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article ) is one of the chapters of the Veds . Rammohun Roy states in the ** Introduction" that he has translated it to establish the unity of God , and to set Ins countrymen free from
superstitions , which deprive them of the common comforts of society , * and even lead Ihcra to self-destruction or to the sacrifice of their friends and relations . He expresses his great satisfaction in seeing that many respectable Hindoos- *• rise superior to
their original prejudices , and inquire into the truths of religion . " He has turned a few chapters of the Veds into the English language , for the gratification of European gentlemen who interest themselves in' the
improvement of their fellow-creatures 3 and , he adds , - " Such benevolent people will ^ perhaps , rise from a perusal of them ,, with the conviction , that in the most ancient times the inhabitants of this part of the globe ( at least the more intelligent cJass ) were
not unacquainted with metaphysical subjects ; that allegorical language or description was very frequently employed to represent the attributes of the Creator , which were sometimes designated as independent existences ; and that , however suitable this method misrht be to the ' refined
11 nderstanding * s of men of learning-, it bad the most mischievous effect , when literature and philosophy , decayed , producing * ail those absurdities arid idolatrous notions , which have checked , or rather destroyed , every mark of reason , and darkened every beam of understanding . "—Introd . p . iv .
The chapter of the " Upanishad " consists of a dialogue between " a Pupil" and " liis Spiritual Father ;" the following is the conclusion of it , — u In a battle between the Celestial -f Gods and the Demons , God obtained victory over the latter , in favour of the former
* A Hindoo of caste , be says , can only eat once between sun-rise and sun-sei , cannot eat dressed victuals in a boat or ship , nor clothed , nor in a . tavern , nor any food that has been touched by a person of a different caste , nor if interrupted while eating * can Tie resume his meal .
-f- u In the Ukhaika it is said , that those powers of the Divinity , which produce agreeable effects and conduce "to moral order arid happiness , are represented under the figure of Celestial Gods , and those attributes , from which pain and misery flow , are called Demons and Step-Brothers of the former , witli whom they &re in a state af perpetual hostility /*
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for properly speakings God enabled the former to defeat the latter ) ; but upou this victory being * gained , the Celestial Gods acquired their respective dignities , and supposed that this victory and glory were entirely owing * to themselves . The
Otnni-pre $ en 1 Being having * known their boast , appeared to them with an appearance beyond description , " They could not know what adorable appearance it was ; they consequently said to Fire , or properly speaking " , the God of Fire , 4 Discover them , O God of Fire , what adorable appearance this is ?* His reply was , c I shall . '' He proceeded fast
to that adorable appearance , which asked bim 6 Who art thou ' ?* He then answered , c am Fire , and I am the origin of the Ved , that is , I am a well-known personage ? The Supreme Omnipotence upoa being * thus replied to , asked him again , ' What power is in so celebrated a person as thou art ? He replied i I can burn to ashes all that exists in the world . * The
Supreme Being * then having laid a straw before Frim , said to bint , ' Canst thou burn this straw ? ' The God of Fire approached the straw , but cauld not burn it , though he exerted all his power : he then unsuccessfully retired , and told the others , ' I have been unable to discover what
adorable appearance this is . * Now they all said to Wind ( or properly to the God of Wind ) , / Discover thou , O God of Wind , what adorable appearance this is V His reply was , c I shall . '' He proceeded fast to that adorable appearance , which asked
him , Who art thou ? ' He then answered , ' I am Wind , and I pervade unlimited space- that is , I am a well-known personage . ' ' The Supreme Being- upon being thus replied to ^ asked him again , What power is in so celebrated a person as thou art ? ' He replied , I can uphold all that
exists in the world / The Supreme Being ; then having laid a straw before him , said to'him , ' Canst thou uphold this straw ?*" The God of Wind approached the straw , but could not hold it up , though be exerted all his power . He then unsuccessfully retired , and told the others , ' I have been unable to discover what adorable
appearance this is . Now they all said to the God of Atmosphere , Discover thon , O revered God of Atmosphere , whnt adorrilile appearance this is ? ' His reply was , 6 1 shall . ' He proceeded fust to that adorable appearance , which vanished from liis ' view . He met at the same spot a
woman , the Goddess of Instruction , arrayed in golden robes , in the shape of the most beautiful Uwm . * He asked her , 4 What was that adorable appearance ?* She replied , It whs the Supreme Being * , * " The wife of Siva "
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& 61 Review . —Hindoo TJnitarianism . ,
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1819, page 564, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1776/page/40/
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