Essays Lectures on Religion of Hindu Vol 01

Author(s): H H Wilson
Publisher: Trubner and Company London

Page 31

OF THE HINDUS.
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long one, but it will be necessary to go through the whole, to ascertain the character of the national faith of those days, and its present modifications, noticing, as we proceed, some of the points of difference or resemblance between the forms of worship which then prevailed, and which now exist. The two great divisions of Vaishnavas and Saivas were both in a flourishing condition, and each embraced six principal subdivisions: we shall begin with the former, who are termed; Bhaktas, Bhagavatas, Vaishnavas, Chakrinas, or Pancharátrakas, Vaikhánasas and Karmahinas.
But as each of these was subdivided into a practical and speculative, or Karma and Jnána portion, they formed, in fact, twelve classes of the followers of VISHŃU, as the sole and supreme deity.
The Bháktas worshipped Vishnu as VÁSUDEYA, and wore no characteristic marks. The Bhagavatas worshipped the same deity as BHÁGAVAT, and impressed upon their persons the usual Vaishnava insignia, representing the discus, club, &c. of that divinity; they likewise reverenced the Sálagrám stone, and Tulasi plant, and in several of their doctrinal notions, as well as in these respects, approach to the present followers of RÁMÁNUJA, although they cannot be regarded as exactly the same. The authorities of these three sects were the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gitá. The names of both the sects still remain, but they are scarcely applicable to any particular class of Vaishnavas: the terms Bhakta, or Bhagat, usually indicate any individual who pretends to a more rigid devotion than