English
Tagore Law Lectures , 1880. Digitized by Google 292 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK V. Manu. In VII, 20, the author speaks of Visudeva a name of Vishnu. In XIV, 1 to 3 the author enumerates 16 holy places ; and in XIV, 4, there is a prohibition against performing Sr&ddha or even journeys in Mlechcha countries. But even in this recent work, widow marriage is allowed, XV, 13. The work is divided into 18 chapters and contains over three hundred couplets. 15. Likhita is a short work in 92 couplets and alludes to temples of gods (4), and to living in Benares (1 1), and offering cakes at Gayd. 16. Dak ska is also a comparatively modern work in seven chapters and gives a pleasing picture of the domestic life and the duties of men and women. The picture is somewhat marred, however, by disparaging remarks about women's greed, and still more by an allusion to the barbarous rite of the self-immolation of widows (IV, 20). 17. Sdtdtapa in its present shape is like Vyisa one of the most recent of the 17 Dharma Sastras enumerated, and alludes to Rudra with his three eyes (I, 19) ; to the worship of Vishnu (I, 22) ; to the image of Brahm& with his four faces (II, 5>;and also to the image of Yama mounted on a buffaloe and with a staflf in his hand (II, 18). Vishnu claims worship here under the names of Srivatsaldnchhana, Visudeva and Jagann&tha ; his image of gold is to be covered with garments, and after worship is to be given away to Brihmans (II, 22 to 23). Sarasvatf> who is now the Digitized by Google CHAP. V.] RELIGION, &C. 293 consort of Brahma, also claims worship (II, 28) ; and we are told that the Harivansa and the Mahabharata should be heard (II, 30 and 37) to wipe away sins. Fur- ther on we hear of the image of Ganesa (II, 44), of the two Asvins (IV, 14), of Kuvera (V, 3), of Prachetas (V, 10), and of Indra (V, 17) ; all these golden images are to be made and worshipped only to be given away to Brlhmans ; and indeed the object of this work seems to be to recommend profuse gifts to Brahmans. There is no sin, no incurable disease, no domestic calamity and no loss or injury to property, which cannot be washed away by such gifts. The cupidity of hereditary priests which Vasishtha had condemned in the strongest terms fifteen centuries before reached its climax at the close of the Pauranik Period with the growing power of priests and the decline of the nation. It is noteworthy that among the multiplicity of gods mentioned in the Dharma Sastras, one rarely finds mention of Krishna by name. The consort of Siva, too, in the names and forms best known in these days, Sakti and Durga and Kali, is also almost unknown to the Dharma Sastras. PURANAS. Amara Sinha, the lexicographer of the court of Vikramaditya, describes a Purana as Panchalakshana or having five characteristic topics ; and scholiasts agree that these five topics are — I, Primary creation or cosmo- gony ; II, Secondary creation or destruction and reno- Digitized by Google 294 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK V. vation of worlds, including chronology ; III, Genealogy of gods and patriarchs ; IV, Reigns of Manu or periods called Manvantaras ; V, History of the Solar and Lunar races and their modern descendants. The Puranas which now exist, and which were composed or recast after the time of Amara,veryimperfectlyconform to this definition. • The Puranas are divided into three classes, namely, those sacred to Vishnu, Siva and Brahmd respectively. Their names and the number of stanzas which they are supposed to contain, aggregating to 4,00,000 are given below. — Saiva. Matsya, 14,000. Kurma, 17,000. Linga, 11,000. Vayu, 24,000. Skanda, 81,100. AgnJ, 15,400. It is impossible to make room in the present work for the barest outline of the contents of these volumi- nous books, the work of generations of priests labour- ing for centuries together to recast ancient mythology, history and traditions, and also to spread modern cults and sectarian beliefs in flowing modern Sanscrit verse. We will only mention in a few words the salient features of each work* Vaisknava. Vishnu, 23,000. Naradiya, 25,000. Bhagavata, 18,000. Garuda, 19,000. Padma, 55,000. Varaha, 24,000. Brahma. B rah m And a. 12,000. Brahma Vaivarta, 18,000. Markandeya, 9,000. Bhavishya, 14,500. Vim ana, 10,000. Brahma, 10,000. * The reader will find a fuller account of the contents of the Puranas in Wilson's Preface to his Vishnu Purana, pages xxvii to lxxxvi, from which our account is mainly taken. Digitized by Google CHAP. V.] RELIGION, &C. 1. Brahma Purdna. — The early chapters give a des- cription of the creation and an account of the solar and lunar dynasties to the time of Krishna. A brief des- cription of the universe succeeds, after which we have an account of Orissa with its holy temples and sacred groves dedicated to the Sun, to Siva and to Jaganndtha. To this succeeds a life of Krishna which is word for word the same as in the Vishnu Purina, and the work ends with an account of the Yoga. 2. Padma Purdna.— -This most voluminous of all the Pur&nas (excepting Skanda only) is divided into five books, namely, — (i) Srishti or Creation, (2) Bhtimi or Earth, (3) Svarga or Heaven, (4) PAtAla or the Lower Regions, and (5) Uttara Khanda or Supplementary Chapter. The Srishti Khanda narrates the cosmogony and the genealogy of patriarchal families and also regal dynasties, and then comes to an account of the holiness of lake Pushkara in Ajmir as a place of pilgrimage. The BhQmi Khanda deals in 127 chapters with legends mostly relating to Tirthas, which include persons enti- tled to honour and also holy places of pilgrimage. This is followed by a description of the earth. The Svarga Khanda places Vaikuntha, the sphere of Vishnu, above all the heavens. It contains also rules of conduct for the several castes and the different stages of life, and also various legends, mostly modern. The Pdtdla Khanda takes us to the snake-world. There Sesha (serpent) narrates the story of Rdma, and this is follow- Digitized by Google 296 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK V. ed by an account of Krishna's juvenilities and the merits of worshipping Vishnu. The Uttara Khanda, which is probably later than the other portions of the Purana, is intensely Vaishnava in its tone ; the nature of Bhakti or faith in Vishnu, the use of the Vaishnava marks on the body, the legends of Vishnu's incarna- tions, and the construction of images of Vishnu are all explained by Siva to his consort Parvati, and they both finish by adoring Vishnu ! We are also told that of the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu alone is entitled to respect ! There can be no doubt much of this sectarian contro- versy has been added after the Moslem conquest of India- There is mention, even in the earlier books of this Purana, of Mlechchhas flourishing in India, while to the last portions of the work Dr. Wilson gives the 15th or 16th century A.D., as the probable date. 3. Vishnu Pur&na divided into six books. The first book speaks of the creation of Vishnu and Lakshmi, and many legends, including those of Dhruva and Prahlada. The second book describes the earth with its seven islands and seven seas, and also describes Bharatavarsha and the nether regions, the planetary system, the sun, the moon, &c. The third book speaks of tlie Veda and its division into four Vedas by Krishna Dvaiyayana Vyasa in the Dvapara Yuga. It also names the 18 Puranas, details the duties of the four castes and the four orders of life, and dwells on domestic and social ceremonies and sr&ddhas. The last chapter condemns the Bud- Digitized by Google CHAP. V.] RELIGION, &C 297 dhists and Jamas. The fourth book gives us a history of the Solar and Lunar dynasties, and concludes with lists of the kings of Magadha which we have quoted in Book IV, Chapter III. The fifth book is specially devoted to an account of Krishna, his boyish tricks, his sports with Gopis, and his various deeds in life. The sixth and last book again inculcates devotion to Vishnu as sufficient to earn salvation for all castes and persons, and ends with chapters on Yoga and final emancipa- tion. 4. Vdyu Pur Ana, otherwise called the Siva or Saiva Purana is divided into four books. The first speaks of creation and the first evolutions of beings. The second continues the subject of creation and describes the vari- ous kalpas, gives us genealogies of the patriarchs, a des- cription of the universe and the incidents of the Man- vantaras, mixed up with legends and praises of Siva. The third book describes the different classes of crea- tures, and furnishes us with accounts of the Solar and Lunar dynasties and other kings. The fourth and last book speaks of the efficacy of the Yoga and the glory of Siva with whom the Yogin is to be finally united. 5. Bhdgavata Purdna, better known as Srimat Bhaga- vata, is considered the holiest of the Puranas, at least in the estimation of the Vaishnava sects. The work be- gins as usual with cosmogony. Vasudeva is the supreme and active creator, the creation, the world is May& or illusion. We are also told that all castes, and even Digitized by Google 298 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK V Mlechchhas, may learn to have faith in VAsudeva — a purely Vaishnava doctrine. In the third book we have an account of the creation of Brahm&, of the Variha incarnation of Vishnu, and of his incarnation as Kapila, the author of Sdnkhya philosophy! The traditions of Dhruva, Vena, Prithu, and Bhirata are given in the fourth and fifth books ; a variety of legends intended to inculcate the worship of Vishnu fill the sixth ; the legend cf Prahlida is given in the seventh ; while numerous other legends are narrated in the eighth.