DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.640#0394
THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY. 277
these sins will be removed: he will also be admitted into
the heaven of Briimha, the Puriim-hungsee ; be put in
possession of the merits of the man who presents a lack of
red cows to a bramhun learned in the four vedus; and
afterwards will ascend and dwell at the right hand of
Vishnoo. After he has enjoyed all this happiness, and
shall be re-born on the earth, he will be possessed of every
good quality, enjoy all kinds of happiness, be very honour-
able, &c. He who shall doubt any part of this, will be
doomed to the hell called Koombhee-paku, and afterwards
be born an ass. If a person, in the presence of Gtinga, on
the anniversary of her arrival on the earth, and according to
the rules prescribed in the shastriis, present to the bram-
huns whole villages, he will obtain the fruits that arise from
all other offerings, from all sacrifices, from visiting all the
holy places, &c.; his body will be a million times more
glorious than the sun; he will obtain a million of virgins,
and multitudes of carriages, palanqueens, &c. covered with
jewels; he will dwell for ages in heaven, enjoying its
pleasures in company with his father; as many particles of
dust as are contained in the land thus given away to the
bramhuns, for so many years will the giver dwell in happi-
ness in Vishnoo's heaven.'
Every real Christian must be deeply affected on viewing
the deplorable effects of this superstition. Except that part
of the rig-ve"du which countenances the burning of women
alive, no writers ever gave birth to a more extensive degree
of misery than those who have made the Ganges a sacred
river. Thousands, yea millions of people are annually
drawn from their homes and peaceful labours, several times
in the year, to visit different holy places of this river, at a
great expense of time, and money spent in making offerings
to the goddess; expensive journeys are undertaken by vast
these sins will be removed: he will also be admitted into
the heaven of Briimha, the Puriim-hungsee ; be put in
possession of the merits of the man who presents a lack of
red cows to a bramhun learned in the four vedus; and
afterwards will ascend and dwell at the right hand of
Vishnoo. After he has enjoyed all this happiness, and
shall be re-born on the earth, he will be possessed of every
good quality, enjoy all kinds of happiness, be very honour-
able, &c. He who shall doubt any part of this, will be
doomed to the hell called Koombhee-paku, and afterwards
be born an ass. If a person, in the presence of Gtinga, on
the anniversary of her arrival on the earth, and according to
the rules prescribed in the shastriis, present to the bram-
huns whole villages, he will obtain the fruits that arise from
all other offerings, from all sacrifices, from visiting all the
holy places, &c.; his body will be a million times more
glorious than the sun; he will obtain a million of virgins,
and multitudes of carriages, palanqueens, &c. covered with
jewels; he will dwell for ages in heaven, enjoying its
pleasures in company with his father; as many particles of
dust as are contained in the land thus given away to the
bramhuns, for so many years will the giver dwell in happi-
ness in Vishnoo's heaven.'
Every real Christian must be deeply affected on viewing
the deplorable effects of this superstition. Except that part
of the rig-ve"du which countenances the burning of women
alive, no writers ever gave birth to a more extensive degree
of misery than those who have made the Ganges a sacred
river. Thousands, yea millions of people are annually
drawn from their homes and peaceful labours, several times
in the year, to visit different holy places of this river, at a
great expense of time, and money spent in making offerings
to the goddess; expensive journeys are undertaken by vast