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Biihler maintainst that the whcle work was recast by an adherent of Vishnu ; and that the final and introductory chapters (in verse) were composed by another and a still * It is necessary to state thet the account given here of the 17 Dharma Sastras is based on the chee edition of those works cae in Calcutta. t Introduction to Bombay Digest, 2, XXII, . 286 PAURANIK. PERIOD. [BOOK Vv, later writer. The period in which the work was thus repeatedly recast is between the fourth and the eleventh ceataury A. D-*: As might be expected the work has a very. composite appearance. It contains chapters which are shewn to have been quoted by Vasishtha and Baudhdyana of the ' Rationalistic period+ while it contains other passages which. it has borrowed from Harivansa and other modern works, Chapter LXV contains ancient and genuine K4thaka mantras transferred and adapted to a Vishnuite ceremony ; Chapter XCVII seeks to re- " concile Sankhya and Yoga Philosophy with the Vaish- nava creed ; Chapter LX XVIII enumerates the modern week days (Sunday to Saturday) which find no mention in ancient Sanscrit works ; Chapter XX, 39 and XXV, 14 allude to the self-immolation of widows; Chapter LXXXIV prohibits the performance of SrAddha in the kingdom of Mlechehhas ; and Chapter LXXXV_ refers to some fifty medern places of pilgrimage. The intro- ductory chapter which is in continuous sloka, and in which the Earth in the shape of a beautiful woman is introduced to Vishnu reposing with his consort Lakshmi in the milky sea, is probably among the latest of the hundred chapters comprising the existing work. . It ig thus that our ancient works have been altered, recast, and tampered with, ¢o the delight of the sup- * Dr. Jolly’s introduction to Institutes of Vishnu, P. XXXII. + Lbid P, XVIII et seg.’ CHAP. V.] RELIGION, &C. : 287 porters of every new creed and every modern custom, but to the despair of the histozian ! ~ 3. Hédrtta.--This is another ancient work which has been completely recast in the Pauranik Period, Harita is mentioned by Baudh4yana, Vasishtha, and Apastamba who are all writers of the Rationalistic Period. Extracts from Harita found in the Mitak- shara and Dayabhaga are all in aphoristic prose. : But nevertheless the work of H4rita which now exists is in continuous sloka, and its contents too are modern. In the first Chapter we are told the Pauranik story that Vishnu lay with his consort Sri on the mythical snake in the midst of waters; and that alotus grew on his navel, from which sprang Brahma who created the world. In Chapter II there is mention of the worship of . Narasinha Deva, and in Chapter IV of the worship of Vishnu; while the seventh or concluding chapter 2 a of Yoga Sastra. 4. Yadjnavalkya.—Stenzler and based place Yajna- valkya before the time of Vikramaditya, but after the rise of Buddhism. Later researches have enabled scholars to place Manu in the first or second century before or after the Christian era; and as Yajnavalkya comes undoubtedly after Manu,* his probable date is the fourth or fifth century after Christ. An examina- tion of the contents of the work goes to some extent * See reasons given in Weber's /udian Literature, P, 281, 288 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK Vv to confirm this opinion. In I, 290 e¢ seq we find allu- sion to the worship of Ambika, the mother of Vinayaka, and to the worship of Vinayaka and Ganapati. In II, ‘296-there is an allusion to Buddhist nuns, and there .areé many allusions to Buddhist habits and doctrines, ‘Manu allows men of the higher castes to marry Sidra - women ; but YAjnavalkya objects to that ancient custom I, 56.. In many other ‘respects, however, VAjnavalkya ig nearer-to Manu than to the later Dharma SAstras, which were undoubtedly recast late in the Pauranik Period. The work is divided into three chapters; and contains over a thousand couplets. ’ § MUsanas.—-In its present form this work is a very modern compilation. It speaks of the Hindu Trinity (III, 50); alludes to the self-immolation of widows (III, 117); condemns those who make voyages by sea (IV, 33); and recommends self-immolation in fire or in water for sinners (VIII, 34). A wearisome multipli- cation of rules, prohibitions, and penances characterizes this modern work which is divided inte nine chapters, and contains nearly six hundred couplets. 6... Angivas-—The work of this name which is be- fore us is one short chapter of 73 couplets. It is a modern work and condemns the cultivation, of indigo ‘as an-impure trade unfit for pure castes. 7. Yama-—Yama is mentioned by Vasishtha of the Rationalistic Period ; but the Yama smritis which exist in the. present day are modern works, and could not | CHAP. V.) RELIGION, &c.. © 289 have -been méant by Vasishtlia. ‘We ‘have a’ short work of 78 couplets before us. . Along: with ‘Angiras .it. alludes to washermen, ‘workers in’ leather, dancers, Barudas, Kaivartas, Medas, and Bhils ‘as impure ‘castes: 8., Apastamba-—This short metrical .work -of! 16 chapters (nearly two hundred couplets) is quite different from the Satra work, which forms a part of Apastamba Kalpa Sitra, of which we have spoken ‘in. Book TIT of this work. The metrical. and’ modern Apastamba is a work of very little importance, - It condemns) the cultivation of indigo as impure (VI, 2, e¢ seg). / 9 Samvarta-—A: modern metrical’ work’ of ‘over two hundred couplets, and little importance. . Along with Apastamba it considers. washermen, daticers, and workers in leather as impure. ; 10. Kdtydyana undertakes to throw fight, like a lamp,—on such:rules and rites as were left obscure by Gobhila whose Grihya Sdtra has been noticed by us‘in our account of the Rationalistic Period,’ Kate . yayana’s Dharma SAstra however belongs.to the Pau: ranik Period and is divided intd 29 chapters’ with nearly: five hundred couplets. In I, 11 to.14, we are told of the worship of Ganesa, and of the.mothers,——Gauri, Padmé, Sachi, Savitri, Jaya, Vijaya, &c.; and we are also told’ that the worship should be paid to their images or their | likenesses painted on white canvas. - In XII, 2 (which is in prose) there’ is a mention of the Hindu- Trinity ;: in XIX, 7 UmA is named and in XX,:10, there is — RC. D, A. LIIl 19 299 PAURANIK’ PERIOD. [BooK v. an: allusion.to Rama having performed sacrifice with a golden image of Sita when the real Sita was banished. 11. Brihaspati—We have a small fragment of Bri- haspati before usin 80 couplets which has little import- ance or value. The work dwells on the merit of the gift. of lands to Brahmans, and ‘tries to impress on its readers the terrible effects of a Br&hman’s wrath, It is more terrible than the weapons of kings! A Brahman deals destruction by his wrath, as Vishnu deals des- truction with his.disk! (49.) Such priestly pretensions indicate sufficiently the modern date of the work. 12. * Pardsara is admittedly one of the latest of the Dharma SAstras of the Pauranik. Age. The compiler himself informs us (I, 23) that Manu was for the Satya Yuga, Gautama for Treté- Yuga, Sankha and Likhita were for Dvapara Yuga; and Pardsara is for the present Kali Yuga. We have an allusion to the .Hindu Trinity (I, 19,)'and an allusion to the self-immolation of widows (IV, 28 and 29). Nevertheless widow-marriage was prevalent even in this. late age, ‘and Pardsara allows @ woman to marry again if her husband is not heard of or is dead, if he has become an -ascetic or an outcast, or is impotent (IV. 26). The work is divided into’ twelve chapters, and has nearly six hundred couplets. - 13. Vydsa.—This is one of the most recent of the- Dharma SAstras, and was probably. compiled in. its present shape after the Mahommedan conquest.’ It mentions the Hindu Trinity. of course (III, 24) and- bee CHAP. V.] _ RELIGION, &C.... ‘298 commends the self-immolation of widows (II, 53); and the degradation of the different guilds and professions which composed the bulk’ of the nation is more com- plete in Vy4sa than in most other works as we will ‘see further on.. Vy4sa is a: short work divided into 4 chapters and comprising over two hundred couplets. 14. Sankha like Vishnu is an. ancient . work but recast :in-verse in the Pauranik period, although two passages in prose are still imbedded in ‘it. Dr. Biihler supposes that the prose portion consists of ‘genuine Siatras taken from the original edition of Sankha which belonged to the Rationalistic Period and was entirely in aphorisms. Mr. Rajkumar Sarvadhikéri. * differs - from this opinion and maintains that the prose passages in the existing edition of Sankha are not in the genuine and abbreviated Stra style. We are inclined to agree with Mr, Sarvadhikart ; at any rate the passages in prose are too short to lead to any definite opinion on thesub- ject. Mr. SarvAdhikart further points out that there are passages from Sankha quoted in modern commentaries which are not found in the edition of the work now before us. There can be little doubt therefore that this edition is a comparatively modern one. In III, 7, we find mention of temples and of the image of Siva.’ In IV, 9, we find a prohibition against men. of the upper. castes marrying Sidra women—a practice which is allowed by .. * Hindu Law of Inheritance, .Tagore Law Lectures, 1880, . 292 PAURANIK PERIOD. [BOOK Y. Manu.’ In. VII, 20, the author speaks of Vasudeva 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 Sraddha 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 .