New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-19


Not only have the English undertaken the gog
eminent of India ard the civilization, if not the
Characterization, of the inhabitants they have also
undertaken to confer upon the tindoos the boon OF
being able TO read their own Scriptures. Nor Is it
impossible that this may prove more effectual
means than any other of assang Hindoo super
stiliops. The publication of the Christian Scrip
lures ard the rendering them accessible to the mass
Of the people led TO the Protestant Reformation,
and it would not be surprising if somewhat slml-
lar result should follow 10 India from similar
operation.
The highest authority for the religion Of the
Brahmins is the Veds. All other works, such as
the laws Of Menu the foundation of Indian jurls
prudence, the SIN orthodox ~ stems of philosophy,
The Puranas or legendary histories of India, derive
their authority from their agreement or supposed
agreement with the Veda The Veda alone is con-
sdered reyeIation everything else, however sacred,
can only claim the title Of tradition. The most
elaborate arguments have been framed by the Brah-
nils TO establish the Divine origin and the absolute
authority of the veda. They maintain that it e1-
isted before all time was revealed by Brahma, and
tran,mt.ed down through a series of sages called
Rishis, the first quite divine, the second three
fourths divine and one fourth human, the third half
divine and half humsD, the fourth one quarter d.
vine and three quarters human, the fifth all humau-
through whom at last the Veda was brought down in
its existing shape as written book, TO the level of
mortal W derstandug. II this shape however it is
at the present cay or has been I'LL lately, very little
J. .b,n;n thamealvas nf uhom
but few can understand or read it. They learn by
heart portions of it, consisting OF hymns and
prayers which have to be muttered at sacrifices,
and which every priest must Know. But the Ian
guage and grammar Of the Veda, being somewhat
ditfereL from the common Saascrit, is scarcely So
ineligible to the ordinary Brahmins as the oldest
English is TO most OF our readers. Hence, argu-
ments have been wanting in India, as sewhere
uuder similar circumstances, to prove that the
efficiency of these hymns and prayers does net
depend upon their being understood and that il is
quite sufficient to know the meter. the correct
pronunciation and the name of the deity addressed.
Instead of the Veda, thus difficult TO be under
..ood, and OF which complete copies are even more
rsie than copies Of the original Hebrew aud Greek
scriptures were IN Europe during the middle ages
The Brahmns of the present day read the Lava of
Menu, the six systems of philosophy, the Puranas
the Tamtras Yet, ignorant as they are OF the
Vtds they believe it as implicitly as the priests of
the middle ages aid thu Bible which they had never
sttn. They constantly appeal to its authority, AMI
in controversy with the MOhammedans and the
Christian missionaries, Whenever hard pressed, H.
,ariab'y f,l back on the Veda, reterlog t. it with
rhe greater confidence in support of everything they
wish TO establish as divine ordinance in proper
ton as its real contents unknown TO themselves
well as their opponents. In process of time the
Laws Of Menu aid other Hindco law books wre
printed and translated. Some of the Puranas also
we're translated into EOglish and French. With re.
gard to these, therefore, the missionaries could ask
tor chapter and verse. But the Neis was unknown
10 either party, aud the Bfahnins maintained, no
doubt often honestly enough, that verifying which
was TO be found nowhere else had been given IN the
Veda. There was 10 dOctriue Of Christianity, sc
coIdne 10 them which had not been anticipated IN
the Veda. If the missionaries were increduous
and called for the manuscripts, they were told that
so sacred book could not be exposed 10 the pro-
fame eyes of unbelievers, aud there was an eni to
tie argument.
Under these circumstances II was felt that moth
irg could be Of greater assistance to the mission
aries in India thar ali edition Of the Veda. Prizes
we've offered to any S,nsc:it scholar who would
undertake to edit that work: but after the fret
book, published by DIR. Rosen in lo3S, no further
rropress was made. The Last India Company
then came forward and through tie Asiatic Society
Invited the pundits to undertake the work, and to
publish complete and authentic edition of their
own sacred writings. The answers received only
proved Whist was known before, tha. ia the whole
# Beugal there was not siLg,e Bfahmin who
could edit the Veda. A native and real Sanscrit
scholsr stated n The Calcutta Rerie,r that i was
doubtful if all HindOstan could furni.h an entire
copy of it; while the pundits of Majri. declared
that the publication was absuTj, as nobody could
Ut derstsld i. II spite. however of these OBJ
.'ac.e-. tie y,da il LOW being published ia
England, ulder the pstTonas, Of tie E.s.
iud, COMPANY, AMI IL dye or SIX years