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Speaking with Hinduism as based on the Vedas there was no time when there was no such distinction as Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Surdas. The theory of these four castes who were brought forth respectively from the mouth, the arms, the thighs and the feet of Brahma is formulated in the hymn of the Purusha in the the Rig-veda. The truth is that different professions constituted different castes, The Brahmin devoted to prayer and the science of theology was considered to be the highest. As you examine the ritualism of the Brahmins, the Brabmana portion of the Vedas, you find express commands for Sacrificing domestic and wild animals. Among these victims there is one which recurs with an ominous frequency viz min. Not only are there traces of human saceifice preserved in the legends as well as in the symbolism of ritual but this Sacrifice is expressly mentioned and formally prescribed. All the great Sacrifices as a rule exact one or more human victims and one of them is quite naively called the narameda i. e. the Sacrifice of man. The texts speak differently in regard to these rights. At one time they represent them as fallen absolutely; but they maintain them as a rule and protest against their abolition; at another time they conceive of them as purely symbolic acts; while at another they simply speak of them as usages in full force. There were however other philosophers living along side of these sacrificers and their doctrines had consider
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