On this page

• Text (2)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    above mediocrity . He frequently talk * of going into Europe , but apparently ; considers it desirable first to mollify so far the prejudices of Ids countrymen , th $ t he may not by that voyage , which is regarded as unlawful , expose himself to . excommunicataon . It is very doubtful whether ke will succeed in this attempt ; the hope , however , which he cherishes , is a decided proof of the character of his mind . It may here % e remarked , that almost every man who has done more in this world than

    come into life * exist a time , and die , h&s proposed to himself some object of this nature ; not chimerical , yet distant and difficult of attainment , which may continually impel him to exertion , support him through , his arduous career with the ennobling conviction of not living in yain , and invigorate him , and charm away the pain of occasional disappointments , with the certainty of leaving at least some worthy object of pursuit for a future generation . It is singular that this philosophic Indian , who , as has been shewn in this

    little sketch , has enlarged views respecting the amelioration of the men of his country , has not the least idea of improving the females ; of whom he avoids even the mention . We must suppose that this sort of prejudice , inspired by the Shasters , though

    general amongst the Hindoos , has been perpetuated in so enlightened a mind only by the circumstances of Rammohuut Roy ' s domestic life : it is known that every member of his family verifies the proverb , by opposing with the greatest vehemence all his projects of reform . None of them , not even his

    wife , would accompany him to Calcutta ; in consequence of which , he rarely visits them in Bordouan , where they-reside , They have disputed with

    him ; even the' superintendence of the education of his nephews ; and his far naticai mother MBhewe as much ardour in heit incessant Opposition to him , as he displays in liisi attempts to destroy the idolatry of the Hindoos ; ' < f Calcuttay Nov . % > 1818-. / ' < ; s

    Untitled Article

    usag ^; obtains , an exteni ^ y ^ circulati < m has been given to this little anonyHaoto tract , whose author is undoubtedly Rammohun Roy . His ; & « me is in the title-page of > ttoe other writings about to be- mentioned , published in Ben-, galee and Hindoostanee , and then in English t & all of ttaa » his obgect isr to combat the polytheism ( of - hte eoualaymen firdm their sacred books : to

    convince them of t&efimity ofrGod * afcd to detach them friim ^ idolatry * < aad from the ^ prejudiced tof ^ the castes ^ * The first of these is entitled ' < Translation -of the Ishopauishad , one of the

    Chapters of tfce Yajur Veda ; which proves the Unity and I » eompFeheam ^ bility of God , &c By Rammohsn Roy , 8 vd . Calcutta . 1816 . " Theire is a long and well-written preface to this tract . The author puts under

    requisition the sacred books which ccmtain the doctrines , the history , and the literature of the Hindoos , the Veds 9 and all the writings of the most celebrated authors , the Puranas , the Tun * tras 9 and the Shasters ; and , by a great variety of quotations , proves that they have all admitted the unity of God .

    Some of these works , indeed , appear to contradict themselves , by speaking of many gods and goddesses y buU this is reconciled by their declaring frequently that homage paid , to material beings is allowable only for persons incapable of elevating their minds to the idea © f a supreme , invisible Being 5 that this mode of worship , gross as it

    is , maytform a bridle to vicious desires , but } hafc idolatry should be despised b y all whose understanding is more cutot vated . . •' ' '; Many well-informed Brahmins are convinced of > the absuidity of paly theism ; but its rites and festivals being

    a source of wealth to them , a meana of turning the credulity , ^ h £ weakness add the : patience , of the . Hindodsf to their own profit ,. they desire nofr $ o p » t an e * nd / to superstitionV ^ . on the coii ^ ti ^ , t ^ y « m ^ umge it , aud keep thw p € iopl& (< £ rbm ^ tke knowledge of thck truth . JTheir adherents also feel © atiis

    fiiction iwDhe idea that the divine pfitllM dwells in liviiig men , whom they tr ^ xsform into gods ^ yet that they resemble other men in their birth , outward ap ^ peanance and . * passionB ^ . ' This false notion , plfeafcSBJBf / ^ ^ fe rj ^ m ^^^ atanietiye of the ^ principlee 5 of iwopaiity . A Rmd 6 o ^ rho makes or fpUrchaie « ii

    Untitled Article

    4 Some Account of the Life an 4 \ f ^^^ s o / Ra ^ n ^ hun ## &

    Untitled Article

    Amongst the worka sent over from BfiBWsd is aniEnffliahttenelation ^ printed in December 1818 , of a confei « nce , originally written in Bungla , against the jcustom of biuwng widows' alive On toe funeral pile of thiir busbande . In the fcountiicis in wMtih that detestatoie

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1820, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2484/page/4/