§42 ON THE LITERATURE 



Nyaya is derived from the root ni, to acquire or appre- 

 hend ; and, in this fenfe, the books on apprehenfon, 

 reafoning, and judgment, are called Nydya. The 

 principal of thefc are the work of Gautama, in five 

 chapters; and that of Canada, in ten: both teaching 

 the meaning of facred texts, the difference between juft 

 and unjuft, right and wrong, and the principles of 

 knowledge, all arranged under twenty-three heads. 

 Mimanfd is alfo two-fold ; both fhewing what acts are 

 pure or impure, what, objecls are to be defired or 

 avoided, and by what means the foul may afcend to 

 the Firft Principle. The former, or Carma Mimanfd^ 

 comprifed in twelve chapters, was written by Jaimini^ 

 and difcufles queftions of moral duties and law. Next 

 follows the Updfand Cauda, in four lectures, (Sancar- 

 Jliana and the reft,) containing a furvey of religious du- 

 ties; to "which part belong the rules of Sdndilya, and 

 others, on devotion, and duty to God. Such are the 

 contents of the Purva, ox former, Mimanfd. The Ut- 

 tar a, or latter, abounding in queftions on the Divine 

 Nature, and other fublime fpeculations, was compofed 

 by Vydfa, in four chapters and fixteen fections : it may 

 be considered as the brain and fpring of all the Anga's ; 

 it expofes the heretical opinions of Rdmdnuja, Mddhwa, 

 Vallabha, and other fophifts ; and, in a manner fuited 

 to the comjprehenfion of adepts, it treats on the true 

 nature of Ganefa, Bhdfcara, or the Sun, Nilacanta, 

 Lacflimi, and other forms of One Divine Being. A fi- 

 milar work was written by Srisancara, demonstrating 

 the fupreme power, goodnefs and eternity of God. 



The Body of Law, called Smriti, confiSts of eighteen 

 books, each divided under three general heads, the 

 duties of religion, the administration of jiiflice, and the 

 punifhment or expiation of crimes. They were deli- 

 vered, for the inftruction of the human fpecies, by 

 Menu; and other facred perfonages. 



As 



