INDIA 



203 



I'liutu l,ij Mr. II. Z. IlKrnili. 



A FAKIR AND FAMILY IN DWELLING-PLACE UNDER THS WHITE It >CK, NCAK DOWLIE. 



words from otie of the Veilas: "Rise, woman" (says the sacred text); ''come to the world of 

 life come to us; thou hast fulfilled thy duties as a wife to thy husband." 



These free-hearted tribes had a grand trust in themselves and in their gods. Like other 

 conquering races, they believed both themselves and their deities t;> be altogether superior to 

 the swarthy aborigines. Such noble confidence of which Britons certainly inherit their full 

 share is a great source of strength to a nation. Their divinities (Devata in Sanskrit, literally 

 'The Shining Ones") were the great powers of Nature, and some of their names still survive 

 in English, and can easily be traced back through Latin and Greek forms. But as the Aryans 

 advanced in progress they became divided into castes, directed by a powerful priesthood. Hoiv 

 did the priests become so completely a caste by themselves? In this way. As already stated, 

 in the early days a lord or chieftain called in some man specially learned in holy offerings 

 to conduct the tribal sacrifices. These men were highly honoured. The art of writing being 

 link iiown (so it is supposed), the hymns and words were handed down by word of mouth. In 

 this way those families who learned them by heart became hereditary owners of the liturgies 

 required at the most solemn offerings to the gods. Hence members of such households were 

 chosen again and again to conduct the sacrifices and to chant the battle-hymn, to implore the 

 divine aid, or to pray away the divine wrath. The simple warriors of that age came to believe 

 that a hymn or prayer which had once brought them victory would probably do so again. 

 In this way the hymns became a valuable family property for those who had composed or 

 learned them. It was a possession even more absolute than modern "copyright." The potent 

 prayer was called Brahma, and the man who offered it Brahman. These families did all in 

 their power to make the ceremonies solemn and imposing; and gradually a vast array of 

 ministrants grew up round each of the greater sacrifices, first, the officiating priests and 

 their assistants, who dressed the altar, slew the victims, and poured out the libations; then, 

 the chanters of the hymns; then, the reciters of other parts of the service; and, lastly, the 

 superior priests, who supervised all the proceedings. 



