Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/11

CONTENTS.
LECTURE THE FIRST.
INDIA THE LAND OF RELIGIONS.-THE VEDA.
Multiplicity of Hindu religions-Brahmanism-Bud-
dhism-Profound hold of religion upon the Hindu
mind-Hindu life dominated by religious institu-
tions-The four stages of life-The institution of
caste-Caste then and now-Symptoms of revulsion
against caste-Other pernicious religious institu-
tions-Continuity of India's religious history-Date
of the conception of rta, or "cosmic order "-Close
relationship of the religions of India and Persia-
Slight connection between India and Persia in sec-
ular history-The Parsis in India-Close relation
between Veda and Avesta-The Veda and the Indo-
European period-The Veda as a whole-The date
of the Veda-Its great uncertainty-Nature of Vedic
tradition-The Crotriyas, or "Oral Traditionalists"-
Uncertain character of Vedic life and institutions-
Origin of the Veda-Contents of Vedic literature
as a whole-The four Vedas-The Rig-Veda-The
books of the Rig-Veda-Theme and character of the
Rig-Veda-A hymn to Goddess Dawn-The Yajur-
Veda-Character of the yajus-formulas-The Sāma-
Veda-Origin and purpose of the Sama-Veda-The
Atharva-Veda-Contents of the Atharva-Veda-
Religious Quality of the Atharva-Veda - Two
Atharvan hymns-The Brahmana Texts - Some
legends of the Brahmanas-The Aranyakas, or "For-
est Treatises "The Upanishads-Literary history
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