Page images
PDF
EPUB

and their horrible attributes - The walls of ELEPHANTA and SALSETTE crowded with images allufive to the majestic attributes of God and the magnified virtues of men- The whole train of falfe deities likewife introduced into the Grecian mysteries

The caverns of Elephanta and Salfette formed with dark ailes and winding paffages, exactly refembling those in the temple of Ceres at Eleufis-The PHALLUS of BACCHUS and the LINGAM of MAHADEO principal objects in the myftic fhews-The enormities confequent of the former grofs fyftem of worship in Greece and Rome, and of the latter in India, depicted-The former from Herodotus and Livy; the latter from Renaudot and TavernierThe prostitutions at the temple of the Dea Syria in honour of MYLITTA, fimilar to those of the WOMEN OF THE IDOL in the pagodas of India-particular account of the education and accomplishments of the latter The furrounding horrors that enveloped the ASPIRANT, and the final raptures that attended INITIATION, described from Apuleius, Dion Chryfoftome, and Plato-Some curious particulars, related by MEURSIUS, in regard to the NUMEROUS ABLUTIONS in the Grecian myfteries, compared with those recounted in the Ayeen Akbery, as neceffary to be undergone by the BRAHME CHAREE, or Brahmin of the first degree. Mr. Bryant's affertion, that the rites of ISIS and OSIRIS were originally inftituted in memory of the deluge, confidered and corroborated, by the fimilar rites of the Brahmins The Author pledges himfelf to prove, that there are Sanfcreet

[ocr errors]

B 3

Sanfcreet records of a GENERAL DELUGE in Hindoftan -The account of the Grecian MYSTERIES Concluded, with an enumeration of other parallel circumstances that took place in the celebration of thofe in India.

vary

--

This chapter concludes with an extenfive inquiry into that difputed topic, who were the fabricators of the caverns of SALSETTE and ELEPHANTA? - Whether the EGYPTIANS? The fubterraneous grottoes and caverns of the THEBAIS, with their fculptures, defcribed from Pococke, Greaves, Norden, and SaWhether the Æthiopians? - An account from Ludolphus of the Æthiopian rock-temples, and their sculptures A curious paffage apparently corroborative of the latter hypothefis from the ARCHEOLOGIA Another remarkable paffage adduced from Ezekiel, in proof that images refembling thofe in the Indian caverns, decked with fimilar ornaments, and painted with vermilion, were in the most ancient periods adored in CHALDEA-the whole, confequently, relics of the ancient prevailing SABIAN SUPERSTITION, or WORSHIP OF THE HOST OF HEAVEN, and fabricated by the ancient CUTHITES.

T

The Author, in the third volume, emerging from the gloom of SUBTERRANEOUS pagodas, introduces his readers into the fplendid temples that adorn the furface of Hindoftan their height, extent, and the magnitude of the ftones with which they are built, ftupendous inftanced in the magnificent portico of CHILLAMBRUM, and the circumference of the walls of SERINGHAM.-The most ancient pagodas erected in the form of pyramids, with only one door and illuminated

[ocr errors]

[ocr errors]

[ocr errors]

illuminated by lamps kept conftantly burning-properly compared by MANDELSLO to caves.- The more modern pagodas erected in a better style of architecture, and richly decorated within with gildings, carved work, and painting-without, entirely covered with fculptured animals. The five most venerated pagodas of India, viz. that of JAGGERNAUT that of BENARES that of MATTRA-that of TRIPETTY --and that of SERINGHAM,-fucceffively and minutely defcribed from TAVERNIER and others. An affecting story relative to the first defilement of Seringham by European armies. The amazing revenues which thefe and other pagodas anciently enjoyed. - 40,000 fouls fupported by the revenues of SERINGHAM alone. - A more accurate furvey of their internal seulptures, and a description of the monstrous idols adored in them. EGYPT and INDIA feemed to have affembled in these pagodas the animals deemed more peculiarly facred in each country—as, for inftance, the MEMthe RAM, facred to JUPITER the GOAT, to PAN-are feen blended with the APE of RAMA- the RHINOCEROS and the ELEPHANT, An extenfive difquifition is now entered into on that disputed point, whether INDIA or EGYPT were the elder empire; and which nation first imparted its rites of fuperftition to the other? The opinion of KIRCHER, relative to the fettling in India of the Egyptian priefts, driven from their country by the ravages of CAMBYSES, first confidered,The opinion of KÆMP FER, in regard to the great Indian faint BUDDHA SAKIA, (in other words, the god ВOODH) the opinion

PHIAN BULL

[ocr errors]

B 4

and

opinion of both those antiquarians highly probable, and apparently supported by that of Sir W. JONES, given in the Afiatic Researches, on the subject of BOODH and on the great refemblance fubfifting both in the name and the worship of the Egyptian ISIS and OSIRIS and the Indian ESWARA and ISA. The refult of SIR WILLIAM's inquiry concerning a colony of priests fupposed to have settled at TIRHOOт, in North BAHAR - on the whole, favourable to fuch a fuppofition.Mr. CHAMBERS's account of the ruins of Mavalipuram

of the SOMMONACODOM, or ftone-deity of the SIAMESE and of the fuperftition of BOODH.-Additional evidence of an early and familiar intercourse subfifting between the EGYPTIANS and INDIANS adduced. The ftructure of their temples fimilar in point of maffy folidity, magnitude, and extent. A curfory comparison of a few of the principal ftructures of each country, preparatory to a more extenfive parallel. Some ftriking circumstances of national refemblance enumerated; as, firft, in their mutual veneration of the facred LOTOS. A defcription of that flower from Herodotus, and a late traveller, M. Savary. Secondly, in their early cultivation of the Thirdly, in their ancient, and once univerfal, diet, having confifted of VEGETABLES. Fourthly, in their mutual poffeffing a SACRED SACERDOTAL LANGUAGE, called in India the DEVINAGARI. -Fifthly, in the divifion of the people into TRIBES, or CASTS. — Sixthly, in the numerous ABLUTIONS practised by both people. And, finally, in their univerfal reverence of the cow and the SERPENT.

SUGAR CANE.

[ocr errors]

The

The temples of Egypt, and their fymbolical decorations, largely defcribed from the most authentic and recent travellers,

The Author, in the fourth and fifth volumes, inveftigates THE MORE PURE AND SUBLIME Theology of India, defcended traditionally down to them from the venerable patriarchs, of which the following are the principal outlines:-A REVELATION was vouchfafed by his Creator to man, in a state of innocence in Paradife, concerning his nature, his will, and of the mode by which he would be worshipped. The Deity not a

folitary, occult, and inacceffible, being, but perpetually prefent with his creatures, and in all his works.-The ancient doctrine of DIVINE EMANATIONS adduced in proof of this affertion that doctrine, the probable fource of all idolatry, fince it was God himself that was first adored in the SUN, the FIRE, and other elements-remains of this purer primitive theology remarkably apparent amidst a thousand fuperftitions in India. - General divifion of the Hindoos into four grand tribes, or cafts- the tribe of BRAHMA - the tribe of KEHTREE the tribe of BICE - the tribe of SOODER the pure doctrines of Vyafa contained in the Vedas.The Brahmins alone permitted to read the VEDAS thofe Vedas explained to have been originally only three, and denominated the REIG Vedathe YAJUSH Veda-and the SAMAN Veda. All three comprized under the name RIGYAJUHSAMA the fourth, or ATHARVA VEDA, proved from internal evidence to be far more modern. - The English, more than any other European nations, have contributed to

and

remove

« PreviousContinue »