A View of the History, Literature, and Religion of the Hindoos

*In this Introduction, the author has gone over the whole of the Hindoo Pantheon,
that he might supply a number of omissions in the body of the work; and hence it
forms an epitome of the whole.

BOOK I.

OBJECTS OF WORSHIP.

CHAP. I.

OF GOD.

PAGE.

The One God an object of speculation only; not a single temple
erected to his honour throughout the whole of Hindoost'hani,...

SECT. I.

CHAP. II.

OF THE GODS.

...

Their number, three hundred and thirty millions,
VISHNOO. The source of all the Hindoo incarnations, 2.-
Accounts of the ten incarnations, ibid.-Other incarna-
tions, 6.-Meaning of these fables, 7.-Images of Vishnoo,
8. Mark of his followers, ibid. His names, ibid. His
wives, ibid. His heaven,

II. SHIVU. Forms of this god, 9.

...

The lingu, 10. Resembles
the phalli of the Greeks, ibid. Form of this god as Mŏha-
Kali, 11. Names and mark of the sect, ibid. Shivn's
festivals-particularly the sanyasee and swinging ditto,
12-16. Origin of these horrid rites, 17. Marriage of
Shivă, ibid. Fables respecting Shivi, 18. Names, ibid.
Description of Shiva's heaven,

III. BRUMHA. Account of the creation, 21.

Form of this god,

ibid. Worship paid to him, ibid. He attempts to commit
incest, 22. Heaven of Bramha. ibid. His names,

IV. INDRU. His image and festivals, 23.

intrigue, 24. Other fables, 25.

Scenes in this heaven, in several
this god,

VI.

SOORYU. His descent, 31. His festivals, 32. Anecdotes

of this god, 33. His names,

GUNESHU. His image, 35. Descent and birth, ibid. Wor-

ship, 36. Names,

VII. KARTIKEYU. His image and descent, 37. Festivals, 39.

←

VIII. UGNEE. His form and descent, 40. Festival, 41. Names,
IX. PUVUNU. His birth, 42. A story respecting him, ibid. His
impure character, 43. Names,

VUROONU. His image and worship, 43. Fables, 44.

heaven, 45. His names,

YUMU. His image and festivals, 46. His court as judge

of the dead, 47. His palace, ibid. Fables respecting

him, 47-50. His heaven, 50. Marriage, ibid. Names,

"Host of Heaven." Remarks on their worship,

XI.

XII.

XIII. Planets. Worshipped in a body,

...

XIV. RUVEE. His form and worship, 55. Commits a rape,

SECT.

...

PAGE.

...

XV. SOMU. His image and worship, 56. Names,
XVI. MUNGULU. His image, 57. An evil planet,
XVII. BOODDHU. His form, 57. Account of his birth,
XVIII. VRIHUSPUTEE. His image, 58. An auspicious planet,
ibid. Names,

...

XIX. SHOOKRU. His form, 59. A fable respecting his blind-

ness, ibid. A propitious planet, ibid. A fable, ibid.

Names,...

XX. SHUNEE. His image, 61. An evil and much dreaded

planet,

XXI. RAHOO. His image, 62. Received this form at the churn-

ing of the sea, ibid. Names,63. Unaccountable coincidence

in the customs of different nations respecting an eclipse, 62. note.

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I. DOORGA. Her descent, 64. Reason of her name, a fable,

ibid. Festivals, 67. Image, ibid. Ceremonies at her

festival minutely described, 68. Bloody sacrifices, 69.

Offerings, 70. Dances, 71. A scene at Raja Raj-krish-

nn's at Calcutta, 72. Drowning the image, 74. Fables

respecting this goddess,...

The ten Forms of Doorga. Story from the Marňkůndéyй

poorani, and another from the Chundee, relative to the

wars of Doorga, 76. Names of the ten forms,

III. SINGHU-VAMINEE, a form of Doorga, Her image, 79. and

worship,

IV. MUHISHU-MURDINEE. Her image, and worship, 80. Be-
nefits attending it,

...

V. JUGUDDHATREE. Her image, 80. A popular festival, held

in her honour,

VI. MOOKTU-KESHEE. Her image, 81. Her festival, and the
benefits promised to her worshippers,

VII. TARA. Her image and worship,

CHINNU-MUSTUKA. Her image, 82. Her worship, and the
benefits resulting from it,

...

JUGUDgouree. Her image and worship,

VUGULAMOOKHEE. Her festival, 83. Benefits resulting

from her worship,

...

XI. PRUTYUNGIRA. Petitions addressed to this goddess, 83.

...

XII. UNNU-POORNA. Her image, and festival,

...

Her image, 85. Regular and occa-

Story respecting her,

history of this goddess,

Her image, and festival, 85. The

...

XV. VISHALAKSHEE. Offerings to this goddess,

...

XVI. CHUNDEE. Her worship, and festivals, 87. Offerings to

... 87, 89

Other forms of Doorga of inferior note,

KALEE. Her image, and anecdotes connected with it, 89.

Human sacrifices, 91. Other horrid rites, 93. A singu-

lar fact, that thieves worship her, ibid. Festivals-a

scene at Kalee-Shankără-Goshi's, at Calcutta, 95. The

degree of honour formerly paid to this goddess by the

Hindoo rajas, 96. Image and temple at Kalee-ghată,

described, 97. This image much honoured, presents

being made to it by kings, merchants, and even by Chris-

tians, 99. Statement of the value of the monthly offer-

ings,

...

102

...

Her descent and festivals, 105

form of Lukshmee. Her

Other forms of Kalee of inferior note,

LUKSHMEE. Her image, 105.

KOJA GURU-LUKSHMEE, another

worship, and festival,

XXIII. SURUSWUTEE. Her descent, 106. Indecencies practised

during her festival,

...

XXIV. SHEETULA. Her image, 107. Worshipped during the

XXV. MUNUSA. Her image and descent, 108. Her festival, 108

XXVI. SHUSHTEE. Her six festivals described,

CHAP. IV.

...

INFERIOR CELESTIAL BEINGS OBJECTS OF WORSHIP.

110

...

I. Usoorus. Their conduct at the churning of the sea, a story, 113

II. kakshusus. Story of Koombhň-kărnă. 115. The Gund-

harvis and Kinnaras, ibid. Vidya-dhárns and Upsárás,

ibid. Nayikas, 117. Yakshus, 118. Pishachas, Good-

ghukus, Siddhus, Bhōōtus, Charǎnás, &c.

CHAP. V.

OF THE TERRESTRIAL GODS.

I. KRISHNU. His birth, 119.

II.

...

Juvenile exploits, ibid. His
Image of Radha accompanies

image and festivals, 120.

Krishna's, 123. Number of his followers, ibid. Stories

of Krishnă,

118

GOPALU. His image, 125. A story of this image found

in a field,

III. GOPEE-NAT'HU. A celebrated image of him at Ugră-dwēēpă. 125

IV. JUGUNNAT'HU. Form of his image, with the origin of it,

127. His temples, ibid. Festivals,

This goddess is honoured as she who protects from serpents: but the author is
assured, that, in the upper provinces, the serpent itself is worshipped, and that the
image is formed into a circle, the head and tail of the serpent being joined. The legend
respecting this serpent-god is, that the earth rests on his thousand heads.

SECT.

PAGE.

VI.

RAMU. His history, including his war with Ravănă, 130.

His image and festival, ...

134