Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/11

 CONTENTS. LECTURE THE FIRST. INDIA THE LAND OF RELIGIONS.-THE VEDA. Multiplicity of Hindu religions-Brahmanism-Bud- dhism-Profound hold of religion upon the Hindu mind-Hindu life dominated by religious institu- tions-The four stages of life-The institution of caste-Caste then and now-Symptoms of revulsion against caste-Other pernicious religious institu- tions-Continuity of India's religious history-Date of the conception of rta, or "cosmic order "-Close relationship of the religions of India and Persia- Slight connection between India and Persia in sec- ular history-The Parsis in India-Close relation between Veda and Avesta-The Veda and the Indo- European period-The Veda as a whole-The date of the Veda-Its great uncertainty-Nature of Vedic tradition-The Crotriyas, or "Oral Traditionalists"- Uncertain character of Vedic life and institutions- Origin of the Veda-Contents of Vedic literature as a whole-The four Vedas-The Rig-Veda-The books of the Rig-Veda-Theme and character of the Rig-Veda-A hymn to Goddess Dawn-The Yajur- Veda-Character of the yajus-formulas-The Sāma- Veda-Origin and purpose of the Sama-Veda-The Atharva-Veda-Contents of the Atharva-Veda- Religious Quality of the Atharva-Veda - Two Atharvan hymns-The Brahmana Texts - Some legends of the Brahmanas-The Aranyakas, or "For- est Treatises "The Upanishads-Literary history xi