OF THE HINDUS. ' 9 



SECTION II. 



STATE GF THE HINDU RELIGION, ANTERIOR TO ITS 

 PRESENT CONDITION. 



Although I have neither the purpose nor the power to enter into any 

 detail of the remote condition of the Hindu faith, yet as its present state is 

 of comparatively very recent origin, it may form a not unnecessary, nor 



this work, towards the end of it, several sections are occupied with a dialogue between Siva and 

 Parvat!, in which the former teaches the latter the leading principles of the Vaishnava faith. Two 

 short sections are devoted to the explanation of who are heretics, and which are the heretical works. 

 All are PdshanSas, Siva says, who adore other gods than Vishnu, or who hold, that other deities 

 are his equals, and all Brahmans who are not Vaishnavas, are not to be looked at, touched, nor 

 spoken to :— 



Siva, in acknowledging that the distinguishing marks of his votaries, the skull, tiger's skin, and 

 ashes, are reprobated by the Vedas (Srutigerhitam) states, that he was directed by Vishnu to in- 

 culcate their adoption, purposely to lead those who assumed them into error Namuchi and othec 



Daityas had become so powerftil by the purity of their devotions, that Indra and the other gods 

 were unable to oppose them. The gods had recourse to Vishnu, who, in consequence, ordered Siva 

 to introduce the Saiva tenets and practices, by which the Daityas were beguiled, and rendered 

 " wicked, and thence weak." 



In order to assist Siva in this work, ten great Sages were imbued with the Tamasa property, or 

 property of darkness and ignorance, and by them such writings v/ere put forth as were calculated to 

 disseminate unrighteous and heretical doctrines, these were Kan Ada, Gautama, Sakti, Upama- 

 NYu, Jaimini, Kapila, Durvasas, MRiKAisbA, Vrihaspati, and Bhargava. 



D 



