Page:A Geographical, Statistical, and Historical Description of the District, or Zila, of Dinajpur.djvu/100

88 this subject now remaining, according to the Pandits of this place, is a treatise called Chintamoni, said to have been written by a Maithilo Brahmin; but it is so obscure and difficult, that few are able to comprehend its meaning. The works most usually studied have been composed in modern times, and are as follows:

1. Bhasha Porichhed, by Viswonath Siddhanto, of whose history the Pandits know nothing. This seems to be a treatise on perception, and is divided into four, according to the number of senses as reckoned by the Hindús. This treatise seems to be short or easy, as students usually are masters of it in 2 months. 2. Byapti Pongehok, the author unknown. Its study requires one year. 3. Singho Byaghro Lokhyon, or the doctrine of two brother philosophers of Maithilo, who probably from the violence of their arguments, are called the Lion and Tiger. Their real names have been lost in these titles, not ill suited for doctors of the schools. Their work requires 6 months study. 4. Vyodhikoron Dhorma Bochhinnabhab. 5. Purbo Pokhyo. 6. Siddhanto Lokhyon. The study of these three books occupies one year, and they seem to be a refutation of the objections against religion.

The minds of many students become confused by the abstracted nature of these investigations, and many of them are considered by the vulgar as little better than fools. The greater part however pursue their studies for 12 or 14 years more, reading a great variety of books, which it would be tedious to mention. In the Appendix to this book, however, I add a list of them in the native character, should any person be desirous of inquiring after them.

These three sciences, Grammar, Law, and Metaphysics, are considered as the noblest; and are the only knowledge which the Odhyapoks of Bengal will condescend to teach in their Chauvaris; and of those the study of Metaphysics is considered as by far the most honourable, and next to that is the study of the law.

There seem to be three other sciences, that are studied and taught by Pandits; but which, in this country, do not entitle them to be considered as Odhyapoks, nor their schools to be called Chauvaris. These sciences are Bedanto, Agom, and Jyotish, to which may be added medicine or rather magic.

The first is an investigation into the doctrine of the Beds concerning the Divinity, on which subject Pandits are exceedingly divided in their opinion; and in the south of India this appears to be the favourite study. In Dinajpúr the Brahmins seem to give themselves very little concern about the meaning of these sacred books, and content themselves with reading certain portions of them on certain occasions. In this they probably act judiciously, as the doctrine is delivered with such obscurity, that the systems founded on it by the most learned doctors of the south differ so widely, that the person whom one sect worships as the Supreme Being is by another considered as the Devil. There is no Bedanto Pandit in Dinajpúr. It is indeed alleged that there was none in Bengal until of late, when some learned men were brought from Benares by a rich Kayostho of Calcutta ( or Novokissen), who had acquired a large fortune in the service of Lord.

The Agom, or science which teaches the proper manner of worshipping the gods so as to obtain power, is the favourite part of divinity in Bengal. Several of the Dinajpúr Pandits have studied this, but none of them teach it; and those who wish to obtain a profound knowledge go to other places, especially to the neighbourhood of Dhaka, where the Tontros, or books which explain this doctrine, are much studied. The mode of worship accompanied by intoxication, indecency, or horrible practices,