New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


the RELIGIONS OF INDIA BY A. BAEr, Mg%SfE N'
By the Ecy. J. wooD. -vo pt xiv" 800 Bo"'ou'
A MHNTSTCi aIND00 PANTHEIsM. The VedGn.
tash-a. Translated with Copcua ann";auohs ,S
syS' pp. X. 10 Boston Vonghton, Mifliu & Co
The speculative interest in all forms OF Religion
which is now 81 noticeable feature ot tue inter
lectual activity of the day. makes these DOCKS
timely addition TO the English aud Foreign rhHo-
sophical Library" NJ. Barths work does not ciai'n
TO be any more shan resume, as fal'hlu' az"
realistic as possible. of the latest results OF inquiry III
all proyinces of tins vast DOMAIN Anyone who Is
in the lcas, acquainted with the endless compieNly
and in.aneibity Of the systems Of religious pei'el
i'm India will admit that NJ. Barth has achieved NJ
;cost \ reasonable success in undertaking great
dificultv. IT, on finishing the book the rea'eF
must still confess himself mystii'd rather than en-
lirhtcned he mus, lay II 20 the subject ana iO' "
che treatment.
The first chaptcr Is devoted 10 the Vedic rehgions
The teaching of the Rig-Neda, the most ancient ol
Indian reli nous documents is chiefly c2mprioeu III
the statement that Nature Is throughout ulNihe'
Tl,o Heaven and the Earth and as well, the com
mopest utensils are objects of worship, but III gen
eral uuder some shadowy and abstrusc form Even
Acni and Soma-fre and water-are endowed WIN
n highly complex personality, though preserving
more than the others their physical character In
The enormous crowd of deities of the Ncdic hymns
there is no hierarchy. The theology vhTates between
two extremes pOlythcsm and a KIND OF InoEo,
tbeism with several titularics where the cehlIaI
fgure constantly changes place with another' lhc
worship consisted of sacrifice accompanied ny lhNo-
cations and the religion essentially sacerdotai'
When the language of the Nedas became obsolete
the religion became still more sacrrdotaI. Inc
Brahman the man devoted to prayer and the science
- ,I,or &C sta
come more important than the gods themselves.
The Brahman alone is qualified to celebrate religious
rites and Journalism is carried TO such an extent that
upop certain established formulas alone rests The
efficacy of acts of worship. The worship thuS es-
,ablished held wholly in the hands of an hereditary
priesthood was aristocratic. enormously expensive
ana bloody Ii praotiscd human sacrifice There
was no public cutts, and there were neither images
poT sanctuaucS.
On the other hand the philosophical speculations
Of the Brahmans tended, III the lOnG rum to put
philosophical conceptions in the place o those very
gods which were in another department, fading
away behind TituallstIc conceptions" The effect OF
the teaching of the UpGnishGds-the treatises con-
flaming the Brahmanical theorizings-was TO foster
spiritual pride aud TO enervate the conscience wnle
presenting very dreary view of life. The modern
revival of this decayed system and OF interest IN the
Veda is largely due to the impulse given by Euro
pcan scientific curiosity.
Buddhism is the most deliberate Reputation or
Brahmanism, as well as the most ancient. Its two
uoststrkipr original characteristics are perhaps the
absence of theology and its aversion to pure specu-
lation. though IN India It coaId not long preserve
these The doctrine of Buddha Is atheisuc, and lte
efforts are directed toward a practical end-the
probem of salvation or the release from pain. Ter
lectIon means cessation of existence, and an
initiation becomes the sovereign good. NJ. barth
gives rapid account of the reasons for the spread
and the decay OF Buddhism, into which 1t is inpos-
sible now TO follow him. Nor can We do more than
mention a kindred religion, Jaiuism, which Is niue
KNOWN though il has played an important part.
Hinduism or NeO- BIahmanism, which i'll one torn
or another is embraced at the present time by
nearly OO,OOOQOO people, is difficult 10 define
Diversity is ITS very In spite of the general
family likeness These religions are OfshOOts from
BrahmanIsm and profess TO be a return to the re-
lipon of the Veda. The Brahmans themselves
have adopted them to control them. 1t would be
imposshe 10 give even an outline of their pecuIiarl-
ties of belief and ritual within reasonable limits.
They are characterized by the supremacy they as
sirn 90 new diviniles OF popular origin, identified
with She Vedc Civa, Nishuu, etc. There is a tend
ency observable 10 morothrlsu. but IT j. "VeTiad
with very bewdcrinC amount Of misty specula-
ton Even NJ Barth. with all MS grasp of the sub
icct fails 10 make il easily ntelliSblc.
The Hindu systems of worship are Is diversified
rs their systems Of doctrine, They ate essentially
jdolat1ous and their images and sacred symbols are
innumerabe.
In summing up, VI. Barth points out how inap-
preciablc has becnthe influence of MoEamnedanism
and Christianity on the Hindu religions, notwith-
standing hat the latter continually Threatening
10 fall TO pieces. And hc conicsses his inability to
solve the question what will be the future faith
Of India p
Major jacob, book Is dc-igned to provide an ac-
curate summary of the doctrines OF the Nedahta'
His notes are full and careful, though perhaps he
would have done well to contine himself to eXposl-
tion and omit his occasional attempts at refutatlon
hpart from this his work is well done, and OF value
10 the student of the subject.