OP THE HINDUS; 7.^ 



the Narak and Jehannam are those cares and pains which make a hell upon 

 earth. 



The moral code of the Kahir Fanfhis is short, but if observed faithfully is 

 of a rather favourable tendency. Life is the gift of God, and must not there- 

 fore be violated by his creatures ; Humanity is, consequently, a cardinal virtue, 

 and the shedding of blood whether of man or animal, a heinous crime. Truth 

 is the other great principle of their code, as all the ills of the world, and 

 ignorance of God, are attributable to original falsehood. Retirement from the 

 world is desirable, because the passions and desires, the hopes and fears which 

 the social state engenders, are all hostile to tranquillity and purity of spiritj, 

 and prevent that undisturbed meditation on man and God which is neces- 

 sary to their comprehension. The last great point is the usual sum and sub- 

 stance of every sect amongst the Hindus,* implicit devotion in word, act, and 

 thought to the Guru, or spiritual guide : in this, however, the characteristic 

 spirit of the KaUr Pant'kis appears, and the pupil is enjoined to scrutinize 

 his teacher's doctrines and acts, and to be first satisfied that he is the sage he 

 pretends to be, before he resigns himself to his controul. This sect, indeed, is 

 remarkably liberal in this respect, and the most frequently recurring texts of 

 Kahir are those which enforce an attentive examination of the doctrine, 

 that he oifers to his disciples. The chief of each community has absolute 

 authority over his dependants : the only punishments he can award, however, 

 are moral, not physical — irregular conduct is visited by reproof and admoni- 

 tion ; if the offender does not reform, the Guru refuses to receive his salutation j 

 if still incurable, the only further infliction is expulsion from the fraternity. 



* The Blidgavat declares the Deity and Guru to be the same. 

 Nabhaji declares the Deity, Guru, worshipper, and worship, to be four names and one substance. 



u 



