Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
- CHAP. I OF GOD
- CHAP. II OF THE GODS
- CHAP. III OF THE GODDESSES
- CHAP. IV INFERIOR CELESTIAL BEINGS OBJECTS OF WORSHIP
- CHAP. V OF THE TERRESTRIAL GODS
- CHAP. VI TERRESTRIAL GODDESSES
- CHAP. VII DEITIES WORSHIPPED BY THE LOWER ORDERS ONLY
- CHAP. VIII WORSHIP OF BEINGS IN STRANGE SHAPES
- CHAP. IX WORSHIP OF HUMAN BEINGS
- CHAP. X WORSHIP OF BEASTS
- CHAP. XI THE WORSHIP OF BIRDS
- CHAP. XII THE WORSHIP OF TREES
- CHAP. XIII THE WORSHIP OF RIVERS
- CHAP. XIV THE WORSHIP OF FISH
- CHAP. XV THE WORSHIP OF BOOKS
- CHAP. XVI THE WORSHIP OF STONES
- CHAP. XVII A LOG OF WOOD WORSHIPPED
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
- CHAP. I OF GOD
- CHAP. II OF THE GODS
- CHAP. III OF THE GODDESSES
- CHAP. IV INFERIOR CELESTIAL BEINGS OBJECTS OF WORSHIP
- CHAP. V OF THE TERRESTRIAL GODS
- CHAP. VI TERRESTRIAL GODDESSES
- CHAP. VII DEITIES WORSHIPPED BY THE LOWER ORDERS ONLY
- CHAP. VIII WORSHIP OF BEINGS IN STRANGE SHAPES
- CHAP. IX WORSHIP OF HUMAN BEINGS
- CHAP. X WORSHIP OF BEASTS
- CHAP. XI THE WORSHIP OF BIRDS
- CHAP. XII THE WORSHIP OF TREES
- CHAP. XIII THE WORSHIP OF RIVERS
- CHAP. XIV THE WORSHIP OF FISH
- CHAP. XV THE WORSHIP OF BOOKS
- CHAP. XVI THE WORSHIP OF STONES
- CHAP. XVII A LOG OF WOOD WORSHIPPED
Summary
It is a painful reflection to every benevolent mind, that not a single Hindoo temple, dedicated to the One God, is to be found in all Hindoost'han; nor is any act of worship, in any form, addressed by this people to God. The doctrines respecting the Divine Nature are considered as mere philosophical speculations, totally unconnected with religious services.
It is true, indeed, that the Hindoos believe in the unity of God. ‘One Brŭmhŭ, without a second,’ is a phrase very commonly used by them when conversing on subjects which relate to the nature of God. They believe also that God is almighty, allwise, omnipresent, omniscient, &c. and they frequently speak of him as embracing in his government the happiness of the good, and the subjection or punishment of the bad: yet they have no idea of God's performing any act, either of creation or providence, except through the gods; and thus are prevented all the beneficial effects which might have arisen out of their notions of the divine perfections: for in the whole of the reigning superstition the gods alone are seen; and these gods bear no more resemblance to the one true God, than darkness to light, than vice to virtue.
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- Information
- A View of the History, Literature, and Religion of the HindoosIncluding a Minute Description of their Manners and Customs, and Translations from their Principal Works, pp. 1Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010