DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0363
CHAPTER XIII. .
The Hindu Religion in Ancient Family-life.
The title of a deservedly popular sermon by a well-known
Scotch divine reminds us that common life is the proper field
for the exercise of Christianity, or, in other words, that the
religion of a Christian is not to be made a separate duty, but
a part of all his actions at all times.
Turning to India we might expect to find a different doc-;
trine taught. But this is far from being the case.
Without doubt it must be admitted that the actual religious
life of a large number of Hindus is a complete falling away
from the standard set up in their sacred works; but it is not
the less true that many pious and earnest-minded men are
still careful to impress a religious character on every act and
circumstance of their domestic life. For, whatever estimate
may be formed of the nature of Indian religious life, it is cer-
tain that a genuine Hindu of the old school does not lead two
lives. His religion, such as it is, may truly be described as
bound up in the bundle of his every-day existence. It is not,
so to speak, put away in a cabinet during working days, and
taken out to be exhibited publicly on solemn occasions. The
religion of a Hindu is his constant companion. Nor does
he think it necessary, as a Christian does, to satisfy the claims
of a corporate as well as of a personal and domestic religion.
Any idea of congregational religious duties has no place in
his mind. A Hindu never enters a place of worship with the
object of offering up common prayer in company with his
The Hindu Religion in Ancient Family-life.
The title of a deservedly popular sermon by a well-known
Scotch divine reminds us that common life is the proper field
for the exercise of Christianity, or, in other words, that the
religion of a Christian is not to be made a separate duty, but
a part of all his actions at all times.
Turning to India we might expect to find a different doc-;
trine taught. But this is far from being the case.
Without doubt it must be admitted that the actual religious
life of a large number of Hindus is a complete falling away
from the standard set up in their sacred works; but it is not
the less true that many pious and earnest-minded men are
still careful to impress a religious character on every act and
circumstance of their domestic life. For, whatever estimate
may be formed of the nature of Indian religious life, it is cer-
tain that a genuine Hindu of the old school does not lead two
lives. His religion, such as it is, may truly be described as
bound up in the bundle of his every-day existence. It is not,
so to speak, put away in a cabinet during working days, and
taken out to be exhibited publicly on solemn occasions. The
religion of a Hindu is his constant companion. Nor does
he think it necessary, as a Christian does, to satisfy the claims
of a corporate as well as of a personal and domestic religion.
Any idea of congregational religious duties has no place in
his mind. A Hindu never enters a place of worship with the
object of offering up common prayer in company with his