A HISTORY OF THE BRAHMA SAMÁJ, FROM ITS RISE TO THE PRESENT DAY. BY G. S. LEONARD, Late, Assistant Secretary to the Asiatic Society of Calcutta: W. NEWMAN & CO., 3, DALHOUSIE SQUARE. 1879. PREFACE. THOUGH of late years a greater interest is shewn in the affairs of India and her people than was formerly the case, yet but few Europeans are acquainted with, or appear interested in, the religious and social movements which are daily taking place among the Hindus-movements which have been the chief agents in civilizing and reclaiming them from their old prejudices, superstitions and pernicious social habits. In offering, then, this book to the public, my object is to call attention to a subject perfectly marvellous, the revival of the pristine religion of the land,pure Theism,-after it had lain dormant for many centuries, in fact thousands of years, and had given place to pantheistic doctrines in their grossest form, and the abominable worship of such revolting deities as Sivá, and his hideous consort, Káli, &c. This revival of true religion and renunciation of idolatry dates from the foundation of the Bráhma Samáj, or Hindu Theistic Church, by the gifted Rájá Ram Mohun Roy. I think it right to premise a few words on the circumstances which led to the composing of this book. My attention was first drawn to the subject by a visit I paid to the Samáj at Jorasanko at its anniversary ii festival. I was struck with the simplicity of the ritual, and the purity and unidolatrous character of the doctrines preached, and determined to ascertain by what process the Hindu mind had thrown off the shackles of superstition and idolatry under which it had suffered for ages. I have spared no pains to avail myself of all information, written and oral, which the kindness of many of my native friends placed at my disposal; and I believe this sketch will be found to be the fullest account of the Samáj and its religion that has hitherto appeared. In conclusion I may add that in the spelling of proper names in many places I have adhered to the old plan, because the classical method of spelling tends to change names so much as to make them unrecognizable. Calcutta, March, 1879. G. S. LEONARD. THE BRAHMA SAMÁJ, OR HINDU THEISTIC CHURCH ITS RISE AND PROGRESS. CHAPTER I. A THOUGHTFUL inquiry into the present state of Hindu society cannot fail to attract the attention of the observer to the Brahma Samáj movement, which is causing a rapid and visible change in the manners and customs, the thoughts and actions, of the higher and educated classes of the Hindu Community. We find a pure spiritual adoration of one only God supplanting the deep-rooted idolatry of the land; a rational monotheism substituted in lieu of a horrible polytheism of millions of fanciful and sensual divinities; prejudices of caste and custom giving place to a more social and liberal feeling; the phantoms of fear and superstition rapidly vanishing at the approach of the substantial realities of truth and reason; these are all palpable signs of the emancipation of the Hindu mind from the thraldom of superstition which has perverted its intellectual faculties for ages; and proofs of its |