Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 726

686
PRIMITIVE RELIGION CORRUPTED
may be subjected on account of his religion, the principles
which he must preserve and guard unaltered even to death,
being fully persuaded that it is the one and only true religion
on earth, that is, the true primitive religion which was given
to all mankind.
lie
of
In the course of time, the Jains say, the primitive religion
gradually became considerably corrupted in several essential
points, and w as superseded by the superstitious and detes-
table sophistries of Brahminism.
The ancient dogmas were
forgotten or put aside by the Brahmins, who invented an
entirely new system of religion, in which only a shadowy
resemblance can be traced to the old Hindu faith.
It is the Brahmins who invented the four Vedas and the
eighteen Puranas, the Trimurti, and the monstrous fables
connected with it, such as the Avatars of Vishnu, the abomin-
able lingam, the worship of the cow and other animals, the
sacrifice of the yagnam, &c. &c.
The Jains not only reject
all these spurious additions, but look upon them with abso-
r
lute horror.
The Brahmins introduced
all
these sacrilegious innova-
Brahmanic orthodoxy. The monastic system was not countenanced,
but ritual was simplified and women were allowed to share in it. As in
Buddhism, however, the larger section of the Jains decline to allow that
women can attain Nirvana, The latter, however, is with them perpetual
bliss, instead of complete annihilation.
Caste amongst the Jains is
maintained, and though they have no special reservation of the priest-
hood to a class, there is a general tendency in that direction, and in some
cases Brahmins even are employed.
In later years the Jains seem to
have competed with the Brahmins in literature and science, so that they
and
fell into disfavour,
would very probably have succumbed but for
the advent of the Mussulman power.
In the north and west of India
they are still a cultivated class, most engaged in commerce, whilst in
the south, where they share with the Buddhists, who preceded them,
the credit of forming the Canarese and Tamil literature, they are as
Except in a few of the larger cities of the north
a rule agriculturists.
there seems to be little sectarian hostility between them and the ortho-
dox and in the west, where they are still closer in customs and observ-
ances, the line of division is scarcely traceable.
In parts of both tracts
there is, in the present day, a tendency for Jainism to regard itself as
a sect of Brahminism, in spite of the non-recognition of the divine
authority of the Veda. It is probable that in compliance with this
tendency many have returned their religion as Hindu of the Jain sect,
so that where sect is not separately compiled, as in the imperial series of
returns, the total of the Jain religion is reduced by that number.
As it
is, the number of Jains is given as about 1,417,000/
;