Descrizione

About the book:-The author reveals that through this little work which, in association with your Lordship’s name, and at the request of the Mechanics’ Institutions in 1858 before which it was delivered, he now lay before the public, he has endeavoured to glean from the oldest compositions of the Hindus, the Vedas, and especially from the first of them, the Rig Veda, — of which two of the others, the Sáma and Yajur are principally extracts, while the fourth, the Atharvan , is of much later origin, -- the general information which they contain concerning the earliest state of Indian society, particularly as it bears on the illustration of that of later times. In doing this he has availed himself of the various translations mentioned in the notes which he has sub-joined, but constantly referred, also, in all matters of importance , to the works of their greatest orientalists who have made the most important discoveries in Indian antiquities, and to the original Sanskrit text of the Vedas and their Bháshyas, or commentaries, from his own study and investigation of which, made in their more important connexions with the opinions, institutions , and practices of the Hindus, he has drawn, as will be seen, to a considerable extent. The ancient Vedas, which consist of Odes and Hymns addressed to the divinities which they recognized, contain but few allusions which can be made to bear on the illustration of the external history of the A'ryas, who so long proved the ruling tribe in India, and whose assumed superiority among the various peoples domiciled in this great country is still to be observed to the present day. Throughout the Lecture he has given his authorities, adding some illustrative notes which may not be without their value to certain classes of readers.