The Brahmans, Theists and Muslims of India. Studies of Goddess
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THE LffiRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE / / \ " 1^% "^ % Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2007 witii funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation littp://www.arcliive.org/details/bralimanstlieistsmOOomaniala J'/io!u I'y Col. Constable BRAHMAN AT PRAY2R Fro}t 'ispieoe '^zsri7>B THE BRAHMANS, THEISTS AND MUSLIMS OF INDIA Studies of Goddess-worship in Bengal^ Caste ^ Brahmaism and Social Reform^ with descriptive Sketches of curious Festivals^ Ceremonies^ and Faquirs BY JOHN CAMPBELL OMAN FORMERLY PROFESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT COLLEGE, LAHORE author of "the mystics, ascetics, and saints of India" "Indian life, religious AND social" "the GKEAT INDIAN EPICS " "WHERE THREE CREEDS MEET" ETC. ETC fVITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS AND FROM DRAJVINGS BY WILLIAM CAMPBELL OMAN^ A.R.I.B.A. SECOND EDITION LONDON T. FISHER UNWIN ADELPHI TERRACE MCMVII 0-51 \90l All Rights Reserved My object in writing this book being to interpret, however imperfectly, the present-day Indians to the English public, I have done my best to bring my readers into actual touch, as it were, with contemporary India at various points, using my somewhat exceptional personal experiences, as much as possible, in illustrating and elucidating the subjects dealt with, which, although by no means esoteric, have yet to be sought for, and do not, in ordinary course, come within the ken of Europeans in India whether official or non-official. Following the plan adopted in my previous books, I have included in this volume such legends and stories as seemed to me to throw light upon the habits or the mental peculiarities of the Indian people. The figures recorded in the recently published Eeport on the Census of the Empire show that more than a half of the entire number of men and women under British rule follow the Hindu religion ; that Islam claims another quarter of the inhabitants of the Empire, and that the remainder is made up of Christians {including those of the United King- dom, Ireland, the Colonies, and India), and of Buddhists, Jains, Jews, etc. Very striking and significant figures indeed are these, and may well awaken many trains of thought and speculation. PREFACE Confining our attention to India (with Burmah), we find that when the last census was taken (1901) there were in those vast territories less than three millions of Christians (Europeans and Natives all told) against two hundred and seven millions of Hindus, and over sixty-two millions of Muhammadans, each of these divisions heing composed of a great variety of races and nationalities speaking diverse tongues. The Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Animists, etc., inhabiting India and Burmah made up a further total of about twenty- two millions. These notable statistics are enough to make it clear that out of the vast and profound ocean of Indian social and religious life, it was only possible for me to take just a few examples of what may be gathered in that obscure yet seductive region of investigation. Hinduism, with its enormous and varied following, its heterogeneous structure and its fascinating remoteness from European feeling and sentiment, afforded the largest choice of subjects and occupies the major portion of this volume. But Islam, which, as regards numbers, ranks next amongst the religions of India, has also a place in the book ; being represented—no doubt very inadequately—by two papers (" Muharram " and " Faquirs ") intended to bring into view some of the more salient features of that great Semitic cult so nearly allied to Judaism. In describing and commenting upon such examples of Indian beliefs and practices as I have selected to lay before my readers, my own limitations have been ever present to my mind, yet I claim that my constant endeavour has been towards accuracy of statement and fairness of interpretation. To my son, Mr. W. Campbell Oman, I am indebted for the illustrations which appear in this volume ; also for reading the entire MS. of the book very carefully, and help- ing me with many suggestions. J. C. 0. MuswBLL Hill, London, N. — —— CONTENTS TA<iK Pbbfaok ........ V PART I CHAPTER I KALI-GHAT AND HINDUISM (GODDESS-WORSHIP) IN BENGAL Section I.—The Kali Cultits—Legends of the Goddess AND Temple Eali-Ghat—Architectural peculiarities—Insignificance in comparison with Western and even other Hindu temples—Sacrificial stakes Bloody character of ritual—Human sacriiices—Unseemly scrim- mage—Forms in which Kali is represented—Worshipped as "giver of victory"—Her legendary—Special claims to veneration of the temple of Kali-Ghat—Absence of beauty from the Kali cultus Swinging festival—Wliy women are more religious than men Interesting incidents in connection with Kali worship — Sub- ordinate temples—Politics and the temple . .8 Section II.—The Worship of Dubga The Goddess Durga—Hindu idea of the acquisition of supernatural power by means of austerities—The Durga pujah—Its excesses . 21 Section III.—The widespeead Inflttencb of Duega and Kali Three-fourths of the Hindus of Bengal worship Durga and Kali These cults have extended beyond the limits of India proper . 24 Section IV.—The Saktas Indian worship of the Female energy in Nature —Obscene rites Position of women in Bengali society . .26 Section V. The Religion of the Educated Oi.asses The Higher Hinduism—Inoperative as regards the masses—Religion a sacred disease . .30 — — CONTENTS CHAPTER II CASTE IN INDIA Section I.—The more obvious Featuees of the Present- day Caste System PAOB Hindus divided into castes — Numerous main tribes and castes Examples of Hindu exclusiveness — Contamination may result from the mere touch of a European — Hereditary character of handicrafts and occupations — Commensalism, its rules and difficulties—Disregard by certain persons of the prescribed rules about eating with other than caste-mates— Origin of the Pirali Brahmans of Bengal — Nuptial laws and their application — Panchayats and their uses—Exclusion from caste—Ceremony of expulsion—Nature of the penalty of expulsion—Readmission to the privileges of caste . .34 Section II.—The Origin of the Caste System as EXPLAINED BY THE PaNDITS The four vamas or castes and their duties—Myth of the origin of the castes—Arrogance of the Brahmans and their extravagant pre- tensions—Privileges enjoyed by the Brahmans under Hindu law Conflict between Brahmans and Kshatriyas — Extermination of Kshatriyas by Parasharama — Orthodox view of the origin of many well-established castes . .49 Section III. The existing Hindu Caste System contrasted WITH THE Theoretical System of the Old Books Seven Indian castes noticed by Megasthenes—Multiplicity of castes found at present time—Mr. Risley's general statement with respect to Sudras in different parts of India—Occupational groups —The castes of to-day not necessarily identical with those of the past—Contemporary Brahmans, their peculiarities, occupations, and customs—Caste the distinctive feature of Indian life—Caste and Earma—Caste among Muslims . .55 Section IV.—Caste outside the Hindu System, a DiGRESSIONAL StUDY Caste exists in European communities—Hereditary caste distinctions have often been fixed by law in Europe and exist in the aristo- cracies of to-day—Caste prejudices most pronounced where white and coloured races meet—United States of America and South Africa are good examples—Caste prejudices are not due to instinctive race antipathy but to desire to exploit "inferior races"—Much vilification of subject races inevitable—Summary of the causes which engender caste distinctions , . .63 — — CONTENTS Section V.—An Attempt to throw some Ltght on the Genesis and Evolution of the Hindu Caste System PAOK The Sanskrit word foi' caste vama (colour) indicates that the Hindu caste system originated in racial differences—Aryan invasions of India took place in the past—Certain class divisions were estab- lished amongst the invaders for their own security—With the advance of Aryan bands into the interior, intermarriage with aborigines though tabooed would take place and new mixed classes or castes would arise—Ethnological facts, certain peculi- arities of Hinduism, and the exceptional position of the Brahmans throw light on the subject—The origination of new castes takes place even now—Caste system owes its vitality to the influence of the Brahmans, whose ascendancy depends upon it . .75 Section VI. Caste considered with respect to its Political and Economic Aspects and its probable Future Orientals not necessarily more burdened by rules of social intercourse than Westerns are — Attitude of British Government towards caste — Official disregard of caste prejudices has often led to serious trouble — Caste as a political force — Caste from the industrial point of view—From the ethical standpoint—Caste, a bulwark of Hinduism, is being undermined by commercialism and Mammon-worship — Railways, hospitals, and other institutions inimical to caste — Effects of English education — The probable future ........ 86 CHAPTER III THEISM IN BENGAL—A STUDY IN BEAHMAISM Section I.—Ram Mohun Roy, the Bengali Theistio Reformer—His Life and Work Assailed by Islam and Christianity, Hinduism has developed diverse sects—Not the least interesting is the Brahma Samaj founded by Ram Mohun Roy—Early days of R. M, Roy—Settles in Calcutta (1814), and occupies himself with religious controversies and social reforms—Hindu College established in 1817—Mr. Derozio's pro- fessorship (1828-31) and teaching—A great convulsion produced in Bengali society—Dr. Dnff makes some converts to Christianity —Ram Mohun Roy founds the Brahma Samaj (1830)