1858.] Buddhism and Odinism. 47 



course, Buddhism had travelled across the bounds of Asia and gone 

 on beyond the furthest limits of the European continent to the 

 freezing isle of Iceland, or that Odinism was nothing more than a 

 modification of the religion taught by the renowned prophet of 

 Magadha. The fact, however, has now emerged from the region 

 of crude conjectural speculation, and though not yet established 

 as a positive antiquarian discovery, has an array of evidence in 

 its favour, which will direct the course of subsequent inquiry and 

 lead to a definite consequence. Professor "Westergaard and others 

 have shewn that the old Icelandic language bears a strong re- 

 semblance and, most probably, owes its origin to the Sauskrita, and 

 the work, of which we propose to make this paper a brief summary, 

 points out the relics which still exist both in Iceland and Scandina- 

 via of the former predominance in those places of a religion akin to 

 Buddhism. 



It is much to be regretted that our enquiry into this subject has 

 to be conducted under serious disadvantages. History in Scandina- 

 via, until after the eleventh century, was as sterile as in India, and 

 the reader of Pagan literature knows even less of the doctrines and 

 usages of the Paganism which existed among the Northmen, than 

 does the Puranic, with reference to the Hinduism of the middle ages. 

 Of the doctrines and institutions of the religion of Odin we have 

 little that can be used for historical purposes. They are vague 

 and mystified, and evidently never formed the subject of the records 

 (Eddas) which have been handed down to us. Nor are we more 

 fortunate in the material remains of Odinism. The North is even 

 more poor than the East in relics of temples, statues, emblems, 

 images and symbols. The little, however, that are still available 

 both of legends and antiquities, bear so strong a resemblance to 

 Buddhist relics in India, that it would be bold indeed to declare 

 that their similitude is the result of an accidental coincidence. 



Buddhism is characterised as eminently spiritual and free from 

 idolatry, so was the religion of the Germanic race from whom 

 Odinism was taken into Norway. Tacitus says* that the Germans 

 held that God is the Buler over all ; every other thing is subject 

 to and obedient to him, ("regnator omnium Deus, cetera subjecta 



* Chapter 35. 



