ANCIENT AND MODERN VIEWS OF NATURE. 13 



cordial union to behold all religious systems 

 which are still hampered either with a cosmo- 

 gony, or with any form of anthropomorphism, 

 cast into the furnace, to come forth purified 

 from finite ideas and more suited to the larger 

 requirements of ourselves or our successors. 



Note A. 



THE SACRIFICE OF SERPENTS. 



King Janamejaya once undertook a great sacrifice, to revenge him- 

 self upon the serpent Takshaka, who had killed his father. An im- 

 mense fire was kindled, and the serpents, great and small, were com- 

 pelled by powerful incantations to throw themselves into it. But 

 Takshaka did not appear, and the officiating priests informed the king 

 that he had fled to the court of Indra, who had promised to protect 

 him. The king was enraged at this news, and commanded the high 

 priest to redouble his exertions. He therefore sacrificed with 

 irresistible incantations, and Indra himself appeared in a celestial 

 chariot, surrounded by all the gods, who were singing his praises, 

 and followed by troops of attendants. Takshaka, lying on Indra's 

 robe, and trembling with fear, was also compelled to accompany 

 him. Then the enraged king said to the priests: "Brahmins, if the 

 serpent in Indra's chariot is Takshaka, hurl them both into the fire 

 together!" The high priest then devoted Takshaka to the fire, and 

 immediately Takshaka and Indra were seen to writhe about in great 

 agony At the sight of the sacrifice, Indra was seized with terror ; 

 and abandoning Takshaka, fled back trembling to his palace. But 

 just as Takshaka was about to be cast into the fire, the sacrifice was 

 stopped at the request of a young Brahmin, to whom Janamejaya had 

 previously promised a boon. 



Note B. 



BUDDHISM. 



The meaning of the word Nirvana has been much disputed. Though 

 differently explained by different sects of Buddhists, it is highly 



