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BUDDHIST INDIA
8. It was not till long afterwards that a method of preparing large pieces of bark or the leaves of the Corypha talipot palm so as to prevent their breaking was discovered. It was not till long afterwards that an ink was discovered, which could be rubbed over such a leaf with letters scratched upon it, and would then remain in the scratches, thus making the writing easily legible. Till these discoveries had been made there were really no materials practically available for use as books. And it was probably chiefly because of the fact that the need of such materials was not felt that the discoveries were not much sooner made.
9. To say indeed that the need was not felt is, as regards the Vedic schools, not nearly strong enough. The priests were, as a body, exceedingly keen to keep the knowledge of the mantras (the charms or verses), on which the magic of the sacrifice depended, in their own hands. There are some pretty rules about this in the later priestly law-books — rules that received, it should be noted, the cordial ap. proval of Shankara.'
“The ears of a Sudra who listens, intentionally, when the Veda is being recited are to be filled with molten lead. His tongue is to be cut out if he recite it. His body is to be split in twain if he preserve it in his memory." ? The priestly view was that God himself had bestowed the exclusive right of teaching upon the hereditary priests'; who claimed to be, each of them, great divinities,' even to the gods.
1 On the Vedānta Sutras, 1. 3. 38. Gautama, xii. 4-6. & Manu, 1. SS. + Ibid. ix. 317, 319.
5 lbid. xi. 85.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
