DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0185
CHAPTER VII
New Faiths: Vishnu Religion, Buddhism,
and Jainism
Religious Ages—Influence of the Upanishads—The Inspiration of Great
Teachers—Conception of a Supreme Personal God—Rise of Vishnu and Shiva
Cults—Krishna a Human Incarnation of Vishnu—The Bhagavad-gita—Salva-
tion by Knowledge — Buddha's Revolt against Brahmanism — His Gloomy
Message to Mankind—Spread of Buddhism—Jainism—Revival of Brahman
ism—The Puranas—Incarnations of Vishnu—Creator as a Boar—Egyptian
and European Conceptions and Customs—Jagganath—Kalki.
Modern-day Brahman pundits, the cultured apostles of
the ancient forest sages, acknowledge a Trinity composed
of Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva
the Destroyer. A rock carving at Elephanta, which
depicts the supreme god with three heads, indicates that
the conception is of considerable antiquity. To what
particular period it must be assigned, however, we cannot
yet definitely decide.
The religious history of India is divided into four
Ages: (i) the Vedic Age; (2) the Brahmanical Age; (3)
the Buddhist Age; and (4) the Age of the reform and
revival of Brahmanism.
As we have seen, many gods were worshipped in the
Vedic Age, but ere it had ended Pantheistic ideas found
expression in the hymns. Two distinct currents of thought
characterize the Brahmanical Age. On the one hand
there was the growth of priestly influence which is
119
New Faiths: Vishnu Religion, Buddhism,
and Jainism
Religious Ages—Influence of the Upanishads—The Inspiration of Great
Teachers—Conception of a Supreme Personal God—Rise of Vishnu and Shiva
Cults—Krishna a Human Incarnation of Vishnu—The Bhagavad-gita—Salva-
tion by Knowledge — Buddha's Revolt against Brahmanism — His Gloomy
Message to Mankind—Spread of Buddhism—Jainism—Revival of Brahman
ism—The Puranas—Incarnations of Vishnu—Creator as a Boar—Egyptian
and European Conceptions and Customs—Jagganath—Kalki.
Modern-day Brahman pundits, the cultured apostles of
the ancient forest sages, acknowledge a Trinity composed
of Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva
the Destroyer. A rock carving at Elephanta, which
depicts the supreme god with three heads, indicates that
the conception is of considerable antiquity. To what
particular period it must be assigned, however, we cannot
yet definitely decide.
The religious history of India is divided into four
Ages: (i) the Vedic Age; (2) the Brahmanical Age; (3)
the Buddhist Age; and (4) the Age of the reform and
revival of Brahmanism.
As we have seen, many gods were worshipped in the
Vedic Age, but ere it had ended Pantheistic ideas found
expression in the hymns. Two distinct currents of thought
characterize the Brahmanical Age. On the one hand
there was the growth of priestly influence which is
119