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MODERN HINDUISM.
Durbar of his church refused to allow the platform from which he taught to be used, and declared that Keshub was still the leader of the church. It would be curious to note if this is followed by any further step towards his deification.
The party who left Keshub after the marriage of his daughter have formed a stronger church than the one
The they left, under the title of the Universal Universal Somaj. They have adopted a sort of presby
Somaj. terian government, to prevent the autocratic rule of one man, and only those who have given up idolatry and caste in private as well as in public can be office-bearers. Altogether there are about 1,500 strict members and 8,000 adherents of these various Theistic bodies in India, distributed over 178 churches.
We have said little hitherto of certain common notions of the Hindus, which however influence them very greatly Fatalism.
cm and hinder improvement. For instance, fatal
- ism is one of their strongest beliefs. All a man's life is controlled by the Deity, and it is fruitless for man to oppose the decrees of God. It is this resignation to fate which so largely paralyses the efforts of the people, especially in regard to sickness. The belief in Maya, or Maya, or illusion, is another of their beliefs.
illusion. It is said that all mankind are the victims of illusion, especially in imagining themselves to be something different from God. It is commonly said that the supreme Being was tired of being alone, and formed the world as a sport or amusement, and that all the miseries of life came from Maya, the creatures being ignorant that they are really one with God.
Again, belief in the transmigration of souls pervades all India. It will be found to constitute a prominent feature in Buddhism. We may here briefly state the Transmigra- essential details of the creed. Existence after
tion. death is a matter of course. A predominantly good life is rewarded with heaven, an evil life with hell. Rewards After a longer or shorter time the soul returns and to earth to be re-born in a higher or lower
ents. station, according to its good or evil deeds.
