Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 148

108
AFFINITY BETWEEN RELIGIONS
Sanskrit of the Brahmins and Jains on this side of the
Ganges, and the Pali, which is evidently derived from the
Sanskrit, of the Buddhists beyond the Ganges.
All these
help to prove incontestably the affinity existing between
the three religions.
As very little is known about the Jain cult by Europeans,
although it is to be found in all parts of the Peninsula,
I shall give in an appendix a short account of their doc-
trines and of the principal controversial points between
them and their sworn enemies, the Brahmins. I should
like to be able to do the same with regard to the Buddhists,
but I have not been able to procure authentic documents
about their cult. Residents of Ceylon, where Buddhism
predominates, ought to be able to supply the blank thus
left in my work.
CHAPTER
Different
Kinds
of
Brahmins.
VIII
— Outward
Signs
by which they are
distinguishable.
Brahmins
subdivided into seven sects, each of
patron one of the celebrated Penitents
already mentioned. Besides this, they are split up into
four classes, each class recognizing one of the four Vedas
as its own.
Thus there are Brahmins of the Yajur-Veda,
of the Sama-Veda, of the Rig-Veda, and of the Atharva-
Veda. Some are of opinion that this fourth class is extinct
but, as a matter of fact, it still exists, although there are
but few representatives left, who are even more exoteric
than the other castes, because they allow bloody sacrifices
to be offered up, and do not even draw the line at human
beings.
Added to this, they teach a belief in witchcraft,
and any one who is supposed to possess the art earns the
odious reputation of being a sorcerer. When the yagnam
sacrifice takes place, it is customary for Brahmins of all
four Vedas to be present.
The prayers which are offered
up at the sandhya 1 are quoted from the four Vedas, each
which has
are
for its
;
Later on I shall explain in what the yagnam and sandhya consist.
Dubois. [ Yagnam literally means worship (in prayer or praise) ; sacri-
ficial rite, or sacrifice (to, of, by)].
Ed.
1