Page:History of Bengali Literature in the Nineteenth Century.djvu/60

 36 BENGALI LITERATURE and the mystic spiritualism of the tantric Krsnananda —the four divergent forces which have always exercised great influence on Hindu society since the 16th century—had never lost their domination even in this era of decadence. The protective spirit of Hinduism and _ the political and social vicissitudes consequent upon Mohammedan rule had no doubt been in- jurious to religious progress, but in spite of this impediment religion had always influenced the social, moral, 10 in- tellectual progress of the nation. From the earliest time down to the present day, religious struggle and religious ge revival have always played an important part in the history of the nation’s intellectual progress. It is partly for this reason that notwithstanding four centuries of earnest preaching by Roman Catholies and two centuries of earuest preaching by Protestants, Christianity has made little im- pression upon the Hindus, especially amongst the upper classes. Religious life was never dead but dormant. It is true that religious ideal have always Change of religious : : ideals inthe 18th and Changed from time to time and “nee early 19th cen- moulded itself to some extent to the necessities of the age, and this will also be evident from a study of the various phases of the historic development of our religion. At this stage of decadence, it could not be expected to remain in an un- alloyed state. It had gone through many convulsions and alterations in the previous age, and many empty dogmas and gross superstitions had naturally gathered around it. But, however much this state of religion appeared repulsive to the prejudiced eyes of the zealous missionaries or of the enthusiastic “Young Bengal,’ who proud of the new hight, picked up an inveterate hatred of everything old, still in its essence and on the doctrinal side, it was almost invulnerable. The reactions which have followed