Table Of ContentCambridge Library CoLLeCtion
Books of enduring scholarly value
Religion
For centuries, scripture and theology were the focus of prodigious amounts
of scholarship and publishing, dominated in the English-speaking world
by the work of Protestant Christians. Enlightenment philosophy and
science, anthropology, ethnology and the colonial experience all brought
new perspectives, lively debates and heated controversies to the study of
religion and its role in the world, many of which continue to this day. This
series explores the editing and interpretation of religious texts, the history of
religious ideas and institutions, and not least the encounter between religion
and science.
A View of the History, Literature,
and Religion of the Hindoos
William Ward’s account of the Hindu communities among whom he served
as a Baptist missionary in Serampore in West Bengal was first published in
1811 and reprinted in this ‘carefully abridged and greatly improved’ third
edition in 1817. It was an extremely influential work that shaped British
views of the newly defined entity of ‘Hinduism’ in the early nineteenth
century. Ward and his fellow missionaries promoted social reforms and
education, establishing the Serampore Mission Press in 1800 and Serampore
College in 1818. Ward devoted twenty years to compiling his study of Hindu
literature, history, mythology and religion, which was eventually published
in four volumes. It provided richly detailed information, and was regarded
as authoritative for the next fifty years. It is therefore still an important
source for researchers in areas including Indian history, British colonialism,
Orientalism and religious studies. Volume 2 focuses on places of worship,
ritual practices, and beliefs about death and reincarnation. Buddhism,
Jainism, and Sikhism are also described, though as ‘sects’ of Hinduism,
reflecting the Western views of Ward’s time.
Cambridge University Press has long been a pioneer in the reissuing of
out-of-print titles from its own backlist, producing digital reprints of
books that are still sought after by scholars and students but could not be
reprinted economically using traditional technology. The Cambridge Library
Collection extends this activity to a wider range of books which are still of
importance to researchers and professionals, either for the source material
they contain, or as landmarks in the history of their academic discipline.
Drawing from the world-renowned collections in the Cambridge
University Library, and guided by the advice of experts in each subject area,
Cambridge University Press is using state-of-the-art scanning machines
in its own Printing House to capture the content of each book selected for
inclusion. The files are processed to give a consistently clear, crisp image,
and the books finished to the high quality standard for which the Press
is recognised around the world. The latest print-on-demand technology
ensures that the books will remain available indefinitely, and that orders for
single or multiple copies can quickly be supplied.
The Cambridge Library Collection will bring back to life books of enduring
scholarly value (including out-of-copyright works originally issued by other
publishers) across a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social
sciences and in science and technology.
A Vieowft he
HistoLriyt,e rature,
andR eligoifo n
theH indoos
IncludaiM nign utDee scripotfti hoeni r
Mannerasn dC ustomasn,dT ranslaftrioomn s
thePirri nci\1Vpoarlk s
VOLUME 2: THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY
WILLIAMW ARD
CAMBRIDGE
....::·.Y '
;.
; UNIVERSITY PRESS
CAMBRIDgE UnIVERSITy PRESS
Cambridge, new york, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore,
São Paolo, Delhi, Dubai, Tokyo
Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, new york
www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108007924
© in this compilation Cambridge University Press 2009
This edition first published 1817
This digitally printed version 2009
ISBn 978-1-108-00792-4 Paperback
This book reproduces the text of the original edition. The content and language reflect
the beliefs, practices and terminology of their time, and have not been updated.
Cambridge University Press wishes to make clear that the book, unless originally published
by Cambridge, is not being republished by, in association or collaboration with, or
with the endorsement or approval of, the original publisher or its successors in title.
A
V IE W
OF TllE
HISTORYL,I TERATURE, RELIGION
AND
OF
THE HINDOOS:
lNCLODINO
A Ml:NUTE DESCRIPTIONO F
MID
l'R.\XSLATIOXSF ROM THEIR PRINCIPALW ORKS.
J)<T WO VOLUMES.
VOL.I I.
BY THER EVW.. W ARD,
ONE OF THE J.'.APTIST MISSIONARIESA TS ERAMPORBEEN,G .\I. •
..
THE THIRD EDITION,
l�lREFULLYA JJRIDC£ADN DG REATLIMYP ROP.ElJ.
LONDON:
PrimebdyO, r defe rI MCom m!llee oft hBea ptMiisst.rio> inSorcyi tty,jor
J;LACK,P ARBURY, AND ALJ,,EN, BOOKSELLERS TO THE
HON. EAST INDIA COMPANY, LEADENHALL-STREET;
B11 W.H.. P earHcieg,h -stJl·lrrmeientg,h am.
1817.
CONTENTS
OF VOL.I I.
-· ·-
BOOK II.
OF THE TEMPLES,I MAGES,P RIESTS,A ND TEMPLE WOR·
SHIP OF THE HINDOOS.
CHAP.I.
OP THET EMPLES.
PAGE.
SECT.I . Ofd iffereknitn dosf t emple• s• •, • • • •• • •• • • • . . • .• .• .• . l
II.D edicatoifo nt empl• •e •s . ,• • . • • •. .• •• • • . • • • •• •• • • • • • 6
III.E ndowmenotft emplP.A . ,. . . . . . . • • • • • • . . • • •. •• • • • •8 •
CHAP.I I.
OF THE IMAGES.
Ofw .hat mad1e0,. C eremonioefcs o nsecrat. •i •o •n •, • • • • • •• .• •• IS
CHAP.I ll.
OP THEP RIESTS.
Ditferoerndte rwsi,t thh eierm ploymeto.s.,•• .••••••••• , • • .. •. • . U
CHAP.I V.
OF THEW ORSHIIPN T HET EMPLES.
In thet emploesfS hviii ,1 9.J nt hosoef Vishnoo, 20
-
BOOK III.
OF THE STATED PERIODSO F WORSHIP, AND VARIOUS
DUTIES AND CEREMONIES.
CHAP.I .
OP THET IMESO F WORSHIP.
SECT. I. Lunar days• ,• • • .. • • • • •. .• • • • • •• •• • •• • • • • • •• • •• • •• �
".OL. lJ,
b CONTENT&
PAGE.
SECT. IWIe.ek lyc eremonie•s••,• ••••••••,•• • •• ,• • •• •• • •• •• 28
III.M onthlcye remonie.••s.,• •; • .•• ••. •• • •• • •• • • •• • • .•• • ib.
IV. ;\Mta1lf·etsival,se xtract.ferdo mt heT lt'hee.Tut• •t wiii,b .
V. Dailcye remoni2e6s.,D ailyd utieosfa brambrme,x .
tractferdo mt ilAen hiku-Tutt2w7u-3,& . Present
praNicaem ongb ramhuM1 �hooadn1d·w 1'iosm,en , as
itr espectthsed aildyu tioefsT eligi•o n•• , • • •• • • •• • U
CHAP. II.
APPOINTERD ITEASN D CEREMONIES.
'I. Form oifn itiaitnitotonh eH indoroe ligio• n•, • • • •3 8• •
JI.D utieosfa discitopl bei ss piritguuaild (eg,o oro4o0,.)
. .
Anecdotofea dyinggo oroo. ,. •• •• •• • .. •• . •• . •• • 42
III.R eligiaouustse riti(etsil"p,ll sy.a• •, )• .•• • • •. • . . •• •• 44
IV. Burnt sacrifice(sy,ll gniiR.u)l efosr them4,G . Hu·
MAN SACRIFICES-Prfoorfosmt hes hastrtuhsa tth ey
haveb eeno fl'ere4<8l,.F acts reltaopt rievseen timte s,
49.S acrifiocfea bul5l2,. Of a horsieb, id.Of an
ass5,G . �tt heb il'otfhas on6,6 . Aftedre athib,i d.
To then inpel anetisb�i dO.t herb urnt'Sa crifi•c •u G,1
V. Burnto fferi(nhgosm,ll ,..). •.•.. �.. .•. • • . .. .. • .• • • GS
VI. Bloodsya crific(ebsll,l ee-dan•l'i ., ). • •..• .•.• .• •. • • 6.9
VII.B athing, (s6n1a.nC ile,r)e mouiaecsc ompanyiitn,g 62
VIII.D rink-offetroit .hneg sg ods deacneda saendc estors,
(tt1rp0nli..,.).. ........... -..• . • . . . . . • • 6. 3• • . • • . . • •
lX. Ceremonioefw8 o rshi(pp,oo ja,•) . . •• • ..• • •• • • • •6 ..l •
X. Formso fm editat(ido bny,a nli•, •) . •• •• . •• . . • •• • • •6 7
XI. Repeatitnhgen ameos ft heg ods(,j upii,•) • • •• • • • •6 •S
XII. Fo1wso fp raitseot heg ods(,a tl'.1vl'i•, . )• • .• •. •• .• • • 69
XIII.F ormso fp rayetrot heg ods(,k uvll.chr1•,• )•• •. • • • •1 �
XIV. Petitiaonndsv ows(,k amllnanild maniinii,•)• . • • •. •n
XV. Vows(,v rlltt•1 ,,.. .). .......... , .. • •• • • ..• • •• •• • • 7S
XVI. Fastin(go,o pilvast1. ,. ). .• . . . . •• • • • •• •• . • • • • •7 •6 • • •
XVII. Gifts, (daa•li •., •) .• . . . • .. • •. . •• . • . . .• • ..• •• • .•• 77
XVlll.E nterUlibnrnimnhgt in•s ,• . •• ••• • .• •• • • • • • • S• i• • • • • •
XIX. Vuiouwso rkso fm eritH.o spitatlois ttyr angeSrOs.,
Digginpgo ols,8 2. Plantitnrge e&sc,. 8 3. Aoec.
dotes. ,. . .•. • • . . .. • . • • .• ... • .• . . .. .. •. . . •. .• •• • • ibid.
XX. Readinagn db earitnhge p ooranlls•,.• •••, • • •• • .• •• 84
� 'ftu!Je aren otp toaucfe•o lir11 : t�yeo �ee I• t•t pe 1noitebn�tt ,pa rod uceUe•1 ,
CONTENTS. v
SECT. PAGE.
XXI.S acred rehe(agres�atlr1•s ,•, )• •• • •• • • • • • •• • • • •• . • • . 86
XXII.H anginlga mpisn t hea ir., . . .. . . • . ... . .. .. . • • ... • 88
XXI II.M ethodo fp reventfianmgi mlyis frotnnes,. • • •• . . .• • ib.
XXIV.C eremony forr em1>ving evils bfoaldol moewnisn,.g• 89
XXV. Ceremoniesp erformwehdi lsei ttim1na g d eabdo dy, 90
XXVI.C eremoniesf orr emoving,s ubduinogrd, e stroying
enemies, . .. • ..... . .. . . . . •. . . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. • ... .. • 91
XXVIJ. Impourrgei ewistl,1 flesh,s pirituloiuqsu o&rcs.,
(pooruabhish..e.k..li...,.).. ................· �.... 92
XXVUI.B unNlNGOF WrnowsA LIVE. Extracfrtosm theshas-.
truosn t hissu bje0c6t.,C eremoneisp reeedituhgeim .
molati98o.n ,M anya ffectirnnlga toinso ft hilsa ment
ablper actcie,1 01.W idowosf' w eaversb uriaelidve ,
110.R eflectioonnt sh es tatoefm indo ft hew idow,
and onth e conduoctft heb ramhllnlsl,2 .C aJcuJa.
tioonf t henu mber burnt, • • • . • • . •. . • •• • •.. . • . . . .• 114
XXIX.V oluntsauriyc id(ek,a myli.miirlilnlo�,.)D rowning
int heG anges-seversahlo ckinin.sgt acnes, 117.
Burning ofa lepre,1 18.-Burailailvo fet epne raonJsI,9
XXX. Perooncsa stitnhge mselfvreosmp recipices,& c.. • • • 121
XXXI. Dyingu ndetrh ew heelosfJ iigllnnat'chalir',.s. • • •• 121
XXXII.I JWFAJLTICl»•E • ,• • • • • •• • •• • • • • • • • • • • • •• •• .• •• ••• 122
XXXIIJA.s ceticsd evouriendf oresbtysw ilbde·a s•t •s •, • . •• • 125
XXXIV.P erihsingrn coW region• s• .. . • .. . • ... .. .. .. .. • • • 126
Calcula.trieaoltuvie to then umbeorf H iodOO>'iw ho
annualpelryi sthh,ev ictiomfss uperstit..i .o • n,i b.
XXX''·C eremonpieersf ormoend v ii;ithionlgypl aces,U O.
Principalho ly placesin Hindoost'ha•n • .li• ,• • • •• • •• 131
XXXVI.C eremonaited se ath• ,. .. . • • . . •. .• • • .. • • •• .• .• • •• 136
XXXVII.R itefso rth er eposoeft hes ou(lsh,ra ddhr•,) . .. .• .. .1 39
XXXVIIIP.u rificat•i .o• .n. .s. .,. • •. . • •. . • .. . • ..• • . • .•. • • .. • 147
XXXIX.A tooemeoUIf oorff ences,................l...t..8 .......
-
BOOK V.
DOCTRINES OF THE HINDOOR ELIGION.
CHAP.l .
OP THE TRANSMlGll.ATION OP SOULS.
Extracftrso mt heK urmii-vipoankt lih issu bje1c5t8,.A ndf rom
theU gneep oora1n6r.0,. C onversatiaomnosn gt hHe indoos re-
spectintgr ansmigr.a.t.io.11..,... ....................· ...• · • 16l
Yi CONTENTS.
CHAP.II .
JUDGMBNT OF MEN AFTER DEATH. 166
CHAP.I II.
OF FUTURB HAPPINESS.
Diff'erekoitn dosf hapinpes,s 110.D escriptoifho eµa ve1n1,1 .
Variowuosr ks moefr ietn tidtoi nhge ave1n7,2 .C oovenationa
respecting to�fte h eds etaadt1,e1 5.D octr·io nfet heH indoos
concernianbgs orpt1i1o1n.M, e thoodf o btailliito•,.g • ••. • • • • 118
CHAP.I V.
OF FUTURE PUNISHMENTS.
Extracft�ro mt heS hree-bhaglivtl1t8tl1,. N amesa ndn atuorfet be
Hindohoe lls1,8 2.A fablree spectthienmg, • •• • • • • • • • •• • • • • 184
-
BOOK VI.
HINDOO SAINTSO,R MENDICANTS.
Preparatdourtyi oefsa mendicanetx,t racftreodmM unoo1,8 5.
Remarkosnt hepr esesntta otfem endici1ty8,8 .B rieafc count
oft wentdyi ffekrienndtos fm endicainoot.s ,A scenaetG linp.
Sagl'lr1u9,7 .A remarkabalcec oun2t0,0 .R eftectioonnt sh e
numbeorf H indoloisv iinnag s tatoef m endicit• •y •, • • . • • . • • • 201
BOOK VII.
HINDOO RELIGIOUSSE CTS.
CHAP.I .
ACCOUNT OF THE REGULAR HINDOO SECTS.
Thes oi"ll2s0,3 . The voishnTtlhvells sb,a tk2w o,. 4. ib.
CHAP.I I.
ACCOUNT OF THE BOUDDHUS.
Thes amea st hef ollowoefPr os, 2 00.R isoe fB ouddltiam20,7 .
Persecuotfit ohneB ouddhl'.l2s0,9 .T heisrh astarnlidds o ctirens,
211.T heitre mplaensd w orship, T2h1e5i.cr o lleg2e1s7,.
Theifre stiv2a1l9s.T, r anslaotfit hoens ubstaonfct eh eT emee
Jatlla,8 1'.irmaanc couonftt liien carnatiofoB ono ddh•ll • ,• • • • • •2 21
