OBJECTS OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIAL 91 



Besides the supreme gods the Hindu system of rehgion inckides 

 countless subordinate divinities and spirits, male and female, benefi- 

 cent and malignant. In fact, Hinduism is not a strict religious 

 organization; it is as much social as religious; it reflects the entire 

 life of the whole people called Hindus. There is no bond of a com- 

 mon belief or creed, no congregational service, no central adminis- 

 trative body. Caste and all that is implied by the term is the only 

 thing universally recognized in Hinduism. 



The doctrines of Hinduism are chiefly contained in the Puranas, 

 the Tantras, the Sastras, and the two epic poems, the Ramayana and 

 the Mahabharata. 



COLLECTION OF OBJECTS 



1. OBJECTS OF WORSHIP— IMAGES OF THE GODS 



1. Brahma. — Stattiette of marble, painted and gilded. Repre- 

 sented seated on a full-blown lotus, with four heads, bearded, and 

 four arms. Wearing the sacred thread (for which see p. 112). In 

 the upper right arm he holds a ring, in upper left arm a dish (?) to 

 receive gift; in the lower right arm a chaplet; in the lower left a water 

 pot. Against the lotus base is the swan or goose (hamsa), his 

 vehicle (vaJtan). 



Brahma is the first member of the Hindu triad or Trimurti, the 

 creator. According to the Hindu legends, he was born from a golden 

 egg which had been deposited by Vishnu on the chaotic waters, or 

 he emerged from a lotus which sprang from the navel of Vishnu,, 

 who was floating upon the ocean of creation, lying upon the serpent 

 Sesha. From Brahma emanated or were evolved the other gods and 

 the world. In the daily worship of the Hindus, Brahma took a minor 

 place in favor of the other members of the triad, Vishnu and Siva. 

 There are said to be only two sanctuaries in India devoted to the cult 

 of Brahma — one in Pushkara, near Ajmir, and the other near Idar. 

 Otherwise, Brahma holds a merely honoraiy position in the Hindu 

 pantheon, as the personification or universal soul of the world, a& the 

 inspirer of the sacred writings, and patron of the learned. His 

 daughter and wife, Sarasvati, formerly the personification of the 

 river of the same name, is the goddess of speech, of the sciences and' 

 arts. Brahma is usually represented with four faces and a goose or 

 owl as his vehicle {valian), or sacred bird. Height, 10% inches. 

 India. (Cat. No. 154898, U.S.N.M.) 



2. Brahma. — Statuette of brass, gilt. Represented riding on the 

 swan, his vehicle, with four heads and four arms, holding objects 

 similar to those described under No. 1. Height, 5 inches. India. 

 (Cat. No. 317653, U.S.N.M.) Bequest of Miss Nettie Lovisa White.. 



3. Vishnu. — ^Colossal statue of wood, carved and painted. Repre- 

 sented with four arms, standing on a base. On his head he wears 



