Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Samuel Braden
Dr. Braden was Professor of History and Literature of Religions at Northwestern University (195!. Pu"lished "y #he
$a%$illan &o'(any) New *or+) %o(yright 195 "y &harles ,. Braden. #his 'aterial was (re(ared for Religion -nline
"y #ed . /innie Bro%+.
&ha(ter 50 #he ,a%red Literature of Hinduis'
1$other1 2ndia) as she is lovingly %alled "y her sons) has indeed "een a 'other of
religions. 3our of the eleven (rin%i(al living faiths of the world were "orn in 2ndia0
Hinduis') Buddhis') 4ainis') and ,i+his') and all have e5tensive sa%red literatures.
Hinduis' itself) fro' whi%h all the others have s(rung) has a vast and highly
variegated set of s%ri(tures. 2n general there are two ty(es of s%ri(ture that are
regarded as authoritative in Hinduis'0 (1! sruti: that whi%h 'ay "e regarded as
the ipsissima verba, the very) very word of 6od. 2t was given "y ver"al ins(iration to
the rishiis or seers) and gathered into a %losed &anon. 3ro' this nothing 'ay "e ta+en
away and nothing 'ay "e added. #his ty(e of sa%red writing has) in the %ourse of
ti'e) %o'e to "e thought of very 'u%h as the Bi"le is thought of "y &hristian
3unda'entalists0 as infalli"le) in%a(a"le of error) "e%ause of its non7hu'an %hara%ter.
#he se%ond ty(e of s%ri(ture is +nown as smriti. /hile ad'ittedly of hu'an origins)
it has %o'e to "e thought of as authoritative also) in the e5(ression of religious faith)
and of very high value in the tea%hing of religion and 'orals. #hough of less e5alted
origin) and not of e8ual value with sruti, as a "asis of religious dog'a) it is (erha(s
8uite as influential in the lives of the (eo(le in in%ul%ating and nourishing religious
faith and (ra%ti%e. 2f all the "oo+s whi%h are %o'(rised within these two %lasses of
sa%red literature were to "e "rought together in a single %olle%tion) as has nowhere yet
"een done) they would fill 'any thousands of (ages. /hile there is rather general
agree'ent as to what 'ay "e %onsidered as smriti, there is no %losed %anon. ,e%tarian
grou(s differ to a %onsidera"le degree as to what 'ay "e so %onsidered. &ertainly
they differ as to whi%h (arti%ular "oo+s of this %ategory are to "e e'(hasi9ed within
their own grou(s. #he rather generally tolerant attitude of 2ndians toward the
religious "eliefs of others in%lines the' to ad'it as sa%red for others what they 'ight
not a%%e(t for the'selves. :s a 'atter of fa%t so'e se%tarian grou(s 'a+e)
(ra%ti%ally) 'u%h greater use of non-sruti literature) as the "asis for (resent "elief and
(ra%ti%e than they do of the re%ogni9ed sruti writings. 2ndeed for the' so'e "oo+s
generally regarded as smriti have a%tually "e%o'e sruti. #here is nothing in Hinduis'
to (revent this fro' ha((ening.
/ithin Hindu sa%red literature 'ay "e found) as in 'ost s%ri(ture) al'ost every ty(e
of writing. #here is "oth (oetry and (rose. ;5a'(les of nearly every variety of (oeti%
e5(ression 'ay "e found. ,o'e of it is lyri%) so'e elegia%) so'e e(i%) so'e
dra'ati%. Love songs a"ound. #here is (oetry of (raise) (oetry of la'entation) heroi%
verse) and (oetry of des(air) (oetry of than+sgiving) (oetry of devotion) (oetry that is
light) airy) fan%iful) and (oetry that see+s to e5(ress the 'ost (rofound (hiloso(hi%
insight. -f (rose there is every +ind) the short story) the dra'a) the fa"le) legal lore)
(hiloso(hi% essays) history) dra'a. -nly the e(istolary) whi%h is so i'(ortant in the
New #esta'ent) see's to "e la%+ing. #here are (rose (assages of unusual "eauty and
strength< there are innu'era"le (ages of dry diale%ti% 'aterial) without gra%e or
%har') "ut none the less i'(ortant for an understanding of Hinduis'.
#his Hindu literature li+e that of 'ost other religions re(resents the wor+ of 'any)
'any hands over a long (eriod of ti'e. 2t re%ords the ho(es) as(irations) ideals)
triu'(hs) failures) strivings after 'eaning of a great (eo(le) a%ross the %enturies) as
they develo(ed fro' "ar"aris' to the highly %ultured so%iety whi%h is 2ndia today at
its "est. -ut of the struggle u(ward the literature was "orn and "y it 2ndia=s life has
"een sha(ed and %ontrolled to a re'ar+a"le degree) for 2ndia=s sa%red literature is no
'ere 'useu' (ie%e. #he daily routine of the orthodo5 Hindu is (ro"a"ly 'u%h 'ore
deter'ined "y so'e (art of his s%ri(tures than that of the (eo(le of the /est "y the
Bi"le) or for that 'atter than that of any other (eo(le "y its s%ri(ture) save only the
$osle's.
2ndia=s sa%red literature divides itself logi%ally and to so'e e5tent %hronologi%ally)
into four 'ain grou(s0 (1! >edi% literature) (! Legal literature) (?! ;(i% literature and
(@! Purani% literature. #he e5a%t %hronology of so'e writings it is diffi%ult to fi5) and
there is often a differen%e in ti'e "etween the "eginnings of a given "ody of literature
and its final %o'(letion. #he "eginnings of the ;(i%s 'ay well have "een within the
late >edi% age) their %o'(letion 'ore than a 'illenniu' later. #he earliest
for'ulation of legal %odes 'ay go well "a%+ into the (ast< the final fi5ing of the
%odes is %o'(aratively late) and of %ourse so'e %odes are 'u%h earlier than others.
,o'e of the Purani% lore is old. #he Puranas) as now found) are the latest of all Hindu
sa%red writings. /e %onsider first >edi% literature.
Vedic Literature
>edi% literature is sruti, the infalli"le) ver"ally ins(ired word of 6od. 2t is the 'ost
sa%red of all. ,o sa%red was it held to "e at the ti'e of the 'a+ing of the &ode of
$anu) greatest of the law "oo+s) that it was therein de%reed that a lowly Sudra, i.e.)
low %aste 'an) who so 'u%h as listened to the sa%red te5t would have 'olten 'etal
(oured into his ears) and his tongue %ut out if he (ronoun%ed the sa%red words of the
holy >edas.
1
A/hether su%h laws were ever a%tually enfor%ed 'ay "e dou"ted.
&ertainly there is no eviden%e that they were) "ut they do serve to a%%entuate the
degree of sa%redness whi%h atta%hed to the >edi% literature.
>edi% literature %o'(rises 'u%h 'ore than the >edas. #hese give their na'e to an
e5tensive literature whi%h grew out of the'. ,(e%ifi%ally regarded as (art of the >eda
are (1! the Brah'anas) (! the :ranya+as) and (?! the U(anishads. 2t has "e%o'e a
dog'a generally a%%e(ted that all that is found in these later writings is si'(ly an
outgrowth of the >edas) the 'a+ing e5(li%it of what was therein i'(li%it. #hey are
therefore regarded as e8ually sa%red. #here is another reason 77 (erha(s the (ri'ary
reason 77 for %onsidering the' as >edi%) na'ely) that these writings) e5%e(t the
>edanta ,utras) were (hysi%ally atta%hed to the >edas in their written for'.
$ost "asi% of all Hindu sa%red writings are the ,a'hitas) generally %alled the >edas
the'selves) of whi%h there are four) and 'ost "asi% of the four is the Rig7>eda. #he
others) the ,a'a7>eda) the *aBur7>eda and the :tharva7>eda) all derive to a
%onsidera"le e5tent fro' the Rig. $ost of our attention will therefore "e given to this
highly i'(ortant sa%red "oo+.
#he na'e of the "oo+) Rig7>eda) 'eans (ro"a"ly 1>erse /isdo'.1 2t is a %olle%tion
of hy'ns) 1C1D in all a%%ording to 6riffith. 2n "ul+ it is longer than the
%o'"ined Iliad and Odyssey of Ho'er. #ranslated into ;nglish) and with so'e notes)
the hy'ns 'a+e two 8uite su"stantial volu'es.
2n the original there are so'e C)CCC
'etri%al verses in the whole %olle%tion.
3or the Rig7>eda is Bust that) a %olle%tion) the wor+ of a great 'any writers) or in
so'e %ases) guilds of writers. 2t %onsists %hiefly of hy'ns to one or another of the
nu'erous >edi% gods) designed for use in the worshi( of these divinities. 2t re(resents
the oldest stratu' of Hinduis' of whi%h very 'u%h is +nown. 2n re%ent ti'es
ar%haeologi%al dis%overies in the 2ndus valley have "rought to light eviden%es of a
highly develo(ed %ulture in 2ndia long "efore the %o'ing of the invading :ryans.
/hereas) earlier) it had "een "elieved that the :ryans found only (eo(les of relatively
undevelo(ed %ulture) now it is +nown that at least so'e of these early 2ndians had
develo(ed the arts to a high degree) that they even had a +ind of hierogly(hi% writing)
not yet de%i(hered) and (ro"a"ly an e8ually well develo(ed religion whi%h)
su((ressed for a ti'e) gradually reasserted itself and greatly 'odified >edi% religion)
gradually transfor'ing it into the Hinduis' as (ra%ti%ed in 2ndia today. (3or an
interesting a%%ount of this %ivili9ation see ,ir 4ohn $arshall) Mohenjo-daro, ?
volu'es.!
Referen%e has "een 'ade to the :ryan invasion of 2ndia. /ho were the :ryansE
#here is 'u%h that is not +nown %on%erning the') "ut it is +nown that long) long
"efore they arrived in 2ndia they were (art of a great 'igratory 'ove'ent of (eo(le)
so'eti'es identified in%orre%tly as a ra%e) (ro"a"ly "etter as a (eo(le of a %o''on
%ulture. #o this (eo(le) eventually) the na'e 2ndo7;uro(ean %a'e to "e atta%hed)
sin%e sure signs of their (resen%e are to "e found all the way fro' the British 2sles on
the /est) to the Bay of Bengal on the ;ast) and fro' the ,%andinavian %ountries on
the North to the $editerranean on the ,outh. #hough (ossessing 'any %o''on
%ultural traits found also in ;uro(e and the /est) the 'u%h %loser si'ilarities "etween
the %ultures of 2ran or Persia and 2ndia have led s%holars to distinguish an 2ndo7
2ranian "ran%h of the larger whole as having early se(arated itself fro' the %entral or
original :ryan 'igration) (erha(s 'oving eastward fro' the) as yet) not %ertainly
lo%ated origin of the :ryan grou(. Later this seg'ent again se(arated into two
"ran%hes. -ne of these entered the 2ranian (lateau) a'alga'ated with the native
(o(ulations and eventually gave rise to a new faith) Foroastrianis') whi%h develo(ed
its own sa%red literature. #he other %rossed the Ghy"er (ass and entered the land of
2ndia) gradually fanning out to %over the greater (art of that vast su"%ontinent) "ut
losing) in the %ourse of its southern 'ove'ent) 'u%h of its original %hara%ter.
2t was of this :ryan 'igration that the >edi% hy'ns were "orn. 2n a real sense they) at
least the older of the') are not really 2ndian in origin at all) "ut were (rodu%ed either
"efore the :ryans had set foot on 2ndian soil) or were %o'(osed "y :ryans) i.e.) the
foreign invaders) "efore 2ndia had had ti'e to (ut her own i'(ress u(on the'. /hen
this invasion too+ (la%e it is i'(ossi"le to state with any %ertainty. 2t is rather
generally su((osed to have o%%urred so'e ti'e within the (eriod 5CC715CC
B.&.) though so'e 2ndian s%holars (ut it at a 'u%h earlier date) even as early as 5CCC
B.&.
2n 'odern ti'es the ter' :ryan has "e%o'e a ra%ial ter') as in 6er'any under the
Na9is) when a shar( distin%tion was 'ade "etween the :ryan and the ,e'iti%
ele'ents in the (o(ulation. But "eyond the (ro"a"le fa%t that the :ryan invaders
were light rather than dar+ of s+in) little %an "e alleged as to their ra%ial %hara%ter.
#his is eviden%ed "y the lighter %o'(le5ions of the (resent7day 2ndian in the northern
(arts of 2ndia where the :ryans 'ingled in largest (ro(ortion with the indigenous
(o(ulation) in %ontrast to the 'u%h dar+er %o'(le5ion of southern 2ndians where the
:ryan influen%e is least. :lso it is an easily re%ogni9ed fa%t that 'odern7day 2ndians)
(arti%ularly of the northern half) or 'ore) a((ear to have ;uro(ean features des(ite
their dar+er %olor. $odern anthro(ologists and ethnologists give no su((ort to the
e5isten%e) now or at any ti'e) of a (ure :ryan ra%e. #hey do attest to an :ryan
%ulture widely s(read over 'ost of ;uro(e) Persia and 2ndia) on the "asis of
eviden%es drawn fro' language) the ar%haeologi%al dis%overy of artifa%ts and o"Be%ts
of art) and %ertain si'ilarities of religious ideas to "e found in the areas overrun "y
these far7ranging 'igrants.
/hatever the nature of the :ryans) it is a (roudly held word in %onte'(orary 2ndia.
-ne vigorous 'odern refor' 'ove'ent in Hinduis' whi%h see+s to re%a(ture the
"est of 2ndia=s religious heritage %alls itself the :rya7,a'aB) the ,o%iety of :ryans<
another (u"lishes a religious Bournal whi%h it %alls The Aryan Path. #o "ehave as a
true :ryan %o'es to have so'ething of the 'eaning of the &onfu%ian ter') 1the
,u(erior $an)1 or the old ;nglish (hrase of 1the true gentle'an.1
#he hy'ns of the Rig7>eda are 'u%h older) of %ourse) than the %olle%tion itself. $ost
of the' were %o'(osed for use in the %ult) although there are hy'ns whi%h see' to
"e the 'ore or less s(ontaneous e5(ression of the individual hu'an s(irit. :t first this
%ult) or worshi( was %ondu%ted "y the father of the household) "ut in ti'e there arose
a s(e%iali9ed (riesthood for the (erfor'an%e of the a((ro(riate sa%rifi%es and rituals)
and the hy'ns were (ro"a"ly largely (rodu%ed "y the' and for their use in the %ult.
Not 'any hy'ns %an "e assigned to s(e%ifi% authors) though the Rig7>eda %ontains
seven grou(s of hy'ns attri"uted to seven fa'ilies) the 6ritsa'ada) >isva'itra)
>a'adeva) :tri) BharadvaBa) >asistha) and Ganva. #hese 'ay re(resent se(arate
s%hools of (oetry 77 the hy'ns in any one grou( are %ertainly not all "y the sa'e
individual. #he %olle%tion was not 'ade all at one ti'e) as see's evident also in the
He"rew "oo+ of Psal's.
#here are ten "oo+s in all. -f these) Boo+s 22 through >22 %ontain the greater nu'"er
of the oldest hy'ns and were the first to "e "rought together) (ossi"ly at the
%o''and of so'e fa'ous %hief. Here a unifor' arrange'ent a((ears. Hy'ns are
grou(ed "y fa'ilies and within ea%h fa'ily grou( they are arranged a%%ording to the
gods to who' the hy'ns are addressed< and within these grou(s a%%ording to the
nu'"er of stan9as) in des%ending order. &onBe%turally) there were then %olle%ted and
added what is now the se%ond half of Boo+ 2) then the first half of Boo+ 2 and Boo+
>222) then Boo+ 2H whi%h is dedi%ated entirely to the god ,o'a) the into5i%ant deity)
and) finally) the latest of all the "oo+s) the tenth and last. Boo+ 2H) while %olle%ted
later than 'ost of the others) %ontains hy'ns whi%h 'ay well "e as old as any.
3ro' these hy'ns %an "e dis%overed 'u%h %on%erning the life and thought of the
an%ient >edi% 2ndians. 2t is a rare sour%e "oo+ for the study of their %ulture. Here are
dis%losed not only their religious ideas) their dee(est longings) their sins and failures)
their ideas of good and evil) their ho(es and fears< "ut also how they wor+ed) how
they (layed) how they fought) what they ate) how they dressed) the (attern of their
do'esti% and (u"li% life. 2ndeed) all we %an +now a"out this (eo(le is here (reserved)
for they left no 'onu'ents) or "uildings) or ins%ri(tions fro' whi%h the ar%haeologist
'ight re%a(ture their an%ient %ivili9ation. 2t is not only the sacred literature of the
(eriod) it is the only literature that has "een (reserved) and it was (reserved only
"e%ause it "e%a'e sa%red.
3ro' the older hy'ns it is %lear that they were still an invading) %on8uering (eo(le)
de(endent u(on 'ilitary s+ill and (ower to 'a+e their way ever 'ore dee(ly into
2ndia. Proof of this is the (ro'inent (la%e given to 2ndra who was their god of war.
$u%h %an "e inferred as to the %hara%ter and a%tivity of (eo(le fro' the gods who
hold (ositions of (rin%i(al i'(ortan%e. 2n war ti'es there has always "een) and still
is) a need for a god of "attles to s(ur 'en on to fight. 2n 'odern ti'es when 'en
"elieve in "ut one god) his 'ilitant %hara%ter always %o'es to the front in war ti'e)
and his 'ore (a%ifi% %hara%ter is (layed down. Nearly one7fourth of all the hy'ns of
the Rig7>eda are to 2ndra. -f %ourse he is 'ore than a war god< he is also god of
stor') "enefi%ent) life7"ringing stor') whi%h 'a+es grass to grow. #he ruder) 'ore
destru%tive as(e%ts of stor' are assigned to Rudra) father of the $aruts) who are
often asso%iated with 2ndra in his hy'ns.
#he >edi% (eo(le are still (astoral to a large degree. &ultivation of the soil has not yet
"e%o'e a (ri'ary sour%e of their living. 2t is a %attle %ulture) as only a very %ursory
glan%e at the hy'ns will 8ui%+ly dis%lose. #heir (rayers 77 to 2ndra) and to others as
well 77 are largely for ri%h (asturage) great herds of %attle) long life) "ig fa'ilies) and
of %ourse su%%ess in "attle. Rain is a ne%essity if (astures are to "e green. 2ndra is the
slayer of the de'on >ritra who herds the %loud %ows into a %ave and (revents the
rains fro' %o'ing. Prayers rise to 2ndra. He (re(ares hi'self "y %onsu'ing (onds of
,o'a) the into5i%ant) then sallies forth to slay the 'onster >ritra. #his is all re%alled
in one of the hy'ns.
1. Let 'e tell out the 'anly deeds of 2ndra)
/hi%h he a%%o'(lished first of all) "olt7wea(oned0
He slew the ser(ent) o(ened u( the waters)
:nd %left in twain the "elly of the 'ountains.
?. /ith "ull7li+e eagerness he sought the so'a<
-ut of three vats he dran+ the (ressed out li8uor<
$aghavan too+ in hand his "olt) the 'issile)
:nd s'ote therewith the first7"orn of the ser(ents.
I. 3or) li+e a drun+en wea+ling) >ritra %hallenged #he 'ighty hero) the i'(etuous
warrior< He did not 'eet the %lash of 2ndra=s wea(ons) Bro+en and %rushed he lay)
whose foe was 2ndra.
1?. Lightning and thunder (rofited hi' nothing)
Nor 'ist nor hailstor' whi%h he s(read around hi'<
/hen 2ndra and the ser(ent fought their "attle)
$aghavan won the vi%tory forever.
15. 2ndra is +ing of that whi%h 'oves and 'oves not)
-f ta'e and horned %reatures) too) "olt wea(oned<
-ver the tri"es of 'en he rules as 'onar%h<
:s felly s(o+es) so holds he the' together.
?
2ndra=s %lose relationshi( to the (reservation of %attle 77 and therefore to wealth and
(ros(erity of the (eo(le 77 is seen in this hy'n whi%h refle%ts the naive %hara%ter of a
si'(le (astoral (eo(le0
#he Gine have %o'e and "rought good fortune0 let the' rest
in the %ow7(en and "e ha((y near us.
Here let the' stay (rolifi%) 'any %olored) and yield through
'any 'o's their 'il+ for 2ndra.
2ndra aids hi' who offers sa%rifi%e and gifts< he ta+es not
what is his) and gives hi' 'ore thereto.
2n%reasing ever 'ore and ever 'ore his wealth) he 'a+es the
(ious dwell within un"ro+en "ounds.
#hese are ne=er lost) no ro""er ever inBures the'0 evil7
'inded foe atte'(ts to harass the'.
#he 'aster of the Gine lives 'any a year with these) the &ows
where"y he (ours his gifts and serves the 6ods.
@
But 2ndra also %o'es to "e thought of at ti'es as 'ore than Bust a fertility and war
god. 2n one of the hy'ns he assu'es al'ost the %hara%ter of a 'onotheisti% %reator
god. 2f no other hy'n of the whole %olle%tion had "een (reserved it would "e easy to
assu'e that 2ndra had indeed "e%o'e the one god of the world. #his is "ut an
e5a'(le of the ha"it of >edi% (eo(le to elevate 'o'entarily first one divinity) then
another to su(re'a%y. #o des%ri"e this attitude) $a5 $uller (ro(osed a new syntheti%
word) henotheis'. Here is a (art of a hy'n too long to 8uote entire0
1. He who as soon as "orn +een7thoughted) fore'ost)
,ur(assed the gods) hi'self) a god) in (ower<
Before whose vehe'en%e the worlds tre'"led
#hrough his great valour< he) - 'en) is 2ndra.
. He who the 8uivering earth hath fir' esta"lished)
:nd set at rest the agitated 'ountains<
/ho 'easured out the 'id7air far7e5tending)
:nd s+y su((orted0 he) - 'en) is 2ndra.
?. /ho slew the sna+e and freed the seven rivers)
Drove out the %attle "y un%losing >ala<
/ho fire "etween two ro%+s hath generated)
2n "attles vi%tor0 he) - 'en) is 2ndra.
1?. ;ven the heavens and earth "ow down "efore hi')
:nd at his vehe'en%e the 'ountains tre'"le<
/ho) "olt in ar') is +nown as ,o'a7drin+er)
/ith hands "olt7wielding< he) - 'en) is 2ndra.
5
3ire (lays an i'(ortant role in the life of any (eo(le) and is %oi''only worshi(ed
throughout the world. 2n >edi% 2ndia this ele'ent whether as in the hearthfire) in the
lightning stro+e) or in the "la9ing sun was an o"Be%t of %onstant worshi( as :gni.
I
2t
is not easy in 'any of the hy'ns to say whether the o"Be%t of %ult is the fire itself or a
god "ehind it< (erha(s they the'selves were not always sure either. 3ire is a servant)
fire is a friend) it is a (urifier) a %leanser) and (erha(s 'ost i'(ortant of all) it is that
whi%h trans'utes the sa%rifi%e into a holy food for the gods. ;asily :gni "e%o'es a
'ediator or (riest god. -ne of the 'any hy'ns reads thus0
Hy'n 1J
:gni) "e +ind to us when we a((roa%h thee) good as a friend
to friend) as sire and 'other.
#he ra%es of 'an+ind are great o((ressors0 "urn u( 'alignity
that strives against us.
:gni) "urn u( the unfriendly who are near us) "urn thou the
foe'an=s %urse who (ays no worshi(.
Burn) >asu) thou who 'ar+est well) the foolish0 Let thine
eternal ni'"le "ea's surround thee.
/ith fuel) :gni) and with oil) desirous) 'ine offering 2
(re7sent for strength and %on8uest)
/ith (rayer) so far as 2 have (ower) adoring 77 #his hy'n
divine to gain a hundred treasures.
6ive with thy glow) thou ,on of ,trength when lauded) great
vital (ower to those who toil to serve thee.
6ive ri%hly) :gni) to the >isva'itras in rest and stir.
-ft have we de%+ed thy "ody.
6ive us) - li"eral Lord) great store of ri%hes) for) :gni)
su%h art thou when duly +indled.
#hou in the ha((y singer=s ho'e "estowest) a'(ly with ar's
e5tended) things of "eauty.
D
#he entire ninth "oo+ %onsists of hy'ns to ,o'a. ,o'a is so'eti'es the (lant) fro'
whi%h Bui%e is e5tra%ted to "e%o'e) when (ro(erly strained and 'i5ed) ,o'a) the
into5i%ant) the food of the gods) the eli5ir of i''ortality) and finally ,o'a is one of
the %hief >edi% divinities. Nowhere in literature has the into5i%ant "een 'ore lyri%ally
des%ri"ed and e5alted than in this ninth "oo+. #he writers never tire of des%ri"ing the
(ro%ess of (re(aration of the divine drin+. ;very literary art is laid under tri"ute to
glorify it. #he (ress) the filter) or straining %loth) the utensils whi%h %ontain it are
des%ri"ed in loving detail. ,o'a is the drin+ of the gods. :ll see' to "e entitled to a
li"ation at intervals) and their standing within the (antheon %an "e (retty well
deter'ined "y the a'ount and fre8uen%y of the offering of ,o'a to the different
divinities. 2ndra 'ore than all of the' loves it. #hree ti'es ea%h day he 'ust have his
'eed of ,o'a) and for his 'aBor e5(loits in 'an=s "ehalf he 8uaffs un"elieva"le
8uantities of it) not 'easured "y %u(s "ut "y vats or (onds or la+es. #o none of the
into5i%ant gods in the religions of the world have greater virtues or (owers "een
attri"uted. ,(a%e li'its (er'it only a few illustrations0
1. ,ent forth "y 'en) this 'ighty steed)
Lord of the 'ind) who +noweth all)
Runs to the woolen straining7%loth.
. /ithin the filter hath he flowed.
#his ,o'a for the gods effused)
;ntering all their various worlds.
?. Res(lendent is this deity)
2''ortal in his dwelling (la%e)
3oe7slayer) feaster "est of gods.
@. Dire%ted "y the sisters ten)
Bellowing on his way this "ull
Runs onward to the wooden vats.
5. #his Pava'ana 'ade the sun
#o shine and all his various worlds)
-'nis%ient) (resent everywhere.
I. #his ,o'a filtering hi'self)
3lows 'ighty and infalli"le)
,layer of sinners) feasting gods.
J
Here is a (rayer for i''ortality) addressed a((ro(riately enough to the god who
re(resents) in (hysi%al for') the drin+ of i''ortality (although the god of the dead
and of whatever other7worldly dwelling (la%e awaited the' was not ,o'a "ut
*a'a! .
D. /here radian%e ine5hausti"le
Dwells) and the light of heaven is set)
Pla%e 'e) %lear7flowing one) in that
2'(erisha"le and deathless world.
(- 2ndu) flow for 2ndra=s sa+e.!
J. $a+e 'e i''ortal in the (la%e
/here dwells the +ing >aivasvata)
/here stands the in'ost shrine of heaven)
:nd where the living waters are.
9. $a+e 'e i''ortal in that real')
/herein is 'ove'ent glad and free)
2n the third s+y) third heaven of heavens)
/here are the lu%id worlds of light.
1C. $a+e 'e i''ortal in the (la%e
/here loves and longings are fulfilled)
#he region of the ruddy (s(here! )
/here food and satisfa%tion reign.
11. $a+e 'e i''ortal in the (la%e
/herein feli%ity and Boy)
Pleasure and "liss together dwell)
:nd all desire is satisfied.
9
-ne 'ore 8uotation 'ust suffi%e. : graduate student) reading it) was i'(ressed and)
"eing e'(loyed as a youth dire%tor in one of the lo%al %hur%hes and in %harge of a
wee+ly worshi( servi%e) undertoo+ to 'odify it at %ertain (oints and use it as a litany
in the ,unday 'orning servi%e. 2t so ha((ened that the (astor of the %hur%h visited the
grou( that 'orning) and) i'(ressed "y the "eautiful litany) in8uired where she had
found it. He was not a little sur(rised to learn that it was out of an an%ient "oo+ of
hy'ns of a (agan (eo(le dedi%ated to an into5i%ant divinity. 2t reads in (art0
- ,o'a flowing on thy way) win thou and %on8uer high renown<
:nd 'a+e us "etter than we are.
/in thou the light) win heavenly light) and) ,o'a) all feli%ities<
:nd 'a+e us "etter than we are.
/in s+ilful strength and 'ental (ower) - ,o'a) drive away our foes<
:nd 'a+e us "etter than we are.
*e (urifiers) (urify ,o'a for 2ndra) for his drin+<
$a+e thou us "etter than we are.
6ive us our (ortion in the ,un through thine own 'ental (ower and aids<
:nd 'a+e us "etter than we are.
#hrough thine own 'ental (ower and aid long 'ay we loo+ u(on the ,un0
$a+e thou us "etter than we are.
/ell7wea(oned ,o'a) (our to us a strea' of ri%hes dou"ly great<
:nd 'a+e us "etter than we are.
:s one vi%torious) unsu"dued in "attle (our forth wealth to us<
:nd 'a+e us "etter than we are.
By worshi( Pava'anaK 'en have strengthened thee to (ro( the Law0
$a+e thou us "etter than we are.
- 2ndu) "ring us wealth in steeds) 'anifold) 8ui%+ening all life<
:nd 'a+e us "etter than we are.
1C
2t is in the hy'ns to the great god >aruna that the >edas rea%h their highest (oint)
Budged fro' the stand(oint of a &hristian %ulture. Here they %o'e %losest in 'oral
and s(iritual insight to the He"rew Psal's and the New #esta'ent. $ost of the >edi%
religious as(iration 'oves at the level of the satisfa%tion of (hysi%al needs 77 long
life) food) shelter) (rote%tion) large fa'ilies 77 "ut in these hy'ns one finds a
%ons%iousness of sin and guilt and the need for forgiveness) as well also as guidan%e
and dire%tion in living.
1. /ise are the generations through the greatness
-f hi' who (ro((ed the two wide worlds asunder<
Pushed forth the great and lofty vault of heaven)
#he day7star) too< and s(read the earth out "roadly.
. /ith 'ine own self 2 'editate this 8uestion0
1/hen shall 2 have with >aruna %o''unionE
/hat gift of 'ine will he enBoy unangeredE
/hen shall 2 ha((y7hearted see his 'er%yE1
?. /ishing to +now 'y sin 2 'a+e in8uiry)
2 go a"out to all the wise and as+ the'<
-ne and the self7sa'e thing even sages tell 'e<
1>aruna hath with thee hot indignation.1
@. - >aruna) what was 'y %hief transgression)
#hat thou wouldst slay a friend who sings thy (raisesE
#ell 'e) god unde%eived and sovereign) guiltless)
/ould 2 a((ease thee then with adoration.
5. ,et us free fro' the 'isdeeds of our fathers)
3ro' those that we ourselves have (er(etrated<
Li+e %attle7thief) - +ing) li+e %alf ro(e7fastened)
,o set thou free >asistha fro' the fetter.
I. A#was not 'ine own will) >aruna) Atwas delusion)
Drin+) anger) di%e) or la%+ of thought) that %aused it<
:n older 'an has led astray a younger)
Not even slee( (rote%ts a 'an fro' evil.
D. - let 'e li+e a slave) when on%e 'ade sinless)
,erve hi' the 'er%iful) erewhile the angry.
#he no"le god has 'ade the thoughtless thoughtful<
He s(eeds the wise to ri%hes) he a wiser.
J. $ay this 'y (raise7song) >aruna) sovereign ruler)
Rea%h unto thee and 'a+e thy heart %o'(laisant<
$ay it "e well with us in rest and la"our)
Do yet (rote%t us ever'ore with "lessings.
11
-r) again in another hy'n0
:gainst a friend) %o'(anion) or a "rother)
: fellow7tri"es'an) or against a stranger)
/hatever tres(ass we have (er(etrated)
Do thou) - >aruna) fro' that release us.
2f we) li+e those that (lay at di%e) have %heated)
Have really sinned) or done a'iss unwitting)
&ast all these sins away) as fro' us loosened<
,o 'ay we) >aruna) "e thine own "eloved.
1
-ne is re'inded of Psal' 1?9 "y the following hy'n whi%h reveals >aruna as all
seeing) even to the inward thought of a 'an.
D. He +nows the (ath of "irds that through
#he at'os(here do wing their flight)
:nd o%ean7dwelling +nows the shi(s.
J. He +nows) as one whose law is fir')
#he twelve 'onths with their (rogeny)
Gnows too the 'onth of later "irth.
9. He +nows the (athway of the wind)
#he wide) the high) the 'ighty wind)
:nd those that sit enthroned a"ove.
1C. ;nthroned within his (ala%e sits
6od >aruna whose law is fir')
:ll7wise for universal sway.
11. 3ro' there the o"servant god "eholds
:ll strange and se%ret ha((enings)
#hings that are done or to "e done.
1. Let hi' the all7wise :ditya
$a+e all our days fair7(athed for us<
$ay he (rolong our earthly lives.
1?. /earing a golden 'antle) %lothed
2n shining gar") is >aruna<
His s(ies are seated round a"out.
1@. He who' de%eivers do not dare
#ry to de%eive) nor inBurers
#o har') nor th= hostile to defy.
1?
#he tenth "oo+ is the latest of all) and in it are found at least the "eginnings of
s(e%ulation %on%erning the nature and origin of the world) whi%h o%%u(ies so
i'(ortant a (la%e in the later sa%red literature of 2ndia. #a+e) for instan%e) the hy'n to
the Un+nown 6od. 2f at the end the answer is given that it is PraBa(ati who has
%reated everything) this is thought "y 'any to have "een a later addition.
1. #he 6olden 6er' arose in the "eginning)
Born the sole lord of everything e5isting<
He fi5ed and holdeth u( this earth and heaven)77
/ho is the god to worshi( with o"lationE
. He who gives "reath and strength) he whose %o''and'ent
:ll "eings follow) yea the gods a%+nowledge<
/hose shadow i''ortality and death is) 77
/ho is the god to worshi( with o"lationE
?. He who through greatness hath "e%o'e sole 'onar%h
-f all the 'oving world that "reathes and slu'"ers<
/ho ruleth over 8uadru(eds and "i(eds) 77
/ho is the god to worshi( with o"lationE
5. He through who' s+y is fir' and earth is steady)
#hrough who' sun=s light and heaven=s vault are su((orted<
/ho in 'id7air is 'easurer of the s(a%es) 77
/ho is the god to worshi( with o"lationE
J. He who in 'ight surveyed the floods %ontaining
&reative for%e) the sa%rifi%e (rodu%ing<
/ho A'id all gods has "een and is alone god)77
/ho is the god to worshi( with o"lationE
1C. PraBa(ati) a(art fro' thee no other
Hath all these things e'"ra%ed and %o'(rehended<
$ay that "e ours whi%h we desire when off=ring
/orshi( to thee< 'ay we "e lords of ri%hes.
1@
#he great hy'n of %reation whi%h in so'e sense foreshadows the (antheis' of later
Hinduis' is evidently 8uite late) for it des%ri"es the origins of %aste) of whi%h nothing
is +nown in any of the other >edi% hy'ns. -nly a few verses of it %an "e given here.
1. : thousand heads has Purusa)
: thousand eyes) a thousand feet<
He holding earth en%losed a"out)
;5tends "eyond) ten fingers length.
. /hatever is) is Purusa)
Both what has "een and what shall "e<
He ruleth the i''ortal world)
/hi%h he trans%ends through sa%red food.
?. :s great as this is Purusa)
*et greater still his greatness is<
:ll %reatures are one7fourth of hi')
#hree7fourths th= i''ortal in the heaven.
@. #hree7fourths as%ended u( on high)
-ne7fourth %a'e into "eing here<
#hen%e he develo(ed into what
2s ani'ate and inani'ate.
I. /hen gods (erfor'ed a sa%rifi%e
/ith Purusa as their offering)
,(ring was its oil and ,u''er7heat
2ts fuel) its o"lation 3all.
J. 3ro' that %o'(letely7offered rite
/as gathered u( the %lotted oil<
2t for'ed the %reatures of the air)
:nd ani'als "oth wild and ta'e.
1C. 3ro' that were horses "orn and all
#he "easts that have two rows of teeth<
&attle were also "orn fro' that)
:nd fro' that s(ring the goats and shee(.
11. #hen they dis'e'"ered Purusa<
How 'any (ortions did they 'a+eE
/hat was his 'outh %alled) what his ar's)
/hat his two thighs) and what his feetE
1. His 'outh "e%a'e the rahmana,
:nd his two ar's the !satriya"
His thighs "e%a'e the #aisya-%lass,
:nd fro' his feet the Sudra s(rang.
1?. #he $oon was gendered fro' his 'ind)
:nd fro' his eye the ,un was "orn<
2ndra and :gni fro' his 'outh)
:nd >ayu fro' his "reath was "orn.
1@. 3orth fro' his navel %a'e the air)
:nd fro' his head evolved the s+y<
;arth fro' his feet and fro' his ear
#he 8uarters0 thus they fra'ed the worlds.
15
#here are hy'ns to 'any different gods in the Rig7>eda) al'ost a fourth of the' to
2ndra alone) and over two hundred to :gni) "ut to lovely Ushas) goddess of dawn) one
of the very few goddesses of any inde(endent %hara%ter in the whole of >edi%
religion) there are only twenty7one. $ost goddesses are 'erely given the fe'inine
for' of the na'e of their 'ore i'(ortant %onsorts. #hus 2ndrani is the wife of 2ndra.
#here are hy'ns to nu'erous sun gods) >ishnu) ,urya) Pusan) $itra) who later
a((ears in $ithrais' as a rival of &hristianity in the $editerranean area< to Rudra)
god of destru%tive stor') to *a'a) god of the dead) and 'any others) fro' whi%h it
would "e (leasant to 8uote if s(a%e allowed.
-nly a"out thirty hy'ns are not %on%erned with the worshi( of so'e one or another
of the gods. #wo of these have already "een %ited. #here are a do9en 'agi%al hy'ns0
2) 191< 22) @) @?< H) 1@5) 1I) 1I?) 1II) 1J?. #wo are riddles. 3our are dida%ti%) 2H)
11< H) D1) 11D) and H) ?@. #his latter has to do with ga'"ling whi%h was a((arently
very %o''on in >edi% ti'es) as later we shall find it re%urring in the ;(i% literature.
#he date of the %o'(letion of the %olle%tion of the Rig7>edi% hy'ns %annot "e fi5ed
with %ertainty. ,%holars differ in their %onBe%tures fro' as early as 1CC 77 1CCC B.&.
to as late as JCC7ICC B.&. :ll are agreed that it too+ (la%e "efore the a((earan%e of
Buddha in the si5th %entury. But sin%e also they are agreed that the later >edi%
literature is also (re7Buddhist) and that these (resu((ose the e5isten%e of the Rig7
>eda and indeed de(end u(on it) it would see' to this writer that a su"stantial la(se
of ti'e 'ust "e allowed for the very %onsidera"le develo('ent of religious thought
to ta+e (la%e. #hus it would see' that a date not far fro' 1CCC7JCC B.&. would "e
%alled for. #hat there were various res%ensions of the original %olle%tion is dou"tless
true. #he one whi%h has %o'e down to us is that of the ,a+ala+a s%hool. #he
re'ar+a"le thing is that it was (reserved and trans'itted orally for %enturies "efore it
was redu%ed to writing) (assed on fro' tea%her to (u(il. /hen the first written
edition was 'ade is not %ertainly +nown. 27tsing) &hinese traveller in 2ndia in the
seventh %entury :.D.) states that the >edas were still trans'itted orally.
1I
#his does
not 'ean ne%essarily that there were no written %o(ies) "ut only that de(enden%e for
authoritative trans'ission was not on the written %o(ies whi%h are so very 'u%h
su"Be%t to error) "ut u(on the (ainsta+ing oral trans'ission fro' tea%her to (u(il. 2t is
(ro"a"le that they were not %onsigned to written for' until so'eti'e not far fro' the
"eginning of the &hristian era.
2f this feat of 'e'ory see's al'ost in%redi"le to the 'odern student) de(endent
u(on his note"oo+ and (en) let hi' re%all that this was the wor+ of s(e%ialists whose
(ri'ary "usiness it was to %ultivate their 'e'ories) and who had a (rofound sense of
the i'(ortan%e of trans'itting) without error) the sa%red te5t. 3urther'ore s(e%ial
devi%es were e'(loyed to insure that no word or line sli((ed out of (la%e as so easily
ha((ens in %o(ying a written te5t "y hand) or setting it u( in ty(e. 2n general) the
s%he'es were designed so that ea%h se(arate word was lin+ed with the word or words
"efore and following it) so that it would "e al'ost i'(ossi"le either to o'it anything
fro' the te5t or add anything to it. #hree se(arate s%he'es are +nown to have "een
e'(loyed.
#he first was +nown as the ste( te5t) 'ost easily seen if we designate the first word
"y the letter 1a)1 the se%ond "y 1")1 and so on. #he te5t was then learned thus0 a" 77
"% 77 %d 77 de. ;'(loying this s%he'e in relation to 6enesis 101 in the Bi"le it would
read0 2n the) the "eginning) "eginning 6od) 6od %reated) %reated the) et%. et%. #he
ne5t 'ethod) %alled the woven te5t) was 'ore %o'(le5. 2t ran thus0 a" 77 "a 77 a"< "%
77 %" 77 "%< %d 77 d% 77 %d< et%. 12n the 77 the in 77 in the< the "eginning 77"eginning the
77 the "eginning< et%. et%.1 -ne would thin+ that any 'ista+e with this syste' would
"e al'ost i'(ossi"le) "ut Bust to "e 8uite sure) an even 'ore %o'(li%ated syste' for
learning the te5t was wor+ed out. 2t was +nown as the $hana-patha, the two
(reviously given) res(e%tively) as !rama-patha and %ata-patha. 2t reads as follows0
a" 77 "a 77 a"% 77 %"a 77a"%< "% 77 %" 77 "%d 77 d%" 77 "%d< or in Bi"li%al ter's0 12n the 77
the in 77 in the "eginning 77 "eginning the in 77 in the "eginning) et%.1
&ould error (ossi"ly %ree( in with this arrange'entE #he %han%es are that the >edi%
te5t has "een 'u%h 'ore %orre%tly trans'itted than has the te5t of an%ient holy writ
of the He"rew7&hristian tradition) whi%h %a'e to us via the %o(yists and the (rinters.
#he Rig7>eda is "y far the 'ost i'(ortant of the four >edas) and is to a large e5tent
the sour%e fro' whi%h 'u%h of the %ontent of the others) (arti%ularly the ,a'a7>eda
and the *aBur >eda) is derived. ;a%h of these two ,a'hitas) or %olle%tions) as they are
%alled) arose as the %ult develo(ed and are of interest %hiefly as revealing the nature
of the >edi% %ult. Both are essentially (riestly do%u'ents.
:s the %ult develo(ed it outgrew the si'(le household 'inistration of the father) and
a (riesthood arose. :t first a single (riest %ould (erfor' all the rites. ;ven so) his
various fun%tions were given s(e%ial na'es. :t one ti'e he was the &d'atri, or the
singer of hy'ns) at the ,o'a7sa%rifi%e. :gain) he was the sa%rifi%er) at the ani'al
sa%rifi%e or (otri, (erfor'ing hi'self the 'anual (arts as well as re%iting the ritual.
:s the %ult "e%a'e 'ore %o'(le5 an assistant was re8uired to ta+e %are of the
'anual (art of the sa%rifi%e) leaving the (otri free to give his whole attention to the
re%iting of (raises. ;ventually there were three ran+s of (riests)
the &d'atri, the (otri, and the Adhvaryu.
2t was for the &d'atri that the ,a'a7>eda or 1%hant1 >eda as it is so'eti'es %alled)
was for'ed. :ll "ut seventy7five of its 'ore than fifteen hundred verses are ta+en
dire%tly fro' the Rig7>eda. 2t is the 'usi%al >eda) %reated for the instru%tion of
the &d'atri (riests. #he first (art of it) the :r%hi+a or "oo+ of (raises) %onsists of 5J5
single stan9as ea%h to "e sung to a se(arate tune. 2n an%ient ti'es the tunes were
taught orally) "ut in written editions the 'usi% a%%o'(anies the words. /internit9
says that this (art is li+e a song7"oo+ in whi%h only the first stan9a of the song is
(rinted as an aid to the re%all of the 'elody. #he songs ta+en %hiefly fro' the Rig7
>eda are arranged a%%ording to the deities to whi%h they are dedi%ated. #he se%ond) or
Uttarar%hi+a) %ontains 15 stan9as) usually three to ea%h stro(he) arranged a%%ording
to the order of the (rin%i(al sa%rifi%es. /internit9 %o'(ares it to a song"oo+ in whi%h
the words are given) assu'ing that the 'elody is already +nown.
1D
-f i'(ortan%e in
the study of 2ndian 'usi%) and as throwing light on the >edi% %ult) it is of little
(o(ular interest) and adds nothing essential %on%erning >edi% life and "elief to what
is afforded "y the Rig7>eda.
#he *aBur7>eda was the >eda of the assisting (riest or :dhvaryu) whose duty it was
to (erfor' the 'anual (art of the sa%rifi%e. 3ro' early ti'es it was %usto'ary for the
(riest) while (erfor'ing various 'anual a%ts of the sa%rifi%e) to utter a((ro(riate
for'ulas. #hese 'ay have "een of the nature of 'agi% or in%antations. #his "e%a'e a
(art of the fun%tion of the s(e%iali9ed 'anual (riest) leaving the 'ore for'al and
(u"li% ritual utteran%es to the Hotri or sa%rifi%ing (riest. Later to these utteran%es
were added also %ertain (raises and (rayers derived fro' the Rig7>eda. 2t is this
'aterial for the use of the :dhvaryu that %onstitutes the *aBur7>eda %olle%tion. 2t is
found in various versions as taught in differing s%hools. ,o'e of these versions in
addition to the a"ove 'entioned for'ulas have in%or(orated also a %ertain a'ount of
theologi%al 'aterial or rahmana dire%tly into the te5t. #hese %onstitute the so7%alled
Bla%+ *aBur>eda. #he other) "etter +nown) /hite *aBur7>eda) has the Brah'ana
se(arated out fro' the for'ulas and (rayers and %arries it as an a((endi5 at the end.
Brief e5a'(les of (hrases used "y the :dhvaryu are as follows0 /hen a (ie%e of
wood with whi%h the sa%red fire is to "e +indled is dedi%ated) this for'ula is re%ited0
1#his) :gni) is thy igniter< through it 'ayst thou grow and thrive. $ay we also grow
and thrive.1 He addresses the halter "y whi%h a sa%rifi%ial vi%ti' is "ound to the sta+e
thus0 1Be%o'e no sna+e 77 "e%o'e no vi(er.1 #o the ra9or with whi%h the sa%rifi%er=s
"eard is a"out to "e shaved he says0 1- +nife) do not inBure hi'.1
1J
-f the forty se%tions %ontained in the *aBur7>eda) the first twenty7five) and earliest)
%ontain the (rayers for the 'ost i'(ortant sa%rifi%es) e.g.) the sa%rifi%es of the New
and 3ull $oon) the ,o'a sa%rifi%es in general) the Building of the 3ire :ltar) whi%h
re8uires a year) and the great Horse ,a%rifi%e. #he re'aining fifteen are 'u%h later)
and are 'ore or less an a((endi5 to the 'ain "ody of the wor+. 2t is o"vious that here
is a highly s(e%iali9ed (riestly literature of little (o(ular interest. Nevertheless) it is of
very great i'(ortan%e in the study of >edi% Hinduis'.
#he fourth of the >edas) the Atharva, is of a still different +ind. 2t has "een
%hara%teri9ed as a late "oo+) "ut as %ontaining a great deal of very an%ient 'aterial)
refle%ting the fol+ religion of the early :ryans) and as %arried along) it re(resents the
%ultural lag of the >edi% (eo(le. 3or) it is) to no s'all degree) a "oo+ of 'agi% and
%har's. 2t is one of the 'ost interesting "oo+s of anti8uity and a very valua"le sour%e
for an understanding of the fol+ religion of the >edi% (eriod. : glan%e at the ta"le of
%ontents reveals a fas%inating list of %har's. #here is) for e5a'(le) a %har' against a
%ough. 2t runs as follows0
1. :s the soul with the soul=s desire swiftly to a distan%e flies) thus do thou) -
%ough) fly forth along the soul=s %ourse of flight.
. :s a well shar(ened arrow swiftly to a distan%e flies) thus do thou)
%ough) fly forth along the e5(anse of earth.
?. :s the rays of the sun swiftly to a distan%e fly) thus do thou) - %ough fly
forth along the flood of the sea.1
19
Here is a %lear use of 'i'eti% 'agi%. :s the soul=s desire) as a shar(ened arrow) as
the rays of the sun swiftly to a distan%e fly 77 so let %ough fly also. But Bust to hel( out
there are %ertain things to "e done "esides re(eating the %har'. /hile re%iting the
sutra the (atient ta+es several ste(s away fro' the ho'e) again suggestive to the
%ough) "ut all this a)ter "eing fed with a %hurned drin+ or hot (orridge) i.e.) 'a+ing
(rudent use of a ho'e re'edy) li+e drin+ing hot le'onade) to 'a+e a %ure dou"ly
sure. : graduate student of ;nglish on reading this re%alled the following fro' the
Diary of the fa'ous ,a'uel Pe(ys a((arently 8uite so"erly intended.
- %ra'() "e thou faintless
:s our Lady was sinless
/hen she "are 4esus.
: %har' for finding lost o"Be%ts re%alls (ra%ti%es of the writer=s own "oyhood days.
#he for'ula is this0
-n the distant (ath of the (aths Pushan was "orn. . .
He +nows these regions all. . . .
Pushan shall fro' the east (la%e his right hand a"out
us and shall "ring again unto us what has "een lost.
#hose who see+ lost (ro(erty first have their hands and feet anointed. #his is ru""ed
off and again they are anointed with 'hi *%larified "utter! . #hen twenty7one (e""les
are thrown s%atteringly u(on a %rossroad. #hese sy'"oli9e the lost o"Be%ts and at the
sa'e ti'e are su((osed to %ountera%t their lost %ondition.
C
/e "oys of a later day found lost o"Be%ts so'eti'es "y %at%hing a daddy long7legs)
saying over hi' a for'ula whi%h unfortunately %an no longer "e re%alled) when the
great inse%t would sole'nly (oint one of his long legs in the su((osed dire%tion of
the lost o"Be%t. ,o'eti'es it was "y the 'u%h less elegant 'ethod of s(itting in the
(al' of the hand) stri+ing it with a finger and see+ing the lost o"Be%t in the dire%tion
in whi%h the largest s(it "all flew. 2nnu'era"le e5a'(les of li+e fol+ "eliefs and
(ra%ti%es 'ay "e found in any so7%alled advan%ed %ulture.
#hen there is a %har' to (ro'ote the growth of hair (I01?I! < to o"tain a hus"and
(0?! < to o"tain a wife (I0J! < to se%ure the love of a wo'an (I0J! < and to se%ure the
love of a 'an (D0?J! < a %har' to se%ure har'ony (?0C! < and one to (ro%ure
influen%e in an asse'"ly (?0?C! < a %har' to ward off danger fro' fire (I01CI! <
another to sto( an arrow in its flight. #here are (rayers too) one on "uilding a house
(?01! < one for su%%ess at ga'"ling (@0?J! < and (arti%ularly in (laying at di%e
(D05C! < an in%antation for the e5or%is' of evil drea's (I0@I! ) et%. et%.
2n addition there are re(eated not a few hy'ns fro' the Rig>eda) and still other
theoso(hi% and %os'ogoni% hy'ns of rare "eauty and insight whi%h do not see' to
fit in with the %ruder %on%e(t of religion a((arent in the 'agi%al (ortions of the "oo+.
:ny anthology whi%h (resents only the high and no"le (oints of a sa%red literature
really 'isre(resents that literature) for it is not all "y any 'eans of e8ual "eauty or
interest or of e8ual 'oral or religious insight. $ost religious literatures have their
high s(ots and their low. 3ro' the stand(oint of general reader interest the
Brah'anas re(resent the all7ti'e low of Hindu sa%red literature) and (ro"a"ly of all
the sa%red literatures of the world. #he Bi"le has se%tions that are hard going. $any
who "ravely set out to read the Bi"le through fro' 6enesis to Revelation "og down
in Leviti%us or sooner) and never finish. /ell) Leviti%us) in %o'(arison with the
greater (art of the Brah'ana literature) is far 'ore interesting and intelligi"le to the
non(riestly reader. 2t has the advantage) too) that it is 'u%h shorter. 4ulius ;ggeling)
translator of the ,ata(atha Brah'ana) says of the') 13or weariso'e (roli5ity of
e5(osition) %hara%teri9ed "y dog'ati% assertion and a fli'sy sy'"olis' rather than
serious reasoning) these wor+s are (erha(s not e8ualled anywhere unless indeed it "e
"y the s(e%ulative va(orings of the gnosti%s) than whi%h nothing 'ore a"surd has
(ro"a"ly ever "een i'agined "y rational "eings.1
1
#he Brah'anas are stri%tly (riestly "oo+s and are %on%erned (ri'arily with the
sa%rifi%es whi%h) with in%reasing %o'(le5ity) had develo(ed within >edi% Hinduis'.
,a%rifi%e had "e%o'e of enor'ous i'(ortan%e. By sa%rifi%e the gods %ould "e at first
won over to grant favors sought after< then as ti'e went on) it "e%a'e 'agi%al in its
(owers) and the gods the'selves %ould not resist the (rayer s(ell< indeed) what (ower
they had they owed to the sa%rifi%e.