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NELLORE MANUAL.

Dravidian and Aryan races .-Vedas and the Vedantic system .--Worship of the powers of nature. — Monotheism. — The Vedangas. — The Vedapangas.-- Institutions of Menu. — The Puranas. — The Upavedas.- The Ramayanam. - The Mahabharata.-Progress of Aryan ideas. - Brahminism. - Hindu triad. - Development of mythology. - Buddhism. - Its rise and progress. — The Jains. - Buddhist remains.---Persecution of Buddhism. - Buddhists' expulsion from India. - Brahminism popularized .-- Creation of a mythology. - Survey of changes in religious belief. — Vaishnava and Shiva sects. — Sources of modern Hinduism. -Adwaitam. – Visistadwatam. - Dwaitam. - 101 sects reduced to 6. — Sankarachary and the Smartas. — Their seats. - Bashikachary and the Stri Vaishnuvas.— Tengali and Vadagali. Mardhavachary and the Mardhavas.-Basava and the Vira Shivas. - Their seats .— Sanya sis and Vairagis. — Jogis. — Satanis. — Mahomedanism, early history. - Shiahs and Sunnis. Wababees. - Hanafis. — Shafis. — Maliks. — Hanabalis. - Ghair Mohdis. Festivals. - Sam. vatsaradi. - Rama Navumi.-- Narasimha Jayenti. — Toleyekadasi. - Dukshinayanam. Naga Panchami. — Krishna Jayenti. - Shravanala Purnavami. – Vinayakachaviti. — Rushi. panchumi. — Atsbatadiya. — Anantapadmanabhuni Chaturdasi. - Muhalayapatshamulu. — Navaratrams.--Durgashtami. — Depavali. - Nagulu Chaviti. - Kartika Somavaralu. Chelukudvadasi. – Kartika Purunvami.— Dhanurmasaum. - Mokkotiyekadasi. - Bhogi panduga. - Magha Sankarantri. - Maghapu Audivaramulu. - Rathasaptami. – Vyasa LOCAL FESTIVALS.— Nellore.- Atmakur. Purnavami. - Shevaratri. - Holipanduga. Gudur. - Rapur. – Kavali. — Udayagiri. — Kandukur.- Ongole.-Kanigiri. — Venkatagiri. Polar. — Podile. - Darsi. — Principal Festivals. MAHOMEDAN FESTIVALS. — Moharram. Akhira Chaper Shamber. — Bari Wafat. - Pir -i-dastgir. - Khadir wali Miraje-i-Mahomed. -Shab -i-Barat. — Ramjan -ka -rozah. — Idul fiti. - Charagban -i-Baudar -Namaz. - Bakrid. Local festivals. - Urus. - Caste. Origin in successive conquests. - Hindus yags. — Changes in manners and customs. - Division of Brahming. - Kshatriyas.-- Vysayas. - Sudras. Division of Sudras. - Criminal classes. - Out -casts .-- Mahomedan Divisions.

The origin of the religions of Hindustan is involved in the deepest. obscurity. The Dravidian race who colonised Telingana appear undoubtedly to have been of Scythian origin, and were probably driven southwards from their first. seats in Northern India by subsequent incursions of other Scythian tribes. These later Scythian races who settled in the north appear to have been conquered by the Aryans, a Sanscrit -speaking race of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vysayas ; but, when the Aryans came down further south, they do not seem to have conquered the people they found dwelling in these regions, but to have settled among them, gradually acquired influence over them, and incorporated them into the fourth or Sudra class.

The most ancient religious works of the Hindus are the Vedas. The founder of the Vedantic system is generally acknowledged to be Vyasa, who appears to have collected all the religious works extant in his day. He was by birth