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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    or stone. On the contrary, it may be taken as almost certain that there were no idols and no temples to hold images in Vedic times. That the social condition of the people was by no means low, and that they had attained to some degree of civilization, may be inferred from various allusions in the hymns. It is evident that the chief riches of the newly-arrived Indo-Aryans consisted in flocks and herds ; that they understood the principles of agriculture; that they were able to build towns and fortified places ; that they had some knowledge of various arts and sciences and of working in metals ; that they engaged in philosophical speculations; that they had rulers ; that they were separated into classes, though they were not yet divided off by hard lines of caste ; that polygamy existed, though monogamy was the rule; that they killed animals for sacrifices ; that they were in the habit of eating animal food, and did not even object to the flesh of cows; that they were fond of gambling, and indulged in intoxicating beverages. We may also gather that just as the children of Israel found the land of Canaan pre-occupied by Hittites, Perizzites, and Philistines, so the immi- grating Aryans, when they advanced into India, found the soil held by Scythian and Mongolian races, vari- ously called Dasyus, Anaryas, Nishadas, and Dravidas, who, from long exposure to the Indian sun, and per- haps from intermarriage with even more primitive and (as some believe) Negroid aboriginal tribes, had become almost as dark-complexioned as Africans.
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