Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/205

 Religious Conceptions and Feeling 189

“ Daughter of Faith, born of Zeal, Sister was she of the 8:3ch that: did create the beings. Do thou, O girdle, as- sign to us; Thought and Wisdom ; also assign to us Zeal and Strength...”

(Athorvochdo 6. 133. 4.)

Faith lrindlcs the sacriﬁcoﬁre and, by way of re... turn, the sacred ﬁre, this chief emblem of Brahmaniu col religion, is in charge of both Faith and Wisdom r.

“ Through Faith the ﬁre is kindled, Through Faith the ohlation is offered. Faith, that stands at the head of fortune, Her do we with our song proclaim.”

(Rig-Veda. 10. I51. I.)

On the other hand, the Brahmanical disciple appeals to Agni Jotavedas (the holy ﬁre) to preserve for him faith and wisdom, to keep intact his memory, so that he may not forget the sacred texts, and to secure him in wrﬂlmbeing.1

Next, Faith becomes a person, a goddess. That would not be bad but for the mechanical character which she then assumes. Imaginemand in order to imagine this one must be pretty well steeped in Hin- duismmthe frame of mind of a poet who skilfully exalts the goddess Faith, but ﬁnally asks her to accept oblations:

1 Cinkhiyana Grihyasﬁtra 2. IO. 6.