Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/3

PREFACE.
THIS
HIS volume reproduces with some little ampli-
fication six lectures on the Religion of the
Veda given before various learned institutions of
America during the fall and winter of 1906-07.
The period of time and the amount of literature
embraced in the term Vedic are large; moreover any
discussion of this religion that deserves the name
must also include a glance at the prehistoric periods
which preceded the religion of the Veda. Con-
sequently my treatment must be selective. It was
not difficult to make the selection. I have not
thought it necessary to include a complete account
of Vedic mythology and legend; nor did the details
of priestly ritual and religious folk-practices seem
to me to call for elaborate exposition at this time
and under the circumstances of a popular treatment
of Vedic religion. On the other hand, it seemed
both interesting and important to bring out as
markedly as possible the development of the re-
ligious thought of the Veda in distinction from
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