Hinduism / by Monier Williams.

  • Monier Monier-Williams
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hinduism / by Monier Williams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in observing five duties or vows of self-restraint, thus : i. Do not kill or injure. Strict Jainas carry this to so preposte- rous an extreme that they strain water before drinking it, sweep the ground with a brush before treading on it, never eat or drink in the dark, and sometimes wear muslin before their mouths to prevent the risk of swallowing minute insects. Moreover, they never eat figs or any fruit containing seed, nor will they even touch flesh-meat with their hands. 2. Do not tell lies. 3. Steal not. 4. Be chaste and temperate in thought, word, and deed. 5. Desire nothing immoderately. There are two classes of Jainas, as of Buddhists ; viz. S'rdvakas, those who engage in secular occupa- tions, and Yatis, monks or ascetics, who are required to pluck out their hair or wear it cropped short. The latter often congregate in Mathas or ‘ monasteries/ being called Sadhu when not monastic. It should be noted that most Jainas have a sort of modified belief in'the Hindu gods, especially Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, and Ganesa, with their con- sorts, as beings subordinated to the Jainas; and representations of these deities are sometimes observ- able in the precincts of their temples. They are even observers of caste practices, and claim to be regarded as Hindus, though rejecting the Hindu Veda. In Western India the priests of some Jaina temples are said to be Brahmans. The Carvakas. t There is no such philosophical sect as that of the Carvakas at present in India, but that a materialistic school of thinkers so called once existed, and exercised no slight influence on sceptical philosophy, is proved by the frequent allusions to them in Indian writings. No account of Hinduism, therefore, would be com- plete without a brief statement of their opinions. Nothing is known about C'arvaka, the founder of
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