Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/458

 4 1 6 Reviews.

the unity of God, the brotherhood of man, and universal tolera- tion. It doubtless owes much to Buddhism, and it is certainly deeply indebted to the teaching of Kabir and his school and to the religious movement from Persia, itself probably suggested by Hindu Vedantism, which has resulted in the body of the mystical doctrine known as Sufiism and its development Babiism.

It is difficult to forecast the future of Sikhism. Mr. Macauliffe truly compares Hinduism to a boa-constrictor striving to crush this phase of sectarianism within its folds ; and there can be no doubt that in these later days its practices have fallen short ot the ideal standard prescribed by the Gurus. The bonds of caste, idolatry, and pilgrimages to Hindu sacred places have been widely adopted. But it still preserves a large measure of vitality, and the efforts of its leaders are now devoted towards the restoration of its primitive beliefs and usages. This revival of the faith will be largely stimulated by the present work, which may encourage official patronage of a sect on which the maintenance of British supremacy so largely depends.

It is impossible within the limits of this review to indicate in detail the many interesting features which render this book valuable to all students of comparative religion. The develop- ment of monotheism, the mystical conception of the Godhead, the mass of hagiology and miracles which has grown up round the lives of the Gurus, all deserve attentive study ; and the religious and moral insight of the Gurus will probably be a new revelation to those who are unfamiliar with the modern developments of Hinduism. If we could be assured that the revival of Vedantism and other effisrts now in progress to purify the dark places of Puranic Hinduism in order to adapt it to the requirements of the present age and the influences of western thought will, like Sikhism, be based upon active loyalty to the Empire, the outlook in India would be much more hopeful than it is at present.

W. Crooke.

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