PRINCIPAL DEITIES. 213 



a lamp to their path, has involved them in an abyss of 

 absurdity, and impelled them to follies, and even crimes, 

 of which there is scarcely an example in any other pagan 

 worship. 



Notwithstanding its extravagance, the Hindoo system 

 claims attention, from its striking features, from the view 

 which it affords of the history of the human mind, and from 

 its paramount influence on the ideas and institutions of the 

 natives themselves. It is impossible, therefore, without 

 premising an outline of this religion, to convey any distinct 

 idea of the character of those who profess it. 



The learned books of this people contain some sublime 

 doctrines respecting the nature of the Deity. They dis- 

 tinctly recognise the existence of one supreme and invisible 

 Author and Ruler of the universe. They even describe his 

 attributes in lofty terms, superior to those employed in the 

 philosophical writings of Plato, and approaching nearer 

 than any other human composition to the delineations of 

 the inspired penman. We may illustrate this by quoting 

 the Gayatri, or holiest text of the Vedas, from Sir William 

 Jones's translation. 



" Let us adore the supremacy of that divine Sun, the 

 Godhead, who illuminates all, who recreates all, from whom 

 all proceed, to whom all must return, whom we invoke to 

 direct our understandings aright in our progress towards 

 his holy seat. 



" What the sun and light are to this visible world, that 

 are the Supreme Good and Truth to the intellectual and 

 invisible universe ; and as our corporeal eyes have a distinct 

 perception of objects enlightened by the sun, thus our souls 

 acquire certain knowledge by meditating on the light of 

 truth, which emanates from the Being of beings ; that is 

 the light by which alone our minds can be directed in the 

 path to beatitude. 



"Without hand or foot he runs rapidly, and grasps 

 firmly ; without eyes he sees, without ears he hears all ; he 

 knows whatever can be known; but there is none who 

 knows him. Him the wise call the great supreme pervad- 

 ing Spirit." 



The Supreme Mind, according to the Braminical system, 

 displays its energies in the three grand operations of creat- 

 ing, preserving, and destroying. These are expressed by 



