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OF THE HINDUS.
sessions, my principality, my husband. Mirá thy servant comes to thee for refuge – O take her wholly to thee. Lord of Mírá, Girdhara her beloved, accept her, and never let her more be separate from thee." Upon which, says the legend, the image opened -- Mírá leaped into the fissure -- it closed- and the princess disappeared for ever*.
The other principle which I have specified, and which is closely allied with the preceding, is the absolute sufficiency of faith alone, wholly independent of conduct, to insure salvation. This doctrine is carried to the very utmost of that abuse of which it is susceptible. Entire dependence upon Krislina, or any other favourite deity, not only obviates the necessity of virtue, but it sanctifies vice. Conduct is wholly immaterial. It matters not how atrocious a sinner a man may be, if he paints his face, his breast, his arms, with certain sectarial marks; or, which it better, if he brands his skin permanently with them with a hot iron stamp; if he is constantly chanting hymns na in honour of Vishnu; or, what is equally efficacious, if he spends hours in the simple reiteration of his name or names; if he die with the word Hari or Ráma or Krishna on his lips, and the thought of him in his mind, he may have lived a monster of iniquity — he is certain of heaven.
Now these doctrines and practices, however popu
* [Rel. Sects of the Hindus, p. 138. G. de Tassy, 1. I. II. 21 - 26.]
