THE JAINS. 253 



But in that case, they must have been a sect of 

 Hindus; and the question, which is most ancient, the 

 Brdhmana or the Bauddlia, becomes a solecism. 



^f it be admitted that the Bauddlias are originally 

 a sect of Hindus, it may be next questioned whether 

 that, or any of the religious systems now established, 

 be the most ancient. I have, on a former occasion ''^j 

 indicated the notions which I entertain on this point. 

 According to the hypothesis which I then hinted, the 

 earliest Indian sect, of which we have any present 

 distinct knowledge, is that of the followers of the 

 practical VSdas, who worshi})ped the sun, fire, and the 

 elements ; and who believed the efficacy of sacrifices, 

 for the accomplishment of present and of future pur- 

 poses. It may be supposed that the refined doctrine 

 of the VSdantis, or followers of the theological and 

 argumentative part of the Vedas, is of later date : and 

 it does not seem improbable that the sects of Jina 

 and of Buddlia are still moie modern. But I appre- 

 hend that the Vaishnavas, meaning particularly the 

 worshippers of Rama and of CRisHNAf, may be 



* As. Res. vol. 8, p. 474. 

 t In explanation of a remark contained in a former essay (As. Res. 

 vol. 8, p. 475), I take this occasion of adding, that the mere mention 

 of Ra'ma or of Crishn'a, in a passage of the Fcdas, without any 

 indication of peculiar reverence, would not authorize a presumption 

 against the genuineness of that passage, on my hypothesis ; nor, ad- 

 mitting its authenticity, furnish an argument against that system. I 

 suppose both heroes to have been known characters in ancient fabulous 

 history ; but conjecture, that, on tlie same basis, new fables have 

 been constructed, elevating those personages to the rank of gods. 

 On this supposition, the simple mention of them in genuine portions 

 ©f the Vedas, particularly in that part of it which is entitled Brdh- 

 man'a, would not appear surprising. Accordingly, Crishn'a, son 

 of De'vaci, is actually named in the Ch'handogya Upanishad (to- 

 wards the close of the 3d Cliapter,) as having received theological in- 

 formation from Ghora a descendant of Angiras. This passage, 

 which had escaped my notice, was indicated to me by Mr. Speke, 

 frem the Persian translation of the Upanishad, 



u 3 



