A

SECOND DEFENCE

OF

THE MONOTHEISTICAL SYSTEM

OF

THE VEDS;

IN REPLY TO

AN APOLOGY FOR THE PRESENT STATE

OF

HINDOO WORSHIP.

CALCUTTA:

1817.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Two publications only have yet appeared with the professed object of defending Hindoo idolatry against the arguments which I have adduced from the Vedanta, and other sacred authorities, in proof of the erroneousness of that system. To the first, which appeared in a Madras Journal, my reply has been for some time before the public. The second, which is the object of the present answer, and is supposed to be the production of a learned Brahmun now residing in Calcutta, was printed both in Bengallee and in English; and I have therefore been under the necessity of preparing a reply in both of those languages. That which was intended for the perusal of my countrymen, issued from the press a few weeks ago. For my European readers I have thought it advisable to make some additional remarks to those contained in the Bengallee publication, which I hope will tend to make my arguments more clear and intelligible to them than a bare translation would do.

A

SECOND DEFENCE,

&c. &c.

66

THE learned Brahmun, in his defence of idolatry, thus begins: "Let it not be supposed that the following "treatise has been written with a view to refute the "doctrines of those assuming inventors and self"interested moderns," &c. "It is solely with the inten❝tion of expressing the true meaning of these authori"ties that this brief treatise has been composed;" and he thus concludes: "The Vedant chundrica, or lunar light of the Vedant, has thus been made apparent, "and thus the glowworm's light has been eclipsed." It is very much to be feared that, from the perusal of this treatise, called the lunar light of the Vedant, but filled up with* satirical fables,† abusive expressions, and contradictory assertions, sometimes admitting monotheism, but at the same time blending with it and defending polytheism, those foreign gentlemen, as well as those natives of this country who are not ac

P. 1, 1. 26; p. 2, 1. 17; p. 19 and 20, margin.

† P. 1; p. 3, 1.9; p. 8. 1. 17; p. 38, 1. 14; p. 48, 1. 19, &c. &c. P. 13, 1. 14.