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OF THE HINDUS.
rise of most of the existing modifications, we can trace satisfactorily enough, as will hereafter appear, and it is not improbable, that the disappearance of many of those, which no longer take a part in the idolatry of the Hindus, may be attributed to the exertions of SANKARA and his disciples: his object, as appears from the work we have hitherto followed, was by no means the suppression of acts of outward devotion, nor of the preferential worship of any acknowledged and preeminent deity: his leading tenet is the recognition of Brahma Para Brahma', as the sole cause and supreme ruler of the universe, and as distinct from Siva, VISHNU, BRAIMÁ, or any individual member of the pantheon: with this admission, and in regard to the weakness of those human faculties, which cannot elevate themselves to the conception of the inscrutable first cause, the observance of such rites, and the worship of such deities, as are either prescribed by the Vedas, or the works not incompatible with their authority, were left undisturbed by this teacher?; they even received, to a certain extent, his particular sanction, and the following divisions of the Hindu faith were, by his express per
___As in these texts of the Vedas सदेव सौम्येदमग्र आसीत् । and आत्मा वा इदमेक एवाग्र आसीत् । [quoted by Sank. in his Brahmasútrabháshya, Calc., 1854, p. 51. See also Brihad Árany. Upan. I, 4, 1. p. 125.] ___ आगमेतिहासपुराणोक्ताचारस्तु वेदानुकूलवृत्त्या ग्राह्यः । अग्राह्य एव तत्प्रतिकूले ।
Ordinances founded on the Tantras, the Puránas, or historical record, are admissible if accordant with the Vedas; they must be rejected if repugnant.
