Two Old Faiths. Essays on the Religions of the Hindus and the Mohammedans

The comparative simplicity of the system contained in the Vedas the oldest sacred books of the Hindus its almost entire freedom from the use of images its gradual deterioration in the later hymns its gradual multiplication of gods the advance of sacerdotalism and the increasing complexity of its religious rites are set forth. [...] The name means the end or"PHILOSOPHY AND RITUALISJC 85 scope of the Veda ; and if the Upanishads were the Veda instead of treatises tacked on to it the name would be correct; for the The Vedanta. [...] The feeling of the priests is expressed in a well-known stanza : All the world is subject to the gods; the gods are subject to the holy texts; the holy texts are subject to the Brahman ; therefore the Brahman is my god." Yes the sacred man could breathe the spell which made earth and hell and heaven itself to tremble. [...] The Hindu term is Avatara literally descent; the deity is represented as descending front heaven The Avatars to earth for vindication of the truth and righteous ness or to use the words ascribed to Krishna For the preservation of the good and the destruction of the wicked For the establishment of religion I am born from age to ago. [...] His early life a travesty of the life of Christ according to the Gospel of the Inhutoy."50 THE IllArvU IcELIGIM marga or the way of knowledge and bhakti marga or the way of devotion.