(4.) Sauras, tlie worsliipi)ers of Surya, the sun.
(5.) Ganapatiius, the worshippers of Ganesa, the god of wisdom.
HINDUISM
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HINDUISM
The Saiiras and Ganapatyas are not very numerous. The religious sects of India are divided into two classes, which may be called clerical and lay. The priests may also be divided into two classes, the monastic and secu- lar clergy, the majority belonging to the monastic or- der, since the preference is usually given by laymen to teachers who lead an ascetic life.
The sects which have already been enumerated pro- fess to follow the authority of the Veda, but there are other sects which disavow its authority, and are there- fore regarded as forming no part of the Hindu Church. The most important of these are the Buddhists, the Jainas (q. v.), and the Sikhs. The Buddhists have long since been expelled from Hindustan, but it is evident tliat they were once very numerous in all parts of the coun- try. See Buddhism. The sect of the Sikhs was found- ed by Nanak Shah about A.D. 1500. Their present faith is a creed of pure deism, grounded on the most sublime general truths ; blended with the belief of all the absurd- ities of Hindu mythology and the fables of JMohamme- danism (JIalcolm). They despise the Hindus and hate the Mussulman, and do not recognise the distinction of caste. They also reject the authority of the Veda, the Puranas, and all other religious books of the Hhidus ; eat all kinds of flesh except that of cows ; willingly admit proselytes from every caste ; and consider the profession of arms the religious duty of every individual. An in- teresting account of this sect is given in Malcolm's Sketch of the Sikhs. — A sialic Hesearches, xi, 197-292 ; Cunning- ham, Sikhs. For the distinctions of caste, see India.
IV. Doctrines and Worship. — As already intimated, a broad distinction exists between the religion of the peo- ple and that of the learned. The popidar religion is a debased polytheism, without unity of belief or worship. The people believe that the performance of certain forms is the only and sure means of salvation, and that those who observe these things will, at a fixed time after death, be admitted into the joys of paradise. The religion of the learned class, on the other hand, professes to rest upon pure contemplation; its theorj' of the imiverse is panthe- istic; and religious observances, apart from absoqition of mind in the universal mind, are of no value. The daily duties of tlie Brahmin consist of five religious occupa- tions, considered as five sacraments: the study of the Ve- da {bi-ahma-jagnas, or ahuta, i. e. not offered) ; offering for the progress of the honor of the gods {hufa, i. e. offer- ed) ; entertaining the fire of the dead (sradda') in honor of the manes (^prdsita); offering of the Bali in honor of the spirits (prahuta), and of hospitality, in honor of mankind (hi-dhmja-huta'). Offerings and prayers for all possible objects follow each other from morning till night. Prayer is recommended by the Veda for everj' occasion. The number of ablutions the Hindus consid- er as obligatory is immense; near every temple a jiond is provided for that purpose; but the most sanctifying ablutions are those performed in the Ganges, particular- ly at the five points where it vinites with other streams. The holiest of all, according to the popular beUef of the Hindus, is AUahabad, where, besides the .Jumna, the Sa- rasvati also unites with the Ganges. The most impor- tant act of worship consists partly of bloody sacrifices. The principal among these is that of A svamedka, or sac- rifice of horses. Bloody sacrifices are mostly made to Siva and Kali, whilst the offerings to Vishnu are gener- ally (if water, oil, butter, fruit, flowers, etc. All sins of commission or of omission can be effaced by penances described in the laws, and provided for every caste and every case; a thorough fast of twelve days' duration (Pavaka') cancels all sins. The prescribed penances must be observed if the sinner desires to avoid the pen- alty of his sin in a new ibrm of existence. There are therefore a great number of penitents and hermits in India, who seek merit by the renunciation of all enjoy- ment, and the mortification of the flesh. In fact, P2ast- em monachism is, in many respects, the type of that of the Romish Church. See Monachissi,
The gnosis of the learned Hindus consists in regarding
union {Yogci) with God as the highest aim of man; this doctrine is further developed in the philosophy of the Veda. The liberation following death is twofold. Such soids as have arrived at high perfection are admitted into the Brahmic heavens {Svarga), where they enjoy much higher happiness than in the paradise of the In- dra, but after a time they are sent back again to under- go another period of probation. But Avhen man has by contemplation identified himself with the divinity, or Nirvana, his soul enters into, and becomes part of the immense soid (Atma), and enjoys everlasting felicity, not having to assume any new form of existence. Those who aim at reaching this miity with the divinity are called Yogi. An essential means of arriving at this re- sult is found in the penances or Tapas. On certain oc- casions (feasts) all the practices of the religion are uni- ted, sacrifices, offerings, jirayers, etc. There are eighteen such feasts considered obligator^'. The feast of I/ali, or Holaka, is the oldest and most important. The Vais- vadera is the offering to all gods. It consists, as has already been stated in our treatment of the Vedic pe- riod, in throwing melted butter (ghee) on the flame of the sacred fire, which must be carefidly kept burning. The Brahmins must offer it every morning and evening, first to the god of fire and the moon, then to all the oth- er gods and goddesses. Each particidar feast presents some peculiarities, and they are differenth' observed in the various localities. Aside from these general feasts, each important pagoda has some special ones. The most important are those of Jaggernaut, Benares, Guja, AUahabad, Tripetj', Dvaraka, Somnauth, Eamisseran, the sea Manasarovara, Gangotri, Onicrkuntiik, Trimbuck- Nasser, Pervuttum, Parkur, ]\lathura. and Bindrabund.