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OF THE HINDUS,
Asiatic Society *. In speaking of the Vedanta, he indicates the tendency of the illustrations which its teachers borrow from the Vedas towards materialism, and asserts the explanation of Máyá or illusion, to have been an after-thonght. Col. Vans Kennedy, also a distinguished Oriental scholar, had maintained in a work which merits to be consulted on a variety of important points Researches on the Nature and Affinities of ancient and Hindu Mythology'— that the Hindu philosophers of every school and every period had asserted a spiritual principle alone, and never countenanced materialism. He therefore in defence of his theory controverted Mr. Colebrooke's account of the Vedanta in an essay on the subject, published in the third volume of the Society's Transactions**. Sir Graves Haughton appended to this paper some observations in vindication of Mr. Colebrooke's views, which called forth further comments from Col. Vans Kennedy, a reply from Sir Graves Haughton, and a rejoinder from the colonel. These latter papers were printed in the London Asiatic Journal: whether they have settled the point in dispute may be doubted, but they have had the effect of bringing the principal doctrines of the Vedanta philosophy within the acquirement of European students.
* [Essays, London, 1858, p. 143 - 269.] ! Published by Longman and Co, i Vol. Ito. 1831. ** [p. 412 - 36.]
? Asiatic Journal, October, 1835; November. 1935; January, 1839. London. Allen and Co.
