBLE

IN

clarinad

butter,raid fruits. Once

aliments

have

They

them, should
third

The

on

blessed

the

afterwards

who

fourdi

propertiesas

mg

poverty,

fifth is the

The

under

the

of

vases

Brahmins
Hindoos
On

them

in their

those

of

day

the

those

of

purify-

who, from

in their

once

"

powder

that burns

in the

to
lives,

in crowd?

press

sandal-

in

wood, of

tripodsof gold

in
rivalry

of

excitingthe emulation
magnificenceof their presents.
art

the

day they pray

that

the

of
enterprises

themselves
especially
distinguished
obstructed
by any evil genius and
"

of the

Brahmin

day, a

by
the

of rich

those who

their

not
gifts,
may
at the
day following,

what

announces

days

of

who
Siva

have
to

protectionof
The

God

Brahmins

amongst
and

in

themselves

them

by

the

of the

the

They

then

and
obscurity,

of the

place, to prostitutetheni

themselves, and give themselves

debauch.

end

avail

agitationexcited

not

accord

desire an
happy fecundity; such as more
especially
should pass the night in the pagoda, under
their sterility,

them
to

the

will be

lucky and unlucky.

The seventh day, especially
devoted
to women
to
yet conceived,is employed in supplications
year

tion
celebra-

price.

the SLxth

first hour

the borders

on

the great river.

have
be

for

Ganges,

unable, at least

the odorous

excel

to

tank

Pouluars, protecting

houses, or

offerings the fervent

portalsbringingrice,oil,and the

v/hich is made
and

the

and

pilgrimageto

the

make

eaten

protect their limits.

are
infirmity,

or

temple.
supplicationsto

followingnight are assignedto

have
the same
Tircangy,whose waters

day

of the river

to

assistants,
who, having
and plunge into the sacred

and farms, a sort of penates ; at

villages
ful,
images of these gods,broughtby the faith-

place

of their fields
The

in

passes

divinities of

nightare

these

side of the

one

day

tlie naues,

to

the

to

immediately go

is found

which

devoted

all impurities.
property of efiacing

the

distributed

are

INDIA.

persuade these

up

to

poor

nightof orgie

creatures,

timid

2;6
w

THE

hole

INDIA,

IN

themselves
restricting

in

or
distance,

lilBI.E

eatingand sleeping

to

three

days during the journey.

six hundred
that it is nearl)'
It is well to know
leaguesfrom
Chelambrum
branch of the Ganges.
to the nearest
But this is nothing,
and the follyof all these people is greatlj
surpassedby the fanaticism of fakirs,who sit impassibleand
only every

smilingin
the

the midst

hideous, of

most

tortures

frightful.

most

Look

blood;

which

that wheel

at

with it five

iron

the
suffering

of

six human

or

these

hooks

are

with

turns

who
figures

fakirs who

passed through

rapidity,
carrying

such

redden

with thcii

the earth

have

suspended themselves

with

their

their loins,or
thighs,

theii

shoulders.
them

Near
with

we

remark

long pointsof

See
broth

that

man

from

another

iron which

seated

his flesh.

deeply penetrate

who, with the aid

of

in

tube, sucks

studded

plank

on

little

himself to silence,
plate, he has condemned
it impossiblefor him
and to make
his vow, he has
to break
burnt his lipswith a red hot-iron and stitched them togetherto

united,leavingin the middle

become
admit

neighboris obliged to
for many

unable
bound

them

righthand

penetratingthe

and

grown

flesh and

the

and
have

is that inert

What

should

suppose

breathe ?

neither

nose

only

can

lay bare

the

animal,out
of his

use

that the

the two

muscles

of

dish,

hands, havins;

pointsof

iho

hands

few

steps and

there is stillmore
cry ;

to

each

other,

through and through.

stretched

opening teeth

"

the

appear

legs are twisted

its lips excised to

are

sickened

say that these

upon

not

Ave

infliction,
frightful

would

one

its

ears,

an

palm of the left,and vice-versfi.

inanimate, did it

Its arms,
nor

mass

make

united

sight. But let us on,

not
'a
a complaint,not
conquered pain.

gums,

small hole that

cocoa-cords

the

on

horrible mutflations !

What
at

togetherwith

like

eat

to

past

years

nails press

nails have

The

fluid aliment.

His

so

"

and
the

horror!

earth which

men

we

to
occasionally

ankylosed,it has
very edge of the
This

carcas

hu

HINDOO

it looks

longera tongue,

no

277

GENESIS.

like

Is it reallya

death's-head.

man

is a

Near
she has

burnt

ulcer

half

"

rotten

the

"

extinguishit with
for

saints,and
that

buried

wash

to

rays in all their

two

the

scorchingheat

his

upon

pileof

kilogrammes,

receives the sun's

the very neck

to

under

hundred

three

gods and

of

statues

fakir groans

or

in earth

will

his blood.

serves

least

burningcharcoal,he

of

holy ablutions,a

weighsat

while another

bed

vast

one

it.

feed upon

worms

his tlesh and

the tank which

Near

body is but

Her

away.

upon

indications of sex,

longerthe

no

them

cut

or

is stretched

Another

wood

has

who

woman

skull,shaven

the

to

very skin.
Let

describe

longerto

Who, then,can
thus

make

to

such

It is said

the

Brahmins, whose

tenderest

fanaticise the

the

promise of

which
I

immortal

of Siva

it should
could

age, and

of
spirit

During the nightof

statue

the

tour

hundred

in
tracing

become

god.

frantic
At

on

mon^ents

the

which

the

of

Bengal fireworks

by

the steps

pagoda, ol

of all

smoke

stamp

Bengal

diose
gran-

colors,

hands.
from

golden tripods,

turn

upon

circle of fire ; the dazzled

"

fete,

suddenly bursts forth'as

perfumed balls that

nighta
the

last of the

times.

seven

thousand

atmosphere is obscured

constantlyburn

body

by seclusion,and

in all its details the bizarre and

launched

where

for their

recompense.

in the midst

up

in

serve

bestialize the

these unfortunates

by enchantment,
from

courage

they

puqDose

they

selves
them-

upon

What

the tenth

describe

not

that

of this scene,
eccentricity

The

God!

day,which is the
is promenaded on the tank of

make

refuses

they reallythink

the crowd, bring them

stupifying

and

the

tortures

faith if

senseless

agreeable to
if it is but juggler}'
!

that the

and
astonishing
role from

impose such

to

themselves

stoicism

and what

the pen

scenes.

urge men
fanatic and

What

wearied,as

sightbecomes

stop ; the

us

fire

"

shout

in honor

selves,
them-

crowds
of the

foi
the obscurity
ceasing,

278

BIBLE

THE

seconds

some

idol alone,
waters

at

"

is almost

IN

INDIA.

the

complete,

splendidlyilluminated, glides silentlyover

iti feet recline

ingattitudes then blaze

panying frantic hurrahs.

bayaderes in

the

forth

most

seventh

is

tour

the delirium
slirieks,

plunge into
Siva has
Woe

temple

to

dared

had

exaltation

Brahmin, in the
assist

at

them

would

the

of

name

escape

into

God,

to

the

infallibly

until the

next

Bengal
the

miserable

are

"

south,

established,where
Ali has

Hyder

not

law of the sword

minical domination

There

have

There

are

of

-^

an

the

of

sacred

assailed him.

with

compared

of India
those

invasion

crescent,

it would

of

of

to

the

Omar

consciences
appear

the
and

self
him-

that

"

is,

South.

less

was

intolerance
bent

be

to

trumps

that have

of the North

great

slowly die out,

first to account

temi)lesand

'he
"

not

pagoda,

at

firmly
and

of

to

the

that Brah-

preserved somethingof its ancient prestige.

traditions
religious

few learned

hope

razed
an"l

of the

sound

the

sectarian

the

of

one

with

Mahomedan

where

not

is reconducted

unable
retires,

magnificentfetes

most

crowd,

year ; the fires

for the different emotions

The

Europeans who

the enclosure.

morning Siva
mysteriousinterior

the

the

of the

anger

alive from

the stranger

tum-tums,

in the

be

pleased the officiating

denounce

to

graduallydispersesto

some

that

water

gates of the

he would

if it

even

in the

againexliibited

In

in the

the

dren
chil-

and

women,

enter

to

moment,

that

ceremony,

four

About

of

; men,

accom

become

chants

purifythemselves

if recognizedat such

is the

crowd

itsclimax

enchant

most

vnth
fires,

the

the

pieces.

Such

pomp

the tank

justtraversed.
to the paria who

in

torn

nearly completed,

reaches

the

gorgeous

The

of the

statue

enormous

Bralmiins,who

found
preserve

refuge in the hearts of

the preciousdeposit

approachingregeneration.
grand

monuments,

the

giganticruins,the

feet high,there
God, sculpturedin graniteof fifty

jestic
ma-

in fact

KXDOO

279

icmains of that old Brahminical

tno

arc

GENESIS.

civilizationthat

inspired

the entire of

Asia, Greece, Egypt, Judea, and Rome.

It is there,we
cannot
repeat it too often, there is our

of

study and

of research.

The

savans

few

who

throN^Ti themselves
from

have

Hindoo

indigo.
perceivedthat

not

stamp, that Mahomedan

and

and

invariably

Bengal,where

the

doo,
Hin-

decimated

India,

temples have replaced pagodas,

palacesof Rajahs,and that they

which

to

of India has lost its

the North

Englishcottages the
the field of battle
visiting

but

were

Calcutta

upon

have

European contact, has opened shops,and become

dealer in rice and

They

visited India

have

field

of all the invasions that have

have

succeeded

the

assemble

those

European

agiotage.
festA'ials of

The
masses

that

are

or

the

Carnatic
Each

seen

will have

gazingat

goldand jewels,and
is the

the
display,
It is in

poor.
the

Poojah

world

after its own

and

manner,

separation.
with the inferior castes,

contact

It is necessary

processionof
such

be informed

that

statue

by people in

of Baboo

must

the

instance.

no

followed

imposing

pointof Hindostan,

Eastern

do with this

to

the rich with the

"That

not

fete and

its own

familyhas

say, while

the

on

Malayaia, for

vanityhas much
The high castes
nor

do

Bengal

who

])eoplcshould

ornamented

silks and

one."

If

with

cashmeres,
we

make

pays for it.

that of the
degree European pridegrafted
upon
-disdain to
of the high castes
Hindoo.
even
Many members
in public processions,
and pay substitutes to
show themselves
some

follow the idol in their

Tlie

only festival of Bengal,which

certain affluence of
of Brahma

and

trulyoriginal
; it
buffoonery.
It
of

name.

ist

splendorand a
tival
devotees, is the Poojah of September, fesof Nature, lut it is distinguished
by nothing

is but

be confessed

honoringCod

has

tissue of gross

and

often

disgusting

Bengaleeshave a singular
way
for the occasion,without respect

that the

theyexhibit

some

28o

BIBLE

THE

for

vind

their stages represent

on

bounds.

on

Thus

the

on
village

a
a

as
generation,

God

by

once

obscene

most

of

scenes

and

indecencythat

this fete celebrated

saw

Ganges, after

disgusting

at

pass

ail

Hoogly,

the

manner
man
: a
following
the one
Brahma, the other Nature,
representing
woman,
the act
ol
consummate
deliberately
public scaffolding,

small
and

children,
images the

or

women

INDIA.

IN

assured,in honor

was

of th^ germs

fecundated

Creation.

at

What

be

can

brutishness?

expected from

people sunk

into such

social

understood

that it has

been

let it be well

And

produced by

idea
of the religious

abuse

and

domiiiahy priestly

tioji.
could

Never

orgies
And

such

to

"

let

feel assured

civilizations could
the

that

conduced

doctrines and

sane

similar

such

of self-respect.

decrepitude.

operate, and

permittedto

to

enlightenedEuropean

our

engender

never

be

causes

same

have

reason

oblivion of

an

not

us

reign of

the

shall

we

Let
the

see

results.

same

Let

by

forgetthe mysteriesperformed in our middle ages

brothers of the Passion,and the clercs of the hasoche (a
not

us

the

of ecclesiastical

sort

and

which

at

were

Gcenities,and, sad

in the sanctuaries

court)even

to

of the

ples,
tem-

last

say,

proscribedbecause of their obthese proscriptions

from
emanated

censures.
royalordinances,and not from religious
in establishing
If free judgment had not succeeded
itself;if
we

continued

had

kings,as
without
where
We

in

to

India,had

torture

"

have

people who

we

burn

to

for

accepted tutelagewithout

resistance, where
should

and

should

we

have

bible-text ; if
and

murmur

been?

Answer,

be ?

got beyond that period,it will be said, and

have

conquered

civiland

will
religious
liberty

the
not

!
retrograde

Who

knows

Had

not

and of

India its epoch of free

?
liberty

The

sacerdotal

judgment,free discussion,

clas"istrove

without relaxation ;

"NDOO

it pursued
patient,

r8l

its work

GENESIS,

did

ages

"

not

it,

weary

and

"

il

conquered.
The

threatens

contest

againto

despotism what do I say

religious
engaged.
The most
imposingmanifestation

"

few months
Let

us

Rome

at

watch

"

MANIFESTATION

and

our

prepare

OF

to

of the age is

to

be made

in

GOD

defence.

XXII.

ON

SACRED

According

It

hberty and
is alreadyeverywhere

of '89.
againstthe principles

CHAPTER

LAST

between

roive

Brahminical

that is,the
grand dissolution,
by a strange event :

EARTH,

ACCORDING

TO

HINDOO

BOOKS.

beliefs,the
end

of the

Maha-pralaya, the

world, will be signalized

"

Let

commentator
Ramatsariar, the religious

books, speak
'*....

on

the sacred

"

Some

time before

the destruction

of all that

exists,

earth,
on
strugglebetween evil and good must recommence
and the evil spirits
who, at their first creation,rebelled ifi
of Brahma, will present themselves
the authority
heaven against

the

for

their

God
to dispossess
struggle
libert)-.
final

of his power

and

recover

282

BIBLE

THE

will Christna

Then

prince
aided

of

by

the

again

come

will
spirits,

earth,

upon

the

who, under

Rakchasas,

all evil

INDIA.

IN

the

cover

of

form

globe

overthrow

to

with

thi

horse, and

ruins

and

with

carnage.
This

is

belief

whatever

an

as

the

to

and

I state

in

belongs,

article

of

India, there
not

faith.

victory of

future
record

the

of the

text

"Never

that

the

son

must
to

In

study

of

Before
I shrink

not

even

to
con

crated
conse-

sacrifice

of

Virgin Devanaguy.

present

comment.

XXHI.

Narada.
*I

argument:

do

not

this,

know

"

to

know, know

to

comprehend,

and

hend
compre-

judge."

closing these

books

does

have

is, the

Hindoo,

it is false.'

therefore
"We

the

to

that

of the

fact, without

Philosopher

resort

not

priests

The

CHAPTER

is

Brahmin

Aswameda,

sacrifice, the

horse,

he

caste

.sider it

general

studies

India, I say the

judging me,
from

no

on
same

study

the

the

and

sacred

all contradiction.

to

old

discussion, fear

religiousbeliefs

no

civilizations of the

light

East, and

"

234

THE

"This

lIlUr.E

incarnation you have

tradition of the creation

still expect

"We

of Christna

to

horse, and from

have

Heva.

and

end

the

what

world, that

of the

of the Rackchasas,

the Prince

encounter

Apocalypse, you

your

of Adima

adoptedoai

you have

adopted,as

another,before

coming

disguisedas

I!-? INDIA.

of
just told me
this prophecy from

have

you

also borrowed

us.

rehgion is

"Your
wherefore
"

desire

then

If you

but

would

succeed, do

in India from

the

to

this

but

was

the

and

the base

not

the bases

the

the

are

purityof
is

not

which

we

They

people?

and
religion,

reply.

form

of

ship
wor-

tions,
visible manifesta-

but

are

no

is

what

to

be

done

same

beliefs,
forgottentheir primitive
moraliza
Christna' s morale^ in practice,
but their dethe result of ignorance
perfect
; they have

of their

knowledge

of

the Hindoos

doubt

No

morale

admitted

truth,and

offer these

you
ceremonies

? external

when

Europe had opened its eyes

before

exact

What, then, would

and

and

civilization."

of
light

All

long

ours,

ples
princi-

begin by teachingme

not

holy books,

our

of

adopt it ?

to

me

that I find in all

possess

souvenir
infiltration,
a

an

have

dogmas, and

of all the

of
grand principles

conscience.
Let

Europe

not

of her strifesand
ill-advised

be
her

so

ready to

ambitions

giveherself

cast

of all

the

stone

in the mids^

"

kinds,she would

be verj^

palm of morality.*
the Hindoos
Doubtless
of to-dayhave substituted the most
to
superstitious
practicesfor worship. Wliat else ? Thanks
their priests,
they have ended by deserting
God, to adore the
workers
And

"It

of

to

miracles,angels,and saints,devas, and richis.

then ?

would
sources

with

our

the

views

Have

not
a

be

we

also

not

difficult,"
says

sketch of Christian

of the great moral

our

miracles

of Salette

draw

Von

Schlegel,"to
nations,that would by

of modem
suf"eriority

no

means

times."

from

and

thentic
au-

accord

HINDOO

r)t]ier

places,

chilblains

and

scrofula

"

saints, -who

our

heal

should

happened

large city

the

on

rniisionarywas

he

as

The
had

is the

as

g^ion,would

men,

fond

the

of

shall

not

the

less

be

Hindoo,

does
There

is

does

palm

leaf, prepared

shade

sented
pre-

circumstances,

and

religious matters

know

not

the

came,

of

vast

Brahmin

his

Holy

proverb
how
for

to

the

this when

how

fix

wordy

wars

believed,

be

the

pur-

most

fect
per-

that

there

missionary.
it is known
who

is, of
and
:

"

thought

does
the

know

not

Vedas.

and

write.
'

says

his

doos
Hin-

The

with

and

that

read

which

to

interest, become

with

caste,

or

to

any
reli-

of

afraid

you

these

scarcely

or

rank

and

speak

to
are

of

listen

Scripture,

k?ww

wish

following Sunday.

would

at

opinion,

"

encounters,

what

consented

Tamoul,

"Why

the

surprised

Hindoo

might

assemble,

it the

the

who

Sunday

theologian

public

pitilesshootings,

perfectly

wot

for

whatever

of

he

these

with

in

Brahmin

and

contest,

principles

who

newly-arrived

such

the

answered,

children

vanquished

We

Trichinopoly,

near

such
on

sunk

whom

our

fixed

impartiality,be

is

have
to

with

and

by

the

svie

understood

was

very

women,

excited

perfectly

infalliblyhave

meeting
are

discussion

district

yourself

The

Brahmin

under

practice

would

he

in the

Measure

blind

the

choose.

refused

Hindoo,

deaf,

India, where

public

priest,who

he

village

of

coast

east

him

to

might

in

be

to

theirs

have

seeking proselytes.

himself,

proposed

day

one

the

lame,

Hindoos

the

not

tlie

?
.

\Vliy

285

GENESIS.

He

upon

is

not

man
'

an

olle

the

ing
refresh-

(a

writing).

whole

Banyan,

village

assembled

"c., "c.

under

FOURTH.

PART

HINDOO

IF

ORIGIN

BELIEVED

IN

BY
LOSE

THE

BECOMING

TIME

NO

OF

IN

laws, deny freedom

clients,and, in

they do
and

to

not

the

BEING

JEW,

SHOULE

READER.

dogmas, bend

discussion
of

name

conscience

and

of

under

judgment

to

theii
theii

God, proscribeall thought which

control,all liberty
except

the

bow

libertyto

down

believe.

Equally,in the
cipies: libertyof
humanity
and

their
of

AND

MENCE
COM-

SHOULD

BRAHMINISM.

THE

impose

RELIGION,

JEW,

ADOPTING

TO

Religions

CATHOLIC

IDEA.

CHRISTIAN

THE

name

and
superstitions

God,

reason

the individual in

in the ways

examination

of

which

of the
can

thoughtand

just and
alone

propounds
the

other

act, progress

good, by

relieve the

the obstructions of the past.

prin

future

of

discussion
from

the

HINDOO

ORIGIN

Physicalsciences
of

will have

long as they followed

as

2"S')

IDEA.

in the wake

idea.
sciences
Moral
imposed by the religious
from
better destinyuntil theydisengagethemselves

axiom

an

erred

CHRISTIAN

THE

OF

no

mystery and from revelation.

Let

us

mystery and

spurn

of his intinite power,

which

he has

strugglethat
of

implanted in
lead

must

to

revelation

unworthy

as

dom;
of his wis-

and, strong in the immortal

us, let

not

fear

to

engage
the triumphant,untrammelled
us

truths
in the

reign

reason.

We

shall then

worship from

separated the Supreme Being and

have

all the

weaknesses, all the miseries of human

with which

has

man

been

him
pleased to identify

his

perfectio
imfor

than six thousand

more

Such

should

years.
be the aim of all free intelligence.

CHAPTER

SIMPLE

Having
on

I.

EXPLANATION.

conspicuouslythe influence
societies of antiquity,
proven the

exhibited

all the

historic and

JuJea,of Greece,

traditions
religious
and

of Rome,

to

have

shall

the
now

sacred
see

books

of

Christ and

been

drawn

of Moses

dia,
In-

phic,
philoso-

moral

of Persia, of

fountain,exposed the work

great primitive
from

of ancient

Kgypt, of
from
as

that

derived

East, we
Egypt and of the extreme
his apostlesrecover,
whether
from

288

THE

Asia

from

or

liine

and

principles,

pure

which

world

of

with

and,

the

aid

the

regeneration

attempt

Vedas,

of

of

under

crumbling

everywhere

was

traditions

Christna,

of

teaching

INDIA.

IN

primitive

the

Egypt,

and

morale

DIBLE

tho

those

snb-

ancient

the

and

decrepitude

corruption.
We

recounted

have

of

conception

the

simply,

reserving,

Christna,

for

last

the

next

few

fable

and

desire

whe

it

from

Far

Jesus

God

as

And,

have

God

has

given

The

past

become.

of

ters.
mat-

of

vating
ele-

and

truths,

by
it

disengaging

by

wonders,

sapping

of

inspires

which

beliefs

these

all

be

with

which

it.

surround

motive

mentary,
com-

shall

impossibility

Christ,
and

all

we

historic

of

pleasure

lofty

already

than

us

to

vulgar

more

level

the

redeemer

authority

directs

and

reason

my

the

me

of

and

nevertheless,

may,

adopt.

to

guide

other

Let

sincere

all

T respect
"-efase

by

the

which
upon

superstitions

ages

in

more

figure

true

of

the

me

the

to

the

middle

the

pleased

once

of

Genesis,

reflection,

all

work,

our

suggested

prodigy

accumulation

the

trom

of

are

death

possible,

touch

to

life and

the

as

part

pages

restore

to

far

as

obliged, necessarily,

The

Virgin,

the

Hindoo

faithfully, the

other

reason,

is but

change

said

our

me

torch,

it, I

will

light
and

ruin, obscurity,
route,

and

we

not

than
follow

and

that

of

see

accept

conscience.

it.

intolerance,
shall

cannot

what

and
the

despotism.
futuie

may

HINDOO

OIJIGIN

OF

THE

CHAPTER

IMPOSSIBILITY

OF

THE

LIFE

OF

CHRISTIAN

2S0

IDEA.

II.

CHRIST,

AS

DESCRIBED

BY

THB

EVANGELISTS.

The
us

lifeof the great Christian

transmitted to
as
philosopher,
his Apostles,
is but a tissue of apocryby the Evangelists,
phal
destined
strike
to
and
inventions,
popular imagination,

to
solidly

It must

establish the basis of their

be

new

religion.

admitted,iiowever, that the field was

wonderfully

had little difficulty

in finding
prepared,and that these men
adeptsto place fortune and life at the service of reform.
Everywhere Paganism was in its last throes : Jupiter,
maugre
had no
his altars,
Socrates,
longer believers ; Pythagoras,Aristotle,
and Plato,had long evicted him from their conscience.
Cicero wondered
that two priests
could look at each other without

laughing
; for

two

ages past, Pyrrha,Cimon,

Sextus,Empir-

icus,Enesidemus, no longerbelieved in anything: Lucretius

had justwritten his book on
Nature, and all the great spirits
of the age of Augustus,too corrupt to return
to simpleprinciples
and primordiallights,
but staunch
to reason,
had reached
the most
perfectscepticism, leadinga lifeof pleasuremidst
"

oblivion of God

of the future destinies of Man.

had left
side,those old and decayingtheologies
the spirit
of the multitude the idea of a Redeemer, which

On
m

and

another

ancient India had

25

bequeathedto

all the nations

and the wearied

BIBLE

THE

290

peoplewaited

their energy,

nourish

to

replacetheir extinct beliefs,

paralysedby doubt, and in need of

somethingnew

for

INDIA.

IN

to

hope.
It

then that

was

people,did

of the

Jew, though

poor

in the lowest

bom

class

fear,after devotingfifteen years of his

not

of this
study and meditation,to attempt regeneration
epoch of decrepitudeand of materialism.
the pure
and
knows
simple morale which he
I'^eryone

life

".o

with what

preached,and

afflatus.

itselfunder

the

new

Christ is

our

object;

and

not

what

by

to see

ancient

the
avidity

business is

our

simplyto

teachingof
seek its origin,

had

able

characterize

To

studies the reformer

transformed

world
the

been

to

reform

himself
the

From

only a

moment

find for him

rightto

his

whatever

man,

rejectthe incarnation,to

we

grandeur and
as

precursors,

his

have

we

in him

see

have

genius,we
found

for

Boudha,

for Zoroaster, for the

It is to

Egyptian Manes, and for Moses.

that Jesus,up to the moment
incontestable,

us

\\1iydelayuntil thirty
years
if he

God, remain

was

of his lifeof

mode
We

of

but what

of

doubt

have

fifteen years

or

not

been

preach even
most
ble
palpa-

thesis ? and

that at twelve

tained
years of age he susthat astonished the Jewishdoctors ;

temple
why did

think proper
Evangelists
inform us ?
Is not this fact more
to be, with a crowd
likely
others,the product of their imagination?
what did he do from twelve to thirty
of
Then, lastly,
years

age ?
a

without

Why,

proving his divinity.

thesis in the

to

it would

twelve

WTierefore

of

his self-destined mission.

beginhis work?

duringthe

manhood

it is true, told

are,

of age to

inactive

youth and

?
infancy

from

is,until thirty
years

that

scene,

preparinghimself by study for

was

age,

the world's

on

appearance

of his

I ask

of
question,

not

which

the

I shall be very

glad to

receive

solution.
In the
an

silence

of the

apologistsof Jesus,we

intentional oblivion

; for it would

have

can

been

cover
only disnecessary

BIBLE

THE

392

IN

INDIA.

all the philosophers,

all the historians all the gi am
thinkers,
marians of that epoch ?
What, then, did they go to seek ?
Alexandrian
What
could that immense
Libraryhi^ve contained,
the

destruction

the

of future

scorn

Caesar's smallest

not

the

Neo-Platonicians

school,if the ancient

celebrated

brilliant beacon,

title to

the

races

did
Why, after\vards,

not, like

is

of which

there

theii

found

traditions of this country

all

attract

did
of

all men
intelligences,

thought?
The

inclined

am

Mary

hand, and

at

was

of

son

to

he

went

think,may

as,
^"'arentsin infancy,

did

and

he

idea of

the

followed

current

Egypt

I
as
Perhaps even,
been conveyed there by his
reported by tlie evangelists,
be pretended,until he had

have

may

coming

the

learn.

to

moreover,

return, whatever

not

conceived

Joseph

and

preach

to

his doctrine

to

the

Jews.
Before

fullyour theory of Jesus,it appeal :'

exposingmore
as
as
desirable,
possible,to examine what his life was
briefly
accordingto the Apostles.
Mary, still a virgin,
although wife of Joseph, conceived by
the

operationof

and

Jesus was

the

bom

third person

Holy Ghost,
the

on

of the

Trinity,

25th December, of the year

4004

world, accordingto Biblical chronology.

The birth,foretold by the prophets,was
signalized
by diffei

of the

and also three magi from the East,

: shepherds,
prodigies
to Bethlehem, to worcame
ship
guided by miraculous inspiration,
ent

the

]:ewly-born.
of the
Herod, King of Jerusalem, fearingthe advent
Messiah, who, according to certain
predictions,should
him,

dethrone
round

about,all

Warned
to

save

by

slew, in Bethlchein

the children

of two
angel,Joseph

an

the child from

the death

of Herod.

the doctors

At

and

sent

massacre,

At

in the

the age

and

Mary
did

not

under.

fled into
return

Egypt

until aftei

of twelve

temple by

after havinghad
thirty,

and

years
and

a?i(iall the countries

ished
years, Jesus astonthe wisdon" of his answers.

himself

baptisedin

the

wat'irs

0/

HINDOO

ORIGIN

the

Jordan,by John

CF

CHRISTIAN

THE

he
Baptist,

IDEA.

293

his mission

commences

and

journeysthrough the cities of Judea, preachingwith his dts

a multitude
ciples; duringthe three years of his peregrinations
of miracles

changed the

H*

resuscitated

hearingto

into wine

Lazarus, three

the

Accused

by

people to
to

sent

him

to

judged and

death

days after

cast

and

himself

of
priests

king,he

Pilate, the

; the

the

governor

possessed.

Attached

to

between

cross,

exciting

of

Jews,
of

handed

Judea,
had

Caiphas,high priestof the Jews, who

condemned
to death by the Sanhedrim, or

of ancients.

blind,

the

arrested and

was

Roman

those

of the

son

sightto

devils from

out

the Pharisees
make

marriageof Cana,

the

at

the lame, restored

deaf,and

Pontius

over

him.

to

water

of Nairn, healed

widow

the

attributed

are

who
him

council

thieves,he

two

died, pardoning his persecutors.

days after death, he

and, fortydays
disci[)les,

Three
his

into heaven, after

rose

after

again,as
his

disciplesto

Common

to

in surroundingChrist
tipostles
wonders, opposed to the laws
the evident

This
others

with

an

of

nature

escort

even

the

events

in

merit

of

faith of the

of miracles

and
with

of reason,
and

sans.
gainingparti-

novelty.
them, and

How

many

with

equal

What

! the

That

is

doubt

and

crowd

had, in fact, played it before

success

no

not

the bad

denounce

the
objectof captivating

role had

and

reformer.

obligesme

sense

go

faith.

new

the chief
are
Such, accordingto the evangelists,
the life of the Christian

promised
ascended

resurrection,he

having commanded

instruct all peoples in the

he had

not

with

are
then,
evangelists

my
a

to

me,

thought. I maintain
laudable object,and to

their mission, had

recourse,

like all their

only impostors!
solelythat these men,
assure

the

success

to
predecessors,

of
pro

and apochryphalmiracles to attach to themselves

a divine
digies
and sublime vie
the gentle
and that they made
a Godoi
prestige,
tim of the

of Israel
jirii^.-.t?

BIBLE

THE

294

INDIA.

IN

of humai.itywithout
history
bended
on
knees, perhaps we
believing,
might hesitate
and denying.
about contesting
Ah

Let

inquireof

us

It is

the fact isolated in the

were

the case, that in

evei

we

find in all

the

globe this hope

which

the past.

no

of the

advent

doubt, from

sightof

at

most

the different

theogoniesof

sprung,
who

the
revie\ving

their

of

the

peoples who

God

epochs,

remote

occupy

earth,hope

upon

of primitive
aspirations
ples,
peoimperfectionsand sufferings,

own

in an impulse of faith and love, address themselves

naturally,
of all things. The tive
to the Supreme Being,creator
primi-

would

legendof

Brahma

the result of these

belief in the

promisinga

redeemer

Heva,

to

but

was

the poeticmanifestation
aspirations,

of this

divine incarnation.

of the
possibility

results of this

Christns
numerous.
generalbelief were
appears, proclaimshimself the promised redeemer, the offspring
and worshipshim as
of God, and the entire of India recognizes
The

such.
Boudlia

in

comes,

his

with

turn,

the

pretensions;

same

by the Brahmins, he goes to preach his

doctrine in Thibet, in Tartary, in China, and in Japan, and
these countries deifyhim, receive him as the Messiah expected
driven

of India

out

for ages.

Later, Zoroaster, excitingPersia againstBrahminical

presents himself
to

the

people

written under
Manes

in

as

his works

of the Lord

messenger
books

or

Egypt, Moses

people continue
LasHy, Christ

Divine
to

in

to

mcamations, ihey

prodigy,and

make

had

such

an

tradition,
i-K^

believe.
.

his life is

restore

God

the

prophets.anH

and

messengers

kneel, and
appears,

Judea, continue

short, scarcelyhad

to

doubt, never

law, wliich he had

of the

preach,when the Jews put him

disciplessurvive ; followingthe course
and

gives

the dictation of God.

callingthemselves

lime

; and

thority,
au-

his

to

death ; but

traced

memory

of this justman,

ambition

out

by

by

he
hia
ceding
pre-

miracle

who, beyond
during his life. But, aa

HIJfDOO

shall

we

ORIGIN

closelycopying
the

in

is

so

easy

results

always
You

Boudha,

too,

created

died for their convictions

make

to

in

placing error

of

martyr

of these

could

men

wearied

died

own

Persecution

that

their

with

? that

Zoroaster

the

of their

defence

God

was

then, how

the East

their

footingas truth,

same

me,

in

burning piles of

the

their

is valueless ; nothing

Vischnou

from

Explain to

have

selves
them-

sectary.

the

on

descended
?

to

us

of

proofs

too

in the East.

this argument
politics,

Ormuzd

by

sent

partisans

guished
faith,extin-

blood, and

their persecutors ?

Tell

the

me

the
numerous

adherents

of

cause

it could

how

me

in

of all devotions

the

to

all

the

to

that

be

meantime,

the

to

intolerances,
religious
of

cause

evil,as

good.

fell

Mahomet

of

victims

of all the

secret

secrets
as

Tell

who,

conclusive

apostles had

as

was

in

it is from

for it ardent defenders.

enlisting
do not, I fancy,believe that Christna

find of

vvas

in

as
religion,

295

clever, and

not

were

most

the

have

not

IDEiV.

and
inspiration,

and

Egypt

said, that if

god, they would

In

the

come

CHRISTIAN

incarnation, they permit

their

of

source

precedingstudies
Will it be

Hindoo

the

will

that

THE

presently,they

see

discover

OF

had

at

first and

the

Mecca

to

few

defend

coweringly fled

before

faithful

prophet,
popular

fury?
Still
John

ourselves, do

nearer

Catholic

the

Huss,

refusingto retract
Why did he not
by a word ?
And

Moses,

see

pretended errors

save

which

the

of

J'rotestants

St

he could

Camisards,

Vaudois, the

Bartholomew,

have

dying for the

recognizes,even

ages

Catholicism
the

energeticfigureof
by Catholicism, for

himself,when

same

And

that

priest,burnt

Jews of the middle

the

proscribingit.
of the

his

you

and

the

done

so

of

law

while

and

the

sinister hecatombs

!
inquisition

Prepare

me

list of the martyrs

to

an

idea,while

others had

ig6

THE

the

on

Be

died

for

much

courage

eve

die with

as

BIBLE

assured

INDIA.

contrary idea,and

for

chiefs of

the

IN

for

it,to defydeath in the

they have conquered, and

eiTor

tell

hesitate

never

crowd

face of the
the

do

we

no

for truth.

as

revolution

if

lue

Apostles

opinion

whose

chiefs

were

die

to

of

revolution.
had

Even

they desired it,it

the cross,

escape

the Christians

who

the firstto

are

we

the arena,

die

them

saw

retract

motive,which

for the

which

morale

they came

since
I

all

not

victims
of

confront

we

all

and

you,

found

in that

and

tortures

had

they not
self-devotion? they suffered

to

regenerationof humanity,and
only in that.
Since

their cause,

to

their
satisfy

should

tc

to

say

deceived

have

"we

them

beUefs."

our

life
Moreover, in sacrificing
a

to
pile,impossible

the

or

impossiblefor

was

died

the

for

they believers,but

were

the

pile for
their

had

all religions
have
beliefs,

they

ideas,

all

have

martyrs,

rightto maintain that the deaths of the Apostles,

of their religious
emprise,prove nothingfor the divinity

Jesus ?
That

past

divinitywas
before

was

without

it,that

parade

and

Who

do

resuscitate

expect
the

After

dead,

to
to

the
the

beUeve
heal

their

there

could

people

themselves

to

we

show

to

miracle.

attribute

not

them
the

to

necessary

the

not

work

could

be

be

seduced

death

of

power

to

that

Peter

entire

the

no

success

without

Christ, did

miracles?

work

crippled,and

they

continued
to

cast

to
out

devils ?
One

Simon, the magician,who

eximple, from
many :
peifomied prodigies,having had himself baptised
deacon
him
Philip,besought Peter to bestow
upon
"

himself

by
also

the
the

cursed
from

power

by

the

the

preachingon
of God.

of

working

chief

communion
his

own

of

miracles ;

having,for that,been

the

Apostles,he

of

the

account,

separated himself

faithful,and

commenced

himself,also, the
calling

sor

HINDOO

ORIGIN

OF

CHRISTIAN

THE

IDIA.

297

Having challengedSt. Peter in presence of the Empcroi

his magic power,
himself to a
he raised
to
Nero, thanks
of a great crowd
of
gi-eatheight in the air, in the presence
"

people.
Saint

But

"

the

magicianfell in

his

legs."

of

the middle

absurdities

such

Are

having addressed

Peter

of the

and

publicsquare

profess belief

to

God, Simon

to

prayer

?
discussing

worth

dare

sense

common

broke

and

will any man

in such ridiculous

fables ?
this

Whence

magic

of

power

Simon's

devil,

the

From

shall be told.

we

devil ! what

Poor

ages

dare

you

the bodies

to

of men,

then, all of
of the

risk

pitiablefigurethey make of you ; for

yourselfon earth, to install yourselfin
miracles,to strive with God

work

to

shamelesslyfly before

sudden, you

policeand

the

gendarmerie

the

and

tion
instituare

you

of
than a figureof rhetoric for the use
to-daynothing more
Veuillot and Archbishop Dupanloup.
M.
[Lord Shaftesbury
and

Spurgeon.]

Mr.

TJere
and

there, but

sixth chamber
I^et

they
knows

leave

us

only flourish

which

progress
wh'ch

of

epochs

support

and

deposited with
short

make
liberty,

cannot

which

sorcerers

humanity, when

of

work

in the

can

people,

directors

where
else-

immortal

light

the
Civilization,

us.

of

lightof day, of

the

the

them.

by despotism,seek

their conscience
has

great works

on

and

here

sorcerers

exorcise

to

miracles

all these

himself

God

well how

two

enervated

in

venture

more

no

in obscure

subjugatedor
than

miracle-workers,some

still some

are

all

those

examination

things
and

of

discussion.

Apostles of Jesus,rejecting
Judaism and inspiredby primitivesacred traditions of the
Church
the simple and pure
Past, impressed ui)on their new
of antique Hindoo
society the social system of
stamp
We

are

about

to

see

how

the

"

Christna.

zpS

THE

antiqi:ity bad

All

tlie

had

merit,

greatest

of

thought

to

our

for

by

they

boldly

which

it is

and
to

wliich

from

with

daring
preached

entitle

from

and

sacred

the

the

by liberty
themselves

careless

pure

and

reject

to

prepared

which,

their

eyes

Christna

to

yet

those

my

courage

not

was

in

revert

the

not

recovered

they

lofty Vedism,

regeneration, they

the

pardon,

fortune,

had

complete

despotic

of

traditions.

world

the

fountain

great

wisdom

they

because

marvellous,

the

contrar)',

the

if

and

Vedas;

the

on

INDIA-

ignoring

grand

some

Apostles,

IN

from

"

boiTOwed

The.

drur.k

Brahminism

sacerdotal
it but

BIBLE

life

of
sublime

books

and
trines
doc-

of

other

times.
is

Such

the

devotion

did

This

is

make

conclusions

establish

reveal

may
ancient
future

under

trample

foot

vain

the

and

regretting

always

India

it

the

as

clear
Make
in

even

Perhaps

they

appear

Sanscrit

as

send

India,
thousands

the

bequeathed

confirm

were

be

school

has

not

explored.

to

world

the

to

repeat

us

admire,

much

work.

superior

ancients

ancient

the

country
does

Let

Ac

channel

continue

odiers

to

intrepidity

whose

men,

tions
supersti-

predecessors.

the

my

these

too

dare

not

their

of

of

cannot

we

they

that

truth

to

not

may

Let

me.

classic

language,

chosen
of

and

us,

who

men

this

manuscripts
shall

we

if

see

the

conclusions.

my
to

satiety

progenitors
initiatrix

of

of
all

if
"

modem
the

those

whom

nations
"

civilizations

we

call

so

was

of

quity.
anti-

THE

30O

IM

BIBLE

Suetonius,nor Tacitus,nor
of the times,allude to
ans

Latin

Greek

histori

adventures
extraordinary

ted
attribu-

of the

any
the

INDIA.

or

Jesus; and yet it must be confessed that there was ther"

matter
stronglyto tempt the pen of these writers.
silence ?
How
explainthis unanimous
It is,as we
have said,that all these adventures
are
apocryto

it is that

isolated

through the world

which paid him little attention ; and that it was
only later his
of him a legendaryhero, by appropriating
made
some
disciples
Hebrew
propheciesinspiredby the East, and borrowingfrom
phal ;

Christna

his

Jesuspassed almost

morale^ and

of the less

some

of his
probableparticularities
tradition of the

The

whole

to the

common

East

"

more

life.

brought from
Virgin-Mother,

but recovered

Apostleshave

supernaturaland

India, is

in

the
Birmah,China, and Japan
and appliedit to their doctrine.
"

Through all the sacreu

always astonished me.
times of Egypt and the East, the old tradi
books of primitive
How
is
tion of the Messiah
had passed into the Hebrew
law.
it,then, if the most
importantfacts and miracles of Jesus'life
the result of posteriorinvention,that the Jews refused
not
are
whom
to recognizethis Redeemer
ly
they expected so impatientOne

fact has

to-day,they stillexpect ?
will say.
blinded by the Devil, some
Enough of
They were
this old argument, designedto cloak weak pretensions
; and, if
and

"

whom,

even

only for a moment.

it be seriously
Can
thought that the Jews would not have
hailed Jesus, if he had reallyperformed before them
all the
?
miracles assignedhim by the Evangelists
would
havp
I a,m persuaded,for my part, that such prodigies
have died on
not
found few unbelievers,and that Jesus would
the Cross like a vulgardemagogue seekingto excite the people
for such do the priests
of
againstthe established authorities
let us
possible,

reason,

if

"

Israel consider
We
an

are

order

no

him.

longerof

of nature, and

tlie submissive

knee.

that
an

epoch

when

the mai-vellous seemed

uncomprehending multitude

Well, let

man

appear

among

bent

us, who

HINDOO

ORIGIN

three years

dming

into

and

see

hiin

as

CHRISTIAN

wine,feed

with five fishes and

persons

the dead,

THE

IDEA,

his Hfe shall accumulate

of

miracle,change water
sand

OF

two

ten,

miracle upon

fifteen,
twenty

three

or

30I

thou

loaves,resuscitate

to the blind,Sec, "c.

hearingto the deaf,sight
and Pharisees will have power
to condenm
priests

restore

if

infamous.

reallydead, it must be no hin

drance if he smell a littleun])leasai.tly,
like Lazarus ; the wate;
water
changed into wine must be really
; the blind and the deaf,
reconcilcable
not complaisantly
so
; that in fact there be nothing
with physical
natural science.
or
But for that the dead

be

must

Jews did not recognize

Jesus,it was that the sublime
to proclaimhis morale, and give
preacherwas no doubt content
it the support of his pure example, which would
be a reproach
midst generalcorruption,
and excite against
him all th.ose who
lived and ruled by that corruption.
Warned
by his death, his apostleschanged their tactics.
tude,
Comprehending the influence of the supernaturalon the multithe incarnation of Christna. and, thanks
they re -originated
If the

to

it,were

able

continue

to

the work

to

which

theij

master

had

succumbed.
the

Hence

conceptionof

the

VirginMary,

and

the

divinity

of Christ.
infer

nothingfrom

Jezeus,borne

of

As

we

have

alike

seen,

these

names

the

by

all these

of

Jesus,or

Hindoo

names

and

of

the

Jeo^uah,and

Chrii*"-an Redeemers.

Jesus,Jeosuah, Tosia?,

Josu6,and J6ovah derive from the two Sanscrit words

one, the Sui^reme Being,and
Jezeus,which signify,
the Divine

P^ssence.

only amongst

not

It is not,

Christ,where
from
the

the

we

of

Christ

by

believers.

moreover,

The

son

not

with

same

find manifest

Jesus,and
20

names,

Jews, but throughoutthe

however, the

the Hindoos.
name

These

the

names

were

Zeus

and

the oOier.
commc"

East.

Christna

and

the Apostlesborrowing
imitation,
of

Mary

at

his birth received

until aJ'terhis death

was

only

hj"-called

This

did

Apostles

God,

Kristna,

write

Christna,

which

is also

guided

are

produce

the

said

the

oj

messenger

because

simple

K.

and

rule,

by

Ch,

our

it, therefore,

In

by

not

aspirate

the

rendered

better

our

of

applies

Christna

apply
to

name

that

most

who,

the

that
Greek

his

name

of

the

Apostles

Christ

Brahminical

comes

words

are

this

birth,

by

Jew

compatriots

midst

name

wherefore

resemblance,

Jesus

Devanaguy

wish

to

perfectly

to

the

the

to

have

tion,
incarna-

Christian

with

copied

been

the

ministry.

it be

Besides

by

equally

not

admit

we

and

Will

than

epithet

it will

unless
morale

of

son

signifies

Kristna,

than

philologically

Sanscrit

this

Hindoo,

the

Christna,

grammatical

the

the

resemblance.

if

But

by

of

if

sacred.

aspirate,

an

it, then,

comes

name

rather

rather
is

Sanscrit

tlie

the

or

God,

of

of

Kh

appropriate

promised

We

\\nience

Hebrew,

not

not

Sanscrit,

In

we

is

word

INDIA.

IN

BIBLE

THE

302

was

to

The

part

construct

"

religion.

of

from

of

passed

his

only

logical

the

complete

new

society

Christos

Greek

Sanscrit,

pure

choice

the

Greek

militant

which

conclusion

the

foi

and

is,

that

adopted

system
on

explains

sur-nom

life

model

of

died
this

by
itive
prim-

HINDOO

OIUGIN

OF

THE

CHRISTIAN

CHAPTER

OF

MASSACRE

INDIA

IN

Kunsa, tyrant of Madura, to make

he feared to be dethroned, commanded
male

children born

the

on

Herod, King of Judea

"-hildren of

the

Pauranas,
the

of

sure

the

the

two

All the records

IN

of all the

massacre

the divine child.

motive, has

same

to

put

the
religious,

Shastras, the Malia-Bharat,the Bagaveda-Gita,

version, equally attributed

the

handed

to

only by

us

interest in

the

Apostles;

at

would
the

Herod

was

Antony,
Roman
when

all

of

men

the

dared

have

this

throne.

king?

the latter had

Senate.
to

change
But

that

Herod, has

is,by those

been

who

had

he

Of

take

himself

upon

taken

named

the

odium

part with Cassius

Tetrarch

of

Judea,by

modern,
supplespirit,
altogether

his colors,and
was,

pronounce

and

sacrifice.

Having
him

this audacious

impossibl
materially
professedperpetration. Never
must

sense

to

recorded

nowhere

of its

epoch

of such
responsibility

Who

to

this fact ;

revivingit.

Cotemporary historyhas
crime, which

all the

in Bethlehem

death

or
historic,
India,scientific,

of

JUDEA.

Christna,by whom

testifythe authenticityof
Bagaveda-Shastra,

whereas

an

from

years old and under

the country round a^ut.

and

AND

nightas

same

"

303

IV.

INNOCENTS,

THE

IDEA.

Augustus continued

in fact,but

simple Roman

to

and
the

he knew
him

his

Governor,

THE

304
and

the

BIBLE

gospelitselfdoes

iowingpassage

IN

INDIA.

consider

not

him

otherwise in the fol

that time

edict from

Cesar-

Augustus for the

sus
numbering of all the inhabitants of the empire. This first cenof Syria,and all went
made
to
was
by Cyrinus,Governor
each in his own
be inscribed,
reth,
village.Joseph went up to Naza"At

which
called
with

an

came

is in

Galilee,and
he

Bethlehem, because
his

Mary,

wife,who

admit

How

that

into the

came

Herod,

"

Imperial Governor,

an

to

massacre

all the childre7i

! and

not

voice raised

or

angry

of

humanity !

two

to

of their purest blood

Rectitude
this

dren,*
of chil-

to

u?ider,says the gospel

himself

throw

the feet of

at

not
justice,

demand

protest and
did

to
not

then

intelligent

an

in the

denounce

name

ing
spill-

the

at

weep

rinus,
Cy-

affection

and

old and

years

mothers

Those

and
intelHgence

of

hundreds, perhaps thousands

of

to

of

act

an

anything

of the emperor,

or

the

call him

father goes

under

committed

crueltyso stupidand so useless ?

What ! in the Augustan age, that epoch
a fool,for it is impossibleto
enlightenment,
else, dares

be inscribed,

with child

was

have
Cyrinus,could possibly

Pro-consul

to
tribe,

of that

was

City of David,

then

were

ever}'wheredormant

at

moment

Tacitus,who
the brand

of

stamped for
reprobation,did
has

the crimes

ever

not

then

of

think

despotswith
infamies

such

?
worthy of his condemnation
of silence.
Nothing
always a complicity
Apostlesof Jesus,you have counted too much upon
trusted too much
that the future might not
credulity,
"

your

of your
taken

and

mancxiuvres

objectmade
the

good

fables of another
Will it be

your

you

faith of

too

fabricated

recitals ;

oblivious of means,

age, which

14,000,

the

"

and

human
unveil

sanctity
you

have

in re-producing
the
peoplesby surprise
you

believed

buried

objectedthat Josephus speaks of

*

accordingto

some

for

this

authorities !

ever.

massacre

of

HINDOO

innocents

the

this writer's

an

does

is

of this absurd

failed

excite

to

crime

object,and

is

authorities,to
which

that

at

great famine

had

of his

ble
this horri-

his

restore

work, rejecting

prestige.
cited

as

example

an

pecially
goodness of heart, es-

rare

of decadence.

Judea,

sold his lands,

Herod

relieve

plate,to

ings
suffer-

the

you,

of

look

not

infant-butcher

an

?
anxious

closelywhen

too

with
only just to recognizethe facility
equallyready to absolve all the crimes of its adepts.
has it not
loaded
with what base adulations,
praises,

what

it is

stantine,who, while
her

the

lengthswere
traditions

ancient

edition

of

the

with

staininghimself

protected Christians

son,

such

To

to

reproaches of which

be

may

his

stuffs,and

historydoes

but
stigmatize,
it is

voted
de-

people.

Catholic

and

have

not

; it is time

races

meritciious

egotism and

that the act, think

Was

it will be

fallen upon

costlyhousehold

his

existed,could

of future

displaysa

of

epoch

faintest

the

Gospels,

touching unanimity, have

fact of his life which

princes,and

cover,
dis-

impossible to

execrations

the

the

interested

committed

affirms

date, a fact,oi

reprobation. No,

historians,with
to

has been

for all

it is

it

from

apart

Apostles.

the

which, had

event,

JO*

faith, he

after

of the greater part of the odious

him

There

publication of

never

was

Herod
wash

the

by

cry of universal

Catholic

All

he

the

to

bad

sixtyyears

repeat,

IDEA.

nothing ;

reputation for

insuperable tnith, that

one

anterior
trace

is worth

argument

but

CHRISTIAN

THE

already accredited

error,

There

The

OF

well-merited

nothing, and
rather

OP.rCIN

tyrant

the

of

the

Apostles led by
the

Kansa,

East
and

servile

holy

With
Con-

adoption

they required

their

which

of his wife

blood

persecuted heretics

and

to

wrath

of

second

fell upon

Herod.
All these
their

tiiq^tudesbore their fniit,and

successors

history.
(alsify

were,

and

still arc

when

we

know

it becomes

how

skillful

needful

lo

3u6

BIBLE

THE

IN

INDIA

V.

CHAPTER

HINDOO

AND

TRANSFIGURATION.

CHRISTIAN

his

who
trembled
before
disciples,
great amiies sent againstthem by the tyrant of Madura,
in all his divine majesty.
to them
is logical,
This transfiguration
comprehensible; it was, in

Christna,to

face of

great danger,the best

of

courage

reassure

Ardjouna

Accordingto

before
transfigured

No

became

motive
the

"Tell

no

againfrom
Don't

is

them

But

among

like the sun,

and

his

snow."

this

supernaturalaction,only,in
says

to

those who

vision,until that

the Son

were

scendin
de-

with him

of Man

is lisen

Let him

tate
resusci-

the dead."

of it before
heal

the resurrection !
the

son

of the

centurion

; at

the

miracle,Jesus repeats this caution.

pray

be

logical. If

acts, the manifestations

\Vliyleave
these

as

givenfor

Lazanis, let him

cmallest

"his face shone

white

of this

speak

deemer.
re-

Evangelists,
Jesus,having taken with him
John, led them up a high mountain, and was

mountain, Jesus

man

the

the drooping
restoring

followers of the Hindoo

the other

peared
ap-

the

Peter, James and

vestments

and

of

means

the

to

thingsafter your

you
which

your

are

the

redeemer, why hide your

might open
the
disciples

death ?

the eyes
task

of

of the people?

revealingal]

3o8

demoiali.ingpower,
a

The

have
plagiarists

last

which

roots

LibertyvaW
but

Avillexclude

him

in the

avowed

wanting.
againto sprout

him from

temple,whence

instrument

of

she
priest,

government
he has

HOLY

WOMEN,

to

shake, and
Let

found

imitators

tear

us

from

will

and

those

out

earth for the obstructio

proscribehim,

not

and replace
politics,

emerged but

never

as

the

un-

degradationand corruption.

CHAPTER

THE

and

rational progress.

imitate the

not

it a

gave

been

not

threaten

of free and

abjurethe past

future.
incarnation

Hindoo

old

INDIA.

IN

it is time to

tru]yhumanitarian

and

EIBLE

THF.

VI.

NICHDALI,

AND

SARASVATI,

MAGDALEN.

Nichdali and Sarasvati,

has,
legendof the holy women,
in the legendof
beyond doubt, been revived by the Evangelists
the Magdalen ; as is easilyrecognized.
The

The
the

Hindoo

people

The

approach

women

murmur

at

their

Christna

Nichdali

and

the

same

purpose,

same

act

and

the

liead

of

repulse her.
Saravasti lavish perfumes

on

Christna.
The

him, and

audacity.

Jewess approaches Christ for

Apostles would

adore

to

is ascribed

to

the

Magdalen.

the

HINDOO

The

only difference

althougiiof
honest, and

to

declare

Tlie moral

to

Hindoo

should

been

successors
priests,

But

no

by

for the
which

by
content

of

to

the

APOCALYPSE

TO

ENCOUNTER
OF

ST.

for her

weak

helplessas

the

Christ,should

sins.

and

people ;
have

never

for the power

of

and

Christna,
which

the

forgotten

fatiguethe

not

may

the oppressed

readei

arguments.

same

VII.

THE

OF

DESCENT

OR

AVATAR,

HINDOO

sterility
; while

details.
insignificant
let the

CHAPTER

EARTH

of their

just.
heirs
the Braliiiiins,

We

30Q

incontestable,
although il

same,

govern

reflections.

more

of the
with repetition

TENTH

IDEA.

figmentsIs,ihat the first,

people, are virtuous and

some

justiceis for

me,

maxims

have

influence

itself less

ful,for the guiltyas

Sublime

these

class of the

is the
principle

come

CHRISTIAN

imploringpardon
prostitute

again is

There

THE

solicit a cessation

to

come

OF

between

the lowest

is

the other

seems

ORIGIN

PRINCE

OF

THE

CHRISTNA
RACKCHASAS

UPON
"

"

JOHN.

simple question:
All Hindoo
propheciesannounce
A

this tenth Avatar, that is,

of th^
Before
earth.
return
coming of Christna upon
Maha-Pra'.aya,or destruction of all that exists,the God will
with the princeol
in all his glory,for a terrible combat
appear
the

demons,
of

chasing

re

conquest

him

end.

must

it

subsist,
make

It

his
this

like
in

the
The

style,

wholly

spirit

this

attempt

to

the

in

contest

and

so

"

evil

can

no

that

Saint

that
it

longer

which

he

of

wrote

gleaned
to

not

the

prince

the

encounter

country

applies

end

the

at

swer.
an-

an

John

there

was

Apostles,

ask

but

from

Asia,

that

return,

to

evil

of

belief;

Zoroaster,

him

horse

introduction

obscurity,

its

Apocalypse,
its

to

incarnation,
of

shape

purpose

Tamas.

evident

not

makes

Hindoo

the

issue

"

travels

of

unknown

which

and

Christ,

his

it

Is

prediction,

the

for

by

matter,

explain

to

Brahmins

Apocalypse.

of

nought."

to

from

the

by

governed

he

shall

the

destruction

return

return

on

and

good

pretension

no

was

of

the

must

horse,

"commenced

Ramatsariar,

says

After

whence

as

power.

spirit

the

hell

to

his

world,"

between

back
of

"The

disguised

Rackchasas,

or

INDl^

IN

BIBLE

THE

310

of

world,
demons

as

may

of
in

be

animals,
the

easily
of

is

seen,

and,

elements,

characteristic

in

cloudy

its

figurative
all, in

above

spirit

of

the

East.
almost

Another
would

be

endless.

undeniable

plagiarism

to

point

out

all

HINDOO

ORIOIN

OF

THE

CHRISTIAN

CHAPTER

CHRIST

IDF.A.

\ I

VIII.

TEMPTED

BY

DEVIL.

THE

time,"says the Gospel,"Jesus was led by the spirit

into the desert to be tempted of the Uevil ; and after having
fasted fortydays and fortynights,
he was
hungry.
"And
the tempter, approaching,said to him :
If thou art the Son of God, command
that these stones
b"*
that

"In

"

made

bread.
answered

"

Jesus

"

It is written

every

word

shall

Man

that cometh

live

not

of the

out

bread

alone,but

by

of God.

mouth

brought him into the holj*

and having placed him on the top of the temple,said : If
city,
thou art the Son of God, cast thyself
down, for it is written,he
has confided thee to his angels,and they shall bear you in their
"

the Devil

Then

took

him

by

and

'

arms,

lest your

foot strike

"Jesus replied:
It is also written,thou
"

The

devil took him

high mountain, and

and their glory,and
"

I \villgive you

againsta

stone.'

shalt

tempt

again and conveyed

him

showed
said

But

/esus

said

all these

to

him

all the

the Lord

him

to

an

kingdoms

thy God.

exceeding

of the world

Korship me.
*'

not

thingsif you

will fall down

and

THE

312

Withdraw

"

the Lord

''

ear

the

this

and

left

unto

him."

_^ne

speak

to

him

Devil

ministered

Wishing

INDIA.

IN

thee, Satan, for it is written,thou

thy God,

Then

"

riBLE

only shalt thou serve.

him, and immediately Angels

of this

after

passage,

worshif

shalt

temptation of Jesus

the

Gospel,

of

fear

from

came

cite
simjDly
spoilingit

by abridgment.
I have

this

of
found.

; but

event

will

of the Hindoos

books

affirm

not

the facsimile

it may

that

easilyunderstood, that the powers

insufficient,
convenientlyto explore all

be

touched

by

on

be

not

It will be
must

man

in the sacred

found

not

of

one

the subjects

this work.

importantstudies,to
elucidated.
obscure
or
imperfectly
ir"any
this be, and adniitting
this passage
However
to be the pecu
liar property of the Evangelists,
it affords us the opportunityof
too
easilycatchingthem in the flagrantact of imposture to be
shall

certainly
recur,
thingsthat remain

permitted to
Mf

of this devil who

who

allows

himself

ordinary teachingof

most

such burlesquesof
aosurdities,
the

in

carrying

by

abase
when

reason,

the wisdom

the Devil ?
conscience
such

and

the

to

and

monstrous

omnipotence

the

credulityof

with

content

the top of

having himself

temple, from

is the Master

of the

of all

further
things,

latter

to

Eat

seized

be

daringlyoffered

Being,are

Supreme

the people
Not

to

fanaticism

depth, then, may

what

To

of

occupies himself

God.
Is it God

the

escape.

think you

What

stillmore

after

play the

that

carried

temple to

to

the

desert

mountain, God

and

Universe, the Creator

consents

from

cavil with

Supreme

the Devil

to

that
Ruler

! and

the

facetious !

these stones,

by commanding

them

to

change themselves

into bread.
If you

are

Worship

God,
me,

and

throw

yourselfdown

I will

give you

the

from

this

empire

temple !

of the world

HINUOO

curiously

And,

what

By

with

pelt

of

those

all

Does
that

laughing

which

illumined

The

in

they

the

power

kings,

if all

these

tures
adven-

weaknesses

welcome

holy-ofFice,
;

denounce

divest

to

truth,

thought

dare

to

party,

the

grand

invented

by

find

application

Matthew,

could

sarcasm

Luke

these

not

the
and

contempt
of

trouble

to

sans
parti-

the

it

needs

us

as

their
ists
materialof

figure

God

sectaries

the

of

or

here?
look

can

each

at

it

be

other

had

ago,
had

and

Jesuit
of

desiring

for

John,

or

India,

to

of

Cicero's

Mark

Long

the

past.

not

without

takes

in

are,

and

freedom

unworthy

decaying

God

J13

Sacristie
of

spirit

atheists,

and

IDEA.

blasphemies,

superstitions

of
and

their

such

these

mud

reason

audacity,

of

of

the

CHRISTIAN

pretended

ridiculous

simply

adepts

The

the

denounce

not

THE

name

were

OF

enough,

seriously

reply

to

ORIGIN

only

men

that

sublime

.would

they

encountered
first

ages,
with

oblivion,

adopted

the

the

superstitions
of

jnorale
have

priests

of

been

of

Christna

consigned

Vesta,

of

Osiris,

I sis.

morale,
first

that

and

to

them

re-estabHsh
97

saved
the

until

ages,

enabled

is what

to

them,

their

their

regime

orders
of

made

their

when

moment

dictate

what

to

domination.

their
well

peoples

success

secured
and

to

THE

fI4

IN

BIBLE

INDIA.

CHAPTER

THE

OF

r?iJNSTITUTION
MODEL
CHRISTIANS

due

to

GOD

THB

OF

THK

CONFESSION

"

TONSURE

"

VESTITURE,
IN-

CORDON

"

his Apostles had

studied in

East, that the revolution efifected by them

the sacred books

-willadd
this

"

said that Jesus and

the

THE

"

ON

ETC.

ETC.,

have

APOSTLES

THE

CONFIRMATION

"

CONSECRATION

OR

Egypt and

BY

INSTITUTIONS

BAPTISM

"

ORDINATION

We

CHURCH

BRAHMINICAL

OF

IX

of India ;

themselves

new

proofs,stillmore

was

able,
irrefut-

alreadygiven in support

to those

of

proposition.

of all the mira

justseen the material impossibility
with which it pleasedthe Evangecles,of all the superstitions,
lists
in discovering
the lifeof the Christian reformer,
to surround
We

have

all but
they were
alreadyattributed

that
acts

about

to

show, in

the
the

second

to

Christna

few

borrowingsystem,

same

Holy Ghost,
Whence

Unity?

India.

We

is but

second

are
tinuing
con-

edition of

church.

Moses, the Prophets,in

the

by ancient

facts and

same

words, that the Christian churcli

primitiveBrahminical

nothingof

edition of the

knew
word, the Hebrew
religion,
of God, in the sense
of Father,Son, and
trinity

as

introduced

in the Christian idea.

did the Apostlesimbibe

Nowhere

does

Jesus define

this doctrine
it as

of

serious

Trinityin
dogma, he

3X6

THE

what

good

in

temple,to
holy oil.

Hindoo

his

have

this

And

obligedto

present himself

is

by

equally made

its

the

the

at

ol
application

the

by

o\\ti

new

Catholicism.

"

all children

mins

is

confirmed
purificatior

ceremony

religion by
As

INDIA.

enough of cavilling,
insignificant
questions.

dwellingupon

sixteen the

At

IN

this precursor? Bah!

wherefore

But

P.IBI.E

be

cannot

substitute for the

the

presentedat

Ganges, the Brah

holy river,the water of

of the

waters

in which they dissolve

purification,

aromatics

salt and

to

serve
pre-

it.
it is

As

to

creases,

transport all the new-born

Apostles,followingthe
holywater.
ancient

confessions
The

of

Brahmins

the banks

rite,adopt

of

the

ii^-

Jordan,
usage

of

religious
judges,received public
adjudgedthe penalty.

were

and
faults,

Apostles arrogate the

public confessions

to

Hindoo

the

The

the Christian communion

as
equallyimpossible,

in use,

alone

and
functions,

same
as

we

know, in

establish the
the first times

of the church.
It

until

not

was

than

more

centuries

two

after

Jesus Christ

bishops substituted privatefor pubhc confessions

an
ted.
tendency is too easilyindicaagency whose demoralizing

that the
occult

The

"

Brahmin

priestis anointed

receives investiture of the sacred

the tonsure, and

The

with consecrated

Apostles do

the

to

same

oil,practise?
thread.

themselves
distinguish

from

lay-believers.
Communion
bacrament.

did
As

we

exist in tlie Brahminical

not

have

law for the faithful to

seen

eat

in

our

with the

Hour, the rice,and the fruits which

and this holy foDd
ba,t-rifice,
said that God

not

In
and

studies,there is a

priestin
have

been

purifiesfrom

the

temple,of

offered

all stain.

to

the

God

But

in

it is

is present.

this ceremony
adopting
that is called

Hindoo

as
religion

the

the

Apostlesadded

Eucharist.

this last

It is nevertheless

clause,

true

thai

HINDOO

ORIGIN

this Chi i~tian castom

in

resembled

in

returned

numerous,

The

simpleusage

have

to
Lastly,
no

is but

bread

eat

CHRISTIAN

7,1")

IDEA.

coi y of the Hindoo

and

wine

drank

kinds,pretendwith good

two

the

to

THE

usage,
in coinnion;

nothingthe actual jymbolicHost.

and receive
deny the real presence

Protestants,who
sacrament

and

was

that the first believers

which

OF

done

to

reason

have

thcii
ihu.

of the first ages.

much
borrowings,

with all these

doubt, but of which

is

Sacrifice of the Mass

we

take

only the

more

nent.
promi-

most

than the Hindoo

nothingelse

Sar.rificeof Sarvameda.
]n
-

the

/ho

came

Sarvameda, Brahma, victim throughhis son Christna,

earth for our
to die on
plishes
salvation,himself accomsacrifice by the hand

the solemn
Does

the
who

Answer

Christian
or

can,

of

sacrifice emanate

who

dare ;

Bralimin

from

attackingthe

priest.
idea?

another
errors

of

others,

glad to recognizeour own.

created by Cod,
The revolt of the angels,the first creatures
constitution
does not exist in Judaism, that is, in the religious

we

shall be

ot

Moses.

to

the

The

revolt of

Christian

Brahma
against
again,always India

the devas

dogma.

India

gave
that

birth
ates
initi-

The

reader will understand

that

we

pass

rapidlyover

all these

dallywith the brutal force of facts ?

It is as evident that the Apostles copied India,as that our
which itself was
French
law has copied the code of Justinian,
derived throughAsia and Egypt, from the laws of Manou.
and
A man
good-will,
duringtliree years preaches charity,
Wherefore
tilings.

confines
abnegation,

himself

to the morale

institutes neither

himself to resuscitation for

ceremonies,restricting
of conscience
of his epoch, of the grand principles
the men
(vhich they had rather foresworn than forgotten.
who
of this man,
was
The companions, the successors
Je"us,
after his death a complete religious
construct
worship; rites,
taken neither from
sacraments, axe
dogmas, ceremonies,new
they,then, if not
Paganism nor from Judaism. Whence come

dogmas

nor

27*

3l8

THE

borrowed

from

the

exterior

same

from

all

is

His

of
all

not

of

that

all

Herod

Jordan

the

plays
of

the

real

consecrated

the

mission

celestial

by

vrarld

But

dential

accept

let

mission

Confucius,

and
let

Only
fables,
And

modern

of

me

dreams,
to

erect

Apostles,

is the

Mary

revives

by

ordination
all

of

Madurathe

confession,

arist,
Euch-

tonsure

and

from

the

other.

that

received

had

they

inspired

not

from

the

Brahminism

which

illumined

understanding.

disciples

Christna,

of

figure

succeeds

one

were

samt

priests by

modelled
believe

us

him:;elf

Christna.

of

water

confirmation,

in

the

tyrant

Holy

And

the

the

Ganges.

an

the

Kansa,

have

to

of

that

his

know

come

us

of

resemble,

antique

that

j^rodigies

baptism,

East,

all

of

would

Apostles

re-unites

that
?

miracles,

presence,
all

oil,

revokition

he

copies

and

Christ,

incarnation.

part

worshiji,

same

Christian

the

beliefs,

same

becomes

only

purification

less

And

the

we

Devanaguy.

waters

Jesus

the

possesses
the

before

Hindoo

the

which

India,

years

which

morale,

INDIA.

manifestations,

mysteries,

the

as

ancient

thousands

This

IN

BIBLE

of

in

Jesus,
Boudha,

Manou,

the

accept

the

ancient

the

same

pro\i-

Zoroaster,

as

sense

Manes,

Mahomet.
be
and
on

permitted

to

superstitions
the

threshold

consign
of
of

the
the

nations,
God

and

Conscience!

these

past

people

to

the

future

"s

the

guide

of

HINDOO

ORIGIN

OF

THE

CHRISTIAN

CHAPTER

WHEKCE

THE

MONKS

HERMITS

OF

PRIMITIVE

CHRISTIANITY

Whence,

^19

X.

AND

Paganism and Judaism knew

IDEA.

nothingof

then, the afifluence of hermits

coenobite
and

life.

anchorites,who

in the first ages of the Christian Church

suddenly appear
Jesus did not

preach that doctrine of seclusion and

which
enticed early Christians to the desert
midst privations
and penitential
inllictions of all kinds.
and corporalsufferings
form no
Hair-cloth,sack-cloth,

his sublime
We
him
To

place sterile indolence under

succeeded, as we
militant,
Brahmins, which washed out

exercise of their
In

by

live

part of

the

patronage o/

sanctified labor.

the

of the

to

morale.

cannot

who

plation,
contem-

like

manner

the law

to

have

seen,

that ascetic lif;i

all stains contracted

in the

ministry.
were

holy persons constrained

all earthlyluxuries,
pleasuresand

all dwidjasor

renunciation

of

affections.
A

resurrection of Brahminical

ideas

produced

Christian

ccjuno-

bitism.
We

have

loos who

above
desired

giventhe rules imposed upon

themselves
to devote
exclusively

earnest
to

Hin-

conteni-

"70

TfTF.

plationof

Brahma.

him

Let

(who

o;dinarydiet

following
[)assages

The

from

the life of Christian anchorites

marvellouslyto
*'

INDIA.

:X

BIBI.F,

renounced

has

of towns,

the

renounce

his

him

consecrated

Manou

applj

"

world) renounce

wife,his

and

sons,

the
all that

he possesses.
"

Let

him

sels necessary
due
"

and
his

his
Let

with

take

and
sacrifice,

for

to

ves^

sub

appetites.
him

the skin of

wear

made
of bark,
or
a coat
gazelle,
morning. Let him always wear

the hair of his

his

body, and

grow.
him

Let

"

ail the

retire into the forest and

purifyhimself nightand
hair long,and allow his beard,

nails

fire,and

contrive,even

his scanty

from

fare,still to give

alms.
"

studythe Holy Scriptures

(the Vedas )unceasingly,
show himself combe always resigned,
all with patience,
passionate

I^et him

endure

all

to
"

Let

him

"

Let

him

eat

beings,givealways,and
herbs, and
only fruits,
the

sleep upon

bare

receive

never

roots.

earth, on

thorns, and

on

flints.
"

him

Let

absolute

preserve

beggingnourishment

in the

when

silence,even

lages
vil-

for his

perishablebody.
him not live by the practiseof either soothsayingor
Let
astrology. (These sciences,we see, are out of date, and were
"

they not

brought by

governing

the Arabs

his

from

the East

into

Europe

in

members,

of
renouncing every
and all hatred,in flying
from evil and practising
affection,
good,
himself
for
he prepares
immortality."
"

In

And,
"

Let

laborer

further

him

And

request
and

desire

the

Holy Scripture:

not

death, let him

so

when
to

be

let him

shall sound

stretched

let his last word

be

upon
a

mat

prayer

the

is

for all

at

the

as

door

of

come.

hour

and

and
life,

not

his hire

wait until his hour

for him

"

desire

evening waits peaceably for

at

lis master,
"

adds

kind

of

covered

death, let him

^v^th ashes ;

humanity

that niusf

HINDOO

conrinue

ORIGIN

when
suffer,

to

OF

Till:

CHRISTIAN

he shall be

re-united

IDEA.

to

32;

the fatlierof

all things."
Such
cite is

the rule of Hindoo

was

to

prove

these last

"

Christian anchorites.

and

To

but imitators.

were

of these Brahminical
exaggeration
principles
produced
have described,
of life we
sunnyasisand fakirs,whose mannei
self-mutilations.
and frightful
well as their tortures
as
The
results in Christianity,
causes
same
produced the same
the fakirs Simon-Stylites,
and we
see
Origen,and others,in
with Hindoo
fakirs.
rivalry
The

XI.

CHAPTER

PROOFS.

LAST

Even

to
to

Utmost

Apostles there were

and
Oriental origin,
an
Christianity
time of the

in the

effect

They admitted
in whose

complete
the

bosom

return

to

who

did

signed
as-

their

Brahminism.

unrevealcd, quiescentZeus
resided

who

men

the germ

of

matter

of the
and

doos
Hin-

of all the

of life.
lirinciples
Thei

the

God

became

world, and revealed

The

only

an

creator, that is,author

of the

existing

himself in Creation.

of this system denied revelation,recognizing

partisans
uninterruptedtradition ascending to the cradle of

THE

3Z2

humanity,and
East

the

"

BIBLE

handed

down

earth

not

Menander

the

second

our

the

the

Samaritan

Valentinus

and

Tatian

Bardesanes

of

Edessa,

to

have

can\r

tradj

of

work

faith of the first ages.

pure

in the times of the

the

Apostles

Magician,

Carpocratius, Basilides,

by

of

Alexandria, Saturninus

as

by

Marcion

in Asia

found

God,

and, aftenvards,develoi)edin

third centuries

and

Jesu?

race.

of

sent

Jew, Dositheus, Cerinthus,Simon

the

and

simpleand

maintained

were

of

complete

to

frcni the extreme

peoples

considered

but

the

to

man

doctrines

Philo

by

all

to

they

reform,

to

tion,and recall
These

INDIA.

birth-place,
accordingto them,

Clirist,
therefore,whom
upon

IN

the

true

of Antioch,

and

Cerdon, who

sources

of the

fessed
pro-

religious

idea.
and
threatened
Apostles,seeing themselves unmasked
in their work, treated Simon, Dositheus,and others,as heretics,
The

blasphemers, possessed of
them

with

later

abnegationand
power

opinions sought

these

arguments,

new

accumulated

upon

of the infant church.

all the thunders

A\Tien

devil, and

the

Cliristian

the

poverty,

to

through emperors,

to

to

establish

themselves

forgottenits

had
religion

thrones, and

ascend

and

torture

employed
proscribeail \\ho

its
tempted
at-

all the

all the massacres,

questionits origin
; thus preluding
all the butcheries that ensangumed both
proscriptions,

Middle

Ages

to

in

times

and

modern.

church, believed

Origen, the most celebrated

of souls in
the pre-existence

doctor

of the

worlds

above, whence

bodies, and

that

to animate
on

more

this earth

from

anterior

they came

to

to return
transgression,

they
be

scended
de-

purified
at

last

to

union widi God.

He

also maintained

All which
We

see

birth,and

is

that

that

that the

painsof

nothingelse dian
the rulingidea of

pure

the

us,

not

were

Hindoo

this book

cntemporariesof

eighteencenturies before
ideas.
cradle of all religious

hell

is

eternal.

doctrine.
not

of

Apostles and

considered

yesterday's
tians
first Chris-

tlie East

as

the

THE

324

Oh
the

well

they

ordi-r,

Brahmins

die

of

do

all

difficult,without

Hindoo

The

but

on

Catholic

his 'hands.

both

their

of

it is exceedingly

works

pagoda.

the

over

min
Brah-

his

of

and

the

induce

to

influence

has

pily
Hap-

stores

fruits, and

great

priest

secret

intimacy,

his

formal

religious.

sacred

the

knows

sign by

the

that

its

borne

of

the
and

extraordinary

priest,who

obeyed

is

has

examination

peniiit

to

them

to

of

value

receives

fall into

may

the

Jesuits,

arrival

new

philosophic

mania

destructive

This

that

open

literary wealth,

immense

who

Every

not

INDIA.

IN

esi^ecially the

destroy.

dispose

to

so

and

know,

they

works

BIBLE

masses,

agine
im-

little,cannot

same

his

over

power

compatriots.
do

What

^"

it is

probably
And

hence
able

copies

the

have

for
it

take

to

y(!t been
of

written

not

nation,

your

is, that

the

Asiatic

to

collect

the

entire

it

and

is their
but

you

ordinary reply
ask

for

me

it,

mission.

the

to

book

it

in

possesses

for

wonder?

Society

of

Calcutta
is

and

Vedas,

which

designed

many

centuries

two

and

continued,

destruction

oas

this

has

not

quite

not

sm

interpolatio

discovered.

been

AVliat

with

want

you

has

this

Hindoos

stupid
are

and

barb,

warned

to

from

bur^

r-

oe

suspicious.
Tell

thought,

that

now

what

Fathers,

good

us,

you

then
no

can

is your

longer

hope

burn

our

ing

bodies?
-

-to

extinguish light ?
Be

dark

well

and

assured
secret

it will

shine

operations.

out

in

spite

of

you

and

;our

ORIGIN

HINDOO

THE

OF

XIII.

CHAPTER

"

by
may

the

As
a

fiery
the

champion
Btition

and

most

weakest
of
of

man

MANOU.

OF

TEXT

soldier

obscure

destroy

arrow

323

IDEA.

CHRISTIAN

the
when

strongest
makes

he
the

truth, overthrow

of

most

error."

not

KMIK

an

may

army

of

fortress

himself
solid

the
the

ramparts

sometimes
enemy,

so

courageous
of

super-

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CHARLES

DICKENS'

1^^

NEW

WORKS.
EDITION.

of this greatest of
editions
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Aoiocf the many
English Novelists, there has not been until now
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An
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