﻿580 ON THE RELIGIOUS CFRtMONIES 



Before I notice the fifth sect, I must remind the 

 reader that tlie Hindu mythology has personified the 

 abstract and attractive poMers of the divinity, and 

 has ascribed sexes to these mythological personages. 

 The Sacti, or energy of an attribute of GOD, is fcr 

 male, and is fabled as the consort of that personified 

 attribute. The 6V/C(^i of Siva, whose emblem is the 

 phallus, is herself typified by the female organ. This 

 the *S'^/c^tf 6- worship, some figuratively, others literally, 



VoPADEVA, the real author oF the SYi Bh agar ata^ 

 has endeavoured to reconcile all the sects of Hindus 

 by reviving the doctrines of Vya'sa. He recognises 

 all the deities, but as subordinate to the supreme 

 being, or rather as attributes or manifestations of 

 GOD. Anew sect has been thus formed, and is de- 

 nominated from that modern Purcnia ; but the nu-r 

 merous followers of it do not seem to have well ap- 

 prehended the doctrines they profess. They incline 

 much to real polytheism, but do at least reject the 

 derogatory notions of the divinity, which the other 

 sects seem to have adopted. 



The Vaishn'avas, though nominally v orshippers of 

 Vishnu, are in fact votaries of deified heroes. The 

 Goculastlias (one branch of this sect) adore C»^ is h- 

 n'a, while the Jiamanuj v.-orship Ramachandra. 

 Both have again branched into three sects: one con- 

 sists of the exclusive worshippers of Cuishn'a, and 

 these onl}'- are deemed true and orthodox Vaish- 

 fi'avas ; another joins his favourite Ra'd'ha' with the 

 ;hero. A third, called Rad'hakillabhi, adores Ra'd'ha' 

 only, considering her as the active power of Vishnu. 

 The followers of these last mentioned sects have 

 adopted the singular practice of presenting to their 

 own wives tbe oblations intended for the goddess ; 

 and those among them who follow the left handed 

 path (there is in most sects a right-handed or dcr 

 cent path, and a left-handed or indecent mode of 

 worship;) require their wives to be naked when at- 

 tending them at their devotions. 



Amonst 



