Great Indian Religion

Author(s): G T Bettany
Publisher: Ward Lock Bowden and Co

Page 13

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BRAHMA (FROM A NATIVE PICTURE).
CHAPTER I. The Early Cedic Religion.
Analogies to Greek and Roman Religion-Date of the Rig Veda, anterior to
writing-Language of Rig-Veda-Religious basis--The earliest hymnsWorship of powers of Nature personified-Dyaus and Prithivi (heaven and earth) - The origin of things-Mitra and Varuna-Indra, the god of the clear blue sky-The Maruts, or storm-gods-The sun-gods, Surya and Savitri-Pushan-Soma, the Indian Bacchus or Dionysus-Ushas, the dawn goddess--Agni, the god of fire-Tvashtri--The Asvins-Brahmanaspati-Vishnu-Yama, and a future life-Virtues rewarded by heaven-Future punishment-Transition to monotheism and pantheism -Visvakarman--Absence of later Hindu doctrines-Organisation of early Hindus-Morals—The other Vedas-The Brahmanas-Human sacrifice Animal sacrifice-Tradition of a flood-Immortality-Idea of the sun's course-Origin of caste-Self-assertion of Brahmans-Nature of the Brahmanas - Household sacrifices -- Purification - Fasting - Establishment of sacrificial fires-The Upanishads-The syllable Om-The origin of the world in ether-The Atman, or self-existent-The Svetas-vataraTransmigration of souls-Purpose of the Upanishads.
THATEVER may have been the history of the
Aryans, by whom the Vedas were produced, previous to their entering India, it is certain that when they