History, Literature and Religion of the Hindoos

ances in the streets, reminding the passenger of the different Hindoo
ceremonies, lxxxii.-This system incapable of producing moral effects,
notwithstanding the doctrine of future rewards and punishments,
1xxxiv.-Errors inculcated in the Hindoo writings respecting God,
lxxxv.-Impure actions of the gods, lxxxviii.—the gods counteracting
each other in the government of the world, lxxxix.-Irreverence of the
people towards the gods, xc.--Contrast betwixt Hindooism and Chris-
tianity, ibid.-Hindoo system ascribes all sin to God, xci.-teaches the
bramhun to despise the shōōödrů, xcii.-exhorts to the extinction of
every virtuous passion, ibid.-declares that sin is removed by the
most trifling ceremony, ibid.-supplies prayers for the destruction of
enemies, xciii.—permits falsehood, and theft even from a slave, ibid.
Works, said to raise men to heaven, not beneficial to others, ibid.—
Remarks on the impurities and cruelties connected with this system,
xciv.-Impossible to know the Hindoo idolatry, as it is, without initia-
tion, xcv.-The dispensations of Providence towards the Hindoos un-
folded by this state of things, xcvi.-Happiness under the British
government, ibid.→Misrepresentations of European writers noticed
and reprehended, xcvii.—Scripture testimony against idolatry, ci.—Of
the seceders, or heterodox Hindoos, the Joinus, Bouddhus, Shikhs, and
followers of Choitůnyŭ-the founders of all these sects religious men-
dicants, ciii. Observations on the tenets of these seceders, civ.

BOOK I.

The One God an object of speculation only; not a single temple

erected to his honour throughout the whole of Hindoost'hanů,

CHAP. II.

OF THE GODS.

Their number, three hundred and thirty millions,

SECT. I. VISHNOO. The source of all the Hindoo incarnations, 2.—

Accounts of the ten incarnations, 3.—Other incarnations,

10. Meaning of these fables, 11.-Images of Vishnoo,

SECT.

11. Mark of his followers, 12. His names, ibid. His

wives, 13. His heaven,

II. SHIVU. Forms of this god, 14.

the phalli of the Greeks, 16.

PAGE.

Marriage of

Kalu, 17. Names and mark of the sect, 18. Shivu's

festivals-particularly the sunyasée and swinging ditto,

19-26. Origin of these horrid rites, 26.

Shivů, 27. Fables respecting Shivů, 28.

Description of Shivŭ's heaven,

Names, 29.

III. BRUMHA. Account of the creation, 33. Form of this god,

ibid. Worship paid to him, 34. He attempts to commit

incest, ibid. Heaven of Brumha, 35. His names,

IV. INDRU. His image and festivals, 37.

Account of a criminal

Heaven of Indrŭ, 42.

intrigue, 38. Other fables, 41.

Scenes in this heaven, in several stories, 43. Names of

this god,

V. SOORYU. His descent, 50. His festivals, 51. Anecdotes

of this god, ibid. His names,

VI. GUNESHU. His image, 56. Descent and birth, 57. Wor-

ship, 58. Names,

.....

VII. KARTIKEYU. His image and descent, 60. Festivals, 62.

Names,

....

VIII. UGNEE. His form and descent, 65. Festival, ibid. Names,

IX. PUVUNU. His birth, 67. A story respecting him, 68. His

impure character, 69. Names,

X. VUROONU. His image and worship, 70. Fables, ibid. His

heaven, 72. His names,

.....

XI. YUMU. His image and festivals, 73.

His court as judge

of the dead, 75. His palace, ibid.

him, 76-82. His heaven, 82. Marriage, 83. Names,

Fables respecting

XII. "Host of Heaven." Remarks on their worship,

XIII. Planets. Worshipped in a body,

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XIV. RUVEE. His form and worship, 89. Commits a rape,

XV. SOMU. His image and worship, 90. Names,

XVI. MUNGULU. His image, 92. An evil planet,

XVII. BOODHU. His form, 92. Account of his birth,

XVIII. VRIHUSPUTEE. His image, 94. An auspicious planet, 95.

Names,

......

XIX. SHOOKRU. His form, 95. A fable respecting his blindness,

96. A propitious planet, ibid. A fable, ibid. Names, 98

XX. SHUNEE. His image, 99. An evil and much-dreaded

planet,

XXI. RAHOO. His image, 100. Received this form at the churn-

ing of the sea, ibid. Names, 101. Unaccountable coin-
cidence in the customs of different nations respecting an

eclipse,

XXII. KETOO. His image,

SECT. I. DOORGA. Her descent, 103. Reason of her name, a

........

fable, ibid. Festivals, 108. Image, 109. Ceremonies

at her festival minutely described, ibid. Bloody sacri-

fices, 111. Offerings, 113. Dances, 114. A scene at

·Raja Raj-krishnŭ's at Calcutta, 117. Drowning the

image, 120. Fables respecting this goddess,

II. The ten Forms of Doorga. Story from the Markůndéyů

pooranu, and another from the Chundee, reiative to the

wars of Doorga, 123. Names of the ten forms,

III. SINGHU-VAHINEE, a form of Doorga. Her image, 128.

And worship,

122

128

IV. MUHISHU-MURDINEE. Her image and worship, 129. Be-

V. JUGUDDHATREE. Her image, 130. A popular festival

....

VI. MOOKTU-KESHEE. Her image, 131. Her festival, and

the benefits promised to her worshippers,

VII. TARA. Her image and worship,

VIII.

....

.....

CHINNU-MUSTUKA. Her image, 132. Her worship, and

the benefits resulting from it,

IX. JUGUDGOUREE. Her image and worship,

.....

X. VUGULAMOOKHEE. Her festival, 134. Benefits resulting

XI. PRUTYUNGIRA. Petitions addressed to this goddess, 135.

Story respecting her,

136

.....

XII. UNNU-POORNA. Her image, and festival,....................

XIII. GUNESHU-JUNUNEE. Her image, 137. Regular and occa-

136

sional festival,

138

XIV. KRISHNU-KRORA. Her image, and festival, 138. The

history of this goddess,

138

..........

140

XV. VISHALAKSHEE. Offerings to this goddess,

XVI. CHUNDEE. Her worship, and festivals, 141. Offerings to

XVII. & XVIII. Other forms of Doorga of inferior note,

XIX. KALEE. Her image, and anecdotes connected with it,

SECT.

145. Human sacrifices, 148. Other horrid rites, 150.

A singular fact, that thieves worship her, 151. Festi-

vals—a scene at Kalēé-Shůnkŭrů-Goshŭ's, at Calcutta,

154. The degree of honour formerly paid to this god-

dess by the Hindoo rajas, 156. Image and temple at

Kalee-ghată described, 157. This image much honoured,

presents being made to it by kings, merchants, and

even by Christians, 160. Statement of the value of the

monthly offerings,

........

XX. Other forms of Kalēē of inferior note,

XXI. LUKSHMEE. Her image, 169. Her descent and festivals,

XXII. KOJAGURU-LUKSHMEE, another form of Lukshmēē. Her

worship, and festival,.

........

XXIII. SURUSWUTEE. Her descent, 172. Indecencies practised

......

XXIV. SHEETULA. Her image, 174. Worshipped during the

small-pox,

.........

174

XXV. MUNUSA. Her image and descent, 176. Her festival,

XXVI. SHUSHTEE. Her six festivals described,

176

178

CHAP. IV.

INFERIOR CELESTIAL BEINGS OBJECTS OF WORSHIP.

SECT. I. Usoorus. Their conduct at the churning of the sea, a story, 184

II. Rakshusus. Story of Koombhů-kůrnů, 186. The Gund-

hürvus and Kinnŭrüs, 187. Vidya-dhürüs and Upsůrůs,

ibid. Nayikas, 190. Yükshús, 191. Pishachus, Goodg-

hukus, Siddhús, Bhōōtus, Charůnus, &c.

CHAP. V.

102

OF THE TERRESTRIAL GODS.

SECT. I. KRISHNU. His birth, 193.

image and festivals, 195.

Krishnu's, 200. Number of his followers, ibid. Stories

Juvenile exploits, 194. His

Image of Radha accompanies

of Krishnů,

200

II. GOPALU. His image, 203. A story of this image found

in a field,

203

This goddess is honoured as she who protects from serpents: but the author is
assured, that, in the upper provinces, the serpent itself is worshipped, and that the
image is formed into a circle, the head and tail of the serpent being joined. The legend
respecting this serpent-god is, that the earth rests on his thousand heads.