Great Indian Religion

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

Page 84

72
JIODERN HINDUISM. or less openly, in Hinduism. Not the least strange conjunction of Hinduism with other religions is that in which Siva-worshippers visit Adam's Peak in Ceylon to worship the footprints of their deity. Buddhists revere the same impression as the impression of Buddha's foot, while Mohammedans revere it as a relic of Adam, the father of mankind. This is but a specimen of the common resorts of Hindu pilgrims, where Mussulman and Hindu alike revere some sacred object.
Hindus also absorbed or adopted many rites and superstitions of non-Aryan peoples, such as the serpent and The linga dragon-worship of the Nagus, reverence for and the crocodiles and generative emblems, fetish and salagram. tree worship, etc. The worship of generative emblems (linga) found a wide field among the Sivaites, whose god was the reproducer as well as destroyer; while the fetish, or village, or local god, in the shape of an unhewn stone (known as salagram) or a tree, usually the tulasi plant, became the usual symbols of the Vishnuite. In not a few cases their rites are little elevated above those of primitive savagery as conducted by low-caste Hindus.
Coming now to a description of the chief Hindu gods as popularly worshipped, we find Brahma, the creator, Brahmo represented as a red man with four heads.
dressed in white, and riding upon a goose. Brahma's wife, Sarasvati, the goddess of wisdom and science, is depicted as a fair young woman with four arms; with one right hand she presents a flower to Brahma; in the other she holds a book of palm-leaves; in one of her left hands she carries a string of pearls. In the Mahabharata she is called the mother of the Vedas. She is worshipped once a year in the same month as Brahma by all who have any learning; and with this worship are connected pens, ink, paper, books, etc. Women take no part in this festival.
Vishnu is adored by the Vishnuite sects as the equal or even the superior of Brahma, and is especially termed Vishnu the Preserver, exempt from impatience and
passion. Various legends in the Puranas de