Monier-Williams, Monier: Religious thought and Life in India (Band 1): Vedism, Brahmanism, and Hinduism (London, 1883)

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS.

. PAGE

Vedism, Brahmanism, and Hinduism defined. Three principal
stages or phases of the Hindu religion. Origin and form of religion
among the primitive Aryans........1-6

CHAPTER I.
Vedism.
Four Vedas. Gods of the Veda. Ideas expressed by the term
sacrifice. Soma plant. Introduction of animal-sacrifice. Remark-
able hymns of the Veda. Social condition of the people . . 7-19

CHAPTER II.
Brahmanism.
Four phases. Ritualistic Brahmanism. Development of the idea
of sacrifice. Philosophical Brahmanism. Upanishads. Sutras.
Subtle and gross bodies. Sankhya philosophy. Vedanta philosophy.
Tri-unity of entities. Three corporeal envelopes. Vedanta and
Sankhya systems compared. Nyaya philosophy. Mythological Brah-
manism. Buddhism. Tri-murti. Descents of Vishnu. Nomistic
Brahmanism. Three codes of law......20-53

CHAPTER III.
Hinduism. General Observations.
Distinction between Brahmanism and Hinduism. The philoso-
pher Sankara. Inter-relationship and distinction between Saivism
and Vaishnavism. Six principal sects. Doctrine of incarnation.
Saiva and Vaishnava marks. Rosaries. Symbols and images . 54-72

CHAPTER IV.
Saivism.
Definition of Saivism. Worship of Rudra-Siva. Description of
Siva. Saiva sects. Ceremonies performed at Walkesvar temple.
Ceremonies performed at Bhuvanesvara temple . . . 73-94