230 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts, 



[Oct. 



2. Sedhijar, No. 129.— Countermark 186. 



This title, as far as it is intelligible of itself, would denote a work hav- 

 ing reference to the Sidd'has, or sages, considered to have attained to su- 

 perhuman qualifications. In the sense however of this work, the term 

 may be, not inaptly, rendered by the term " philosophers ;" in the mo- 

 dern unphilosophical, and atheistical, usage of the term ; by a corruption 

 of its true meaning, as introduced by leading members of the French In- 

 stitute. 



On examination the manuscript proved to be a Tamil version, in poeti- 

 cal stanzas, with a version in plainer prose, of the doctrines of Charvvaca, 

 the leader of the Hindu atheistical school of philosophy. It denies the 

 being of God, or any divine being, or first cause ; the earth, the visible 

 sky, the expanse of ether, the sun, the moon, are self produced : there is 

 no distinction betv/een moral good, and evil ; and no state of rewards or 

 punishments after death. Hence there is no need to entertain any di*ead, 

 or reverence, of any superior, or inspecting, Being. 



But while such is the general doctrine of Charvvaca, and the other 

 Siddhas, or " philosophers," there are a few among them of the Samana. 

 persuasion, who object to the leading atheistical tenets ; and only adhere 

 to so much of the system as maintains a perfect equality among men ; 

 denying any distinctions of caste, or differences by birth, and asserting a 

 com-mon homogeneous relation between all men. 



The divisions into which the Charvvaca cla,ss is distinguished, are, ac- 

 cording to this work, eleven ; at the head of wliich matam.^ or sect, an in- 

 dividual presides ; according to the following enumeration : 



Savundaranti, Battacharya. 



Yoga raja. Prapacara. 



Yaipashaca. Mayavati. 



Niganda-vati of the Sama- Parakariya. 

 nas. Nirsvdsangi. 



Asvaca. Pancha-rattiri. 

 These subdivisions differ from each other ; but each agrees within 

 itself. 



Note. The manuscript is complete ; and in good presei*vation. Tamil 

 works contain allusions to one or other of these opinions; so as to render a 

 full understanding of the tenets of this atheistical school desirable. They 

 strike at the root of Brahmanical liinduism : but at the expense, in some 

 parts, of reason and truth; and one feature of the general system is re- 

 markable, inasmuch as it deprives the school of Hobbes, Voltaire, Dide- 

 rot, Volney, Paine, and company, of all claims to originality. The native 



