DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9550#0217
MONOTHEISTICAL SYSTEM OF THE VEDS. 169
Burhnugur,* which are only four miles distant from
Calcutta, will sufficiently convince the reader of the un-
pleasant nature of their beloved images. He again asks
in the same page, (I.33) : "Will a beloved friend be treat-
" ed with disrespect by being seated on a chair, when he
" arrives in your house, or by being presented with fragrant
flowers and other offerings ?" To which I shall say,
no ; but at the same time I must assert that a friend
worthy of reverence would not, we may be sure, be at
a'll pleased at being exhibited sometimes in a form,f the
bare mention of which would be considered as a gross
insult to the decorous feelings of the public; and
sometimes in the shape of a monkey,t fish,§ hog,|| or
elephant,1T or at being represented as destitute of every
virtue, and altogether abandoned. Nor would he
believe his host to be possessed of common sense, who,
as a token of regard, would altogether neglect his guest,
to go and lay fruits and flowers before his picture.
It is said (p. 39, 1. 23) : "In the accounts of ancient
" Greece we meet with the worship of idols, and the
" practice of austerities; but these acts have been
" contemned^by the more enlightened moderns." Iam
really glad to observe that the learned Brahmun, more
liberally and plainly than could be expected, confesses
that idolatry will be totally contemned as soon as the
understanding is improved. I, however, beg leave to
remark on this instance, that though the idolatry
practised by the Greeks and Romans was certainly just
*Where there are twelve temples dedicated to Siva.
fUnder which Siva is adored. JHunooman. §The first in-
carnation of Vishnoo. ||The third incarnation of Vishnoo.
TTGunesh.
Burhnugur,* which are only four miles distant from
Calcutta, will sufficiently convince the reader of the un-
pleasant nature of their beloved images. He again asks
in the same page, (I.33) : "Will a beloved friend be treat-
" ed with disrespect by being seated on a chair, when he
" arrives in your house, or by being presented with fragrant
flowers and other offerings ?" To which I shall say,
no ; but at the same time I must assert that a friend
worthy of reverence would not, we may be sure, be at
a'll pleased at being exhibited sometimes in a form,f the
bare mention of which would be considered as a gross
insult to the decorous feelings of the public; and
sometimes in the shape of a monkey,t fish,§ hog,|| or
elephant,1T or at being represented as destitute of every
virtue, and altogether abandoned. Nor would he
believe his host to be possessed of common sense, who,
as a token of regard, would altogether neglect his guest,
to go and lay fruits and flowers before his picture.
It is said (p. 39, 1. 23) : "In the accounts of ancient
" Greece we meet with the worship of idols, and the
" practice of austerities; but these acts have been
" contemned^by the more enlightened moderns." Iam
really glad to observe that the learned Brahmun, more
liberally and plainly than could be expected, confesses
that idolatry will be totally contemned as soon as the
understanding is improved. I, however, beg leave to
remark on this instance, that though the idolatry
practised by the Greeks and Romans was certainly just
*Where there are twelve temples dedicated to Siva.
fUnder which Siva is adored. JHunooman. §The first in-
carnation of Vishnoo. ||The third incarnation of Vishnoo.
TTGunesh.