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MAY, 1896.)
SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM.
125
people admired it; but whether it was written by a man, or by a divinity, or whether it wrote itself as the Vedas were commonly supposed to have done, they neither knew nor cared. Still less did they care, of course, if the books were bad. The historical spirit, the antiquarian spirit, to a great degree even the critical spirit, are developments of modern times. If, therefore, I attempt to throw some light on the age of the principal Tamil works, I hope, it may be borne in mind that, in my opinion, almost the only thing that is perfectly certain in relation to those works, is that they exist." Under such circumstances, it is no wonder, that for historical purposes, the literary works are treated as if they were as good as non-existent. If the authors systematically hide even their own individualities, what light are they likely to throw on the history of their times P That the vast majority of modern Tamil writers, the stereotyped Purána-makers and the authors of cut and dry Kalambagams and Andádis, - are guilty of this curious kind of literary suicide, can never be gainsaid. But I would beg to submit at the same time, in extenuation of their crime, that writers of this class can never possess any individuality either to be preserved or submerged. They are poets only in name, - with a ready made Buok of Similes and other equipments to suit; they dispease with nature and her promptings, as they wriggle themselves up, from rhyme to rhyme, and alliteration to alliteration. But putting aside these products of stagnation and ascending to the fountains of Tamil literatore, we meet with well marked individualities both in the authors and in the characters they create, and can observe no great inclination on their part to obliterate their personalities. On the other hand, their individuality may be found sometimes even obtraded upon us. For instance, every hymn of Sambandha uniformly closes with a benedictory verse, where his own name, his native place, and other particulars are given. Only, in keeping with the general Indian failing as to chronology, the old poets, as well as the new, give us no dates. They nevertheless specify the names of their patrons, sovereigns, friends, and so forth, as occasion offers itself, and otherwise furnish us with much historical information, which is waiting only to be gathered up and collated, to yield the most reliable data for reconstructing extinct societies and social conditions. I cannot, therefore, make up my mind to believe that the old and true Tamil literature is as barren of historical import as is generally assumed.
To see what light the works of Sambandha and his colleagues throw upon the historical conditions of their age, is too large a topic to be taken up in this connection. Bat confining ourselves to the more important question of the age of Sambandha, the question we have already propounded for our consideration, we may examine the literary works connected with the subject, to see whether they cannot furnish us more reliable indications than Marco Polo's
Sender Bendi of Soli'! The sacred Saiva works may not, perhaps, enable us to discover when Sambandba did actually live; but they are certain to shew at least when he could not have lived ; and considering the confusion that reigns in connection with the subject, even so much of light cannot but be welcome.
(To be continued.)
NOTES ON THE SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM.
BY J. M. CAMPBELL, C.L.E., I.C.S.
(Continued from p. 84.) Precious stones. - In India, spirits are believed to fear precious stones. This belief seems to be due partly to the colour and brightness of the gems, and partly to their healing properties. Pearl ash and coral ash are highly valued by Hindu physicians, especially coral ash or pravala bhasma, in consumption. The navaratnas or nine gems --mdnika 45 Comparative Dravidian Grammar, Introduction, p. 128.
This is a curious book attributed to Pugalêndi. There are hosts of other treatises telling us with what letters, words, eto., we should begin a verse and what dreadful consequences will follow otherwise, and so forth.
50 It is upon this conviction that the Ton Tamil Idyls have been taken up elaewhere for analysis.
