RELIGIOUS SECTS OF THE HINDUS. 227 



pretence of a religious observance. In justice to the doctrines of the sect, 

 it is to be observed, that these practices, if instituted merely for sensual 

 gratification, are held to be as illicit and reprehensible, as in any other 

 branch of the Hindu faith.* 



Let him pledge the wine cup again and again, 

 Till he measures his length on the ground. 

 Let him rise and once more the goblet drain, 

 And with freedom for aye, from a life of pain, 

 Shall the glorious feat be crowned. 



* The Kuldrnava has the following and many similar passages: they occur constantly in 

 other Tantras. 



^N^nriT^n-% 77Wrra:^ftfire37lTrT II 



" Many false pretenders to knowledge, and who have not been duly initiated, pretend to practise 

 the Kaala rites ; but if perfection be obtained by drinking wine, independantly of my commands, then 

 every drunkard is a saint : if virtue consist in eating flesh, then every carnivorous animal in 

 the world is virtuous : if eternal happiness be derived from sexual intercourse, then all beings will be 

 entitled to it : a follower of the Kula doctrine is blameless in my sight, if he reproves those of other 

 creeds who quit their established observances — those of other sects who use the articles of the Kaula 

 worship, shall be condemned to repeated generations as numerous as the hairs of the body." — In fact, 

 the texts of Menu are taken as authorities for the penance to be performed for the crimes of touching, 

 smelling, looking at, or tasting the forbidden articles, except upon religious occasions, and when they 

 are consecrated by the appropriate texts. 



It is only to be added, that if the promulgators of these doctrines were sincere, which is far from 

 impossible, they must have been filled with u strange phrenzy, and have been strangely ignorant of 

 human nature. 



