1876.] R. Mitra — Human Sacrifices in Ancient India. 53 



b-urgli (Vassilievski-Ostrov, Grand Perspective No. 8), Avho is specially 

 charged with, the organisation and management of the Exhibition. 



The following paper was read : — 

 1. On Suman Sacrifices in Ancient India. — By Babtj Rajestdealala 



MiTEA, LL. D. 



(Abstract.) 



The author starts with the assumption that, however repulsive the 

 idea of sacrificing human beings may be to modern civilization, it was not 

 inconsistent with the different forms of religion which were current in pri- 

 m.itive times. They all were founded on the belief of one or more superna- 

 tm-al beings of great power who were easily offended, but who, at the same time, 

 were amenable to the seductive influences of coaxing and peace-offering ; and 

 all mantras, charms, prayers and sacrifices originated from, and were various 

 forms of, coaxing and peace-offering. Human sacrifice was, in short, the 

 natural result of assigning hxmian attributes to the Divinity, and it proceed- 

 ed under different circumstances from anthropopathy, devotion, penance, 

 rejoicings, vindictiveness, expediency, respect for the dead, necromancy, 

 vows, and a desire to avert an evil or secure a coveted object by divine or 

 supernatui'al intervention. To illustrate these points, the author quotes largely 

 from different works showing that sacrifices of human beings were made 

 by the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Assyrians, Chaldeans and ahuost all 

 other ancient nations. He then discusses the true character of the story of 

 S'unahsepha as given in the Vedas, and comes to the conclusion that the 

 sacrifice there referred to was real and not typical, as supposed by AVilson, 

 Rosen and other European orientalists. Extracts are then given from 

 the White Yajur Yeda, the Taitiriya Brahmana, the Srautra Sutras of 

 Apastamba and Katyayana, and the Kalika Purana to show the various 

 phases through which the odious j)ractice of sacrificing human beings had 

 passed in India. 



The Rev. Dr. K. M. Banerjea said : — The theory which Babu Rajen- 

 dralala has propounded on the origin of human sacrifices in the world would, 

 if discussed at large, lead to a theological debate not suitable at a place 

 like this. I will therefore content myself with saying that I cannot assent 

 to su.ch a dogma — certainly not . in the sweeping manner in which it 

 has been propounded. I do not deny that human sacrifices have jDrevailed 

 among most nations of the Avorld — but ])robably not in primitive times — 

 nor among the Jews, as Jews, at any time. The offering of Isaac was a 

 simple trial of faith, not followed by actual slaughter — nor Avas it in- 

 dicative of an inhuman custom. The offerings to Moloch were professedly 

 the consequences of lai)ses to open idolatry, and so far unJewish. But I 



