Essays Lectures on Religion of Hindu Vol 01

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

Page 33

OF THE HINDUS.
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we can scarcely identify any one of them with those which seem to have prevailed when the Sankara Vijaya of ANANDA Giri was composed. The great divisions, of RÁMÁNUJA and RÁMÁNAND--the former of which originated, we know, in the course of the 11th century, are unnoticed, and it is also worth while to observe, that neither in this, nor in any other portion of the Sankara Vijaya, is any allusion made to the separate worship of KŃSHŃA, either in his own person, or that of the infantine forms in which he is now so pre-eminently venerated in many parts of India, nor are the names of Ráma and Sírá, of LAKSHMAÑA or HANUMÁN, once particularised, as enjoying any portion of distinct and specific adoration.
The Saiva sects are the Saivas, Raudras, Ugras, Bháktas, Jangamas, and Páśupatas. Their tenets are so blended in the discussion, that it is not possible to separate them, beyond the conjectural discrimination which may be derived from their appellations: the text specifies merely their characteristic marks: thus the Saivas wore the impression of the Linga on both arms; the Raudras had a Trisúla, or trident, stamped on the forehead; the Ugras had the Damaru, or drum of Siva on their arms, and the Bháktas an impression of the Linga on the forehead—the Jangamas carried a figure of the Linga on the head, and the Páśupatas inprinted the same object on the forehead, breast, navel, and arms. Of these sects, the Saivas are not now any one particular class—nor are the Raudras, Ugras, or Bhaktas, any longer distinct