10 RELIGIOUS SECTS 



uninteresting preliminary branch of the enquiry, to endeavour to determine 

 its existing modifications, at the period immediately preceding the few cen- 

 turies, which have sufficed to bestow upon it its actual form : it happens, also, 

 that some controversial works exist, which throw considerable light upon the 

 subject, and of which the proximity of their date, to the matters of which 

 they treat, may be conjectured with probability or positively ascertained. Of 

 these, the two principal works, and from which I shall derive such scanty infor- 

 mation as is attainable, are the Sanhara Digv'ijaya of Ananda Girt, and the 

 Sarva Dersana Sangraha of MadhavachIrya, the former a reputed disciple of 



By Siva himself, the Pdhipata writings were composed; Kan ada is the author of the Vaisheshiha 

 Philosophy. The Nydya originates with Gautama. Kapila, is the founder of the Sdnkhya School, and 

 Vrihaspati of the CMrvdka. Jaimini, by Siva's orders, composed the Mimdnsa, which is heretical, 

 in as far as it inculcates works in preference to faith, and Siva himself, in the disguise of a Brahman, 

 or as Vyasa, promulgated the Vedanta, which is heterodox in Vaishnava estimation, by denying the 

 sensible attributes of the deity. Vishnu, as Buddha, taught the Bavddha Sdstra, and the practices of 

 going naked, or wearing blue garments, meaning, consequently, not the Bauddhas, but the Jainas, 

 ( ^'^'SrT^^^ r^r^ ^IT^W^T^ f^^l ) The Purdnas were partly instrumental in this 

 business of blinding mankind, and they are thus distinguished by our authority and all the 

 Vaishnava works. 



The Mdtsya, Kaurma, Lainga, Saiva, Shdnda and Agneya, are Tdmasa, or the works of 

 darkness, having more or less of a Saiva bias. 



The Vishiu, Ndradiya, Bhdgavat, Gdrura, Pddma and Vdrdlia, are Sdtwiha, pure and true ; 

 being, in fact, Vaisli7iava text books. 



The Brahmdnda, Brahma Vaivertta, Mdrkandeya, Bhavishya, Vdmana and Brdhnia, are of 

 the Bdjasa cast, emanating from the quality of passion. As far as I am acquainted with them, they 

 lean to the Sdkfa division of the Hindus, or the worship of the female principle. The MdrkaTideya 

 does so notoriously, containing the famous Chandi Path, or Durgd Mdhdtmya, which is read at the 

 Durga Pujd ; the Brahma Vaivertta, is especially dedicated to Krishna as Govinda, and is prin- 

 cipally occupied by him and his mistress Radha. It is also full on the subject of Prahriti or 

 personified nature. 



A similar distinction is made even with the Smritis, or works on law. The codes of Vasishth a 

 HARfTA, Vyasa, Parasara, Bharadwaja and Kasvapa, are of the pure order. Those of Yaj- 

 NAWALKYA, Atri, Tittiri, Daksha, Katyayana and Vishnu of the Rajasa class, and those of 

 Gautama, Vrihaspati, Samvartta, Yama, Sankha and Usanas, are of the Tdmasa order. 



