The Bible of Bibles; Or, Twenty-Seven "Divine" Revelations. Kersey Graves

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II. THE INSTITUTES OF MENU.

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      "The Code of Menu," or "Institutes of Menu," constitutes another sacred book of the Hindoos. The Rev. Mr. Allen says of it: "It is a code of religious and civil laws, and makes a part of the Hindoo Scriptures." It is in many respects similar to the Vedas, and is almost equal to it in age; and, like the Vedas, it is a standard of faith and a guide for moral action. Hindoos call it Menu Darma Shastra, "the ordinances of God." "As these ordinances, or divine laws," says Mr. Allen, "profess to be of divine origin, kings have no authority to change them. Their duty was to administer their governments according to their teachings." All classes of people were required to live up to them. "In these respects," says Mr. Allen (p. 366), "they resemble the laws given by Moses, and contained in the Old Testament." These Institutes treat on the subject of creation, the doctrine of future rewards and punishments, and also define many of the duties of life.

III. RAMAYANA.

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      With respect to age, the Ramayana is generally ranked next to the Code of Menu, and is equally adored as a holy and inspired book, and "may be classed," says Mr. Allen, "with the Hindoo Scriptures." It treats of the war in Heaven, in which the dragon, or serpent-devil, was cast to the earth. To put an end to his ravages here, the Savior and incarnate God Chrishna was sent down. Christ, we are told, "came to destroy the devil and his works." Col. Sherman tells us, in his "Recollections of an Indian Official," that "the people (Hindoos) assured us this Bible was written, if not by the hand of the Deity himself, at least by his inspiration; and, if asked if any absurdity that may be pointed out in the book be true, they reply with great naivete, 'Is it not written in the Holy Book? and how could it be there, and not be true?'"—exactly the same defense that is often set up for the Christian Bible by its educationally warped admirers. It is believed the great Hindoo prophet, Vyas, wrote much of this Bible, or "Inspired Poem," as some call it.

IV. THE MAHABARAT.

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      The origin of this sacred book is considered to be very nearly co-eval with that of the Ramayana. It has an appendix, or epistle, called the "Bagkavat Gita." which, on account of its high tone of spirituality, has attracted much attention in Europe. The Hindoos believe the Mahabrat is highly inspired, and that every event noticed in it was recorded before it took place; thus making it in the highest degree prophetic. "Its author, they claim," says Mr. Allen, "is no other than the incarnate God Chrishna, of whose life it treats." That profound Oriental scholar, Mr. Wilkins, thinks this and the other sacred books of India are more than three thousand years old, as is evidenced by sculptures in solid rocks.

V. THE PURANS, OR PORANAS.

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      Some Hindoo Holy Scriptures, when arranged together in one book, are known as the Barta Skastra, of which the Poranas constitute a part. The last-named work treats of the creation of the world, and its final destruction and future renovation, the "great day of judgment," Divine Providence, &c.; also the ordinances and rules for worship, &c.

VI. ANALOGIES OF THE BRAHMIN AND JEWISH RELIGION.

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      Brahminism and Judaism are each old forms of religion. Each was superseded by a new and improved form of religion. Each has a story of creation. Jehovah and Brahma both created the sun, moon, and stars (so believed by millions).

      1. The spirit of both moved upon the face of the waters.

      2. The world is spoken in to existence by both Jehovah and Brahma.

      3. The Hindoos had an Adimo and Iva, the Hebrews an Adam and Eve.

      4. In each case every thing is to produce after its kind.

      5. Man is in each case the last and crowning work of the whole creation.

      6. Both stories set man as a ruler over subordinate creation.

      7. Light in each case was spoken into existence.

      8. Jehovah and Brahma each occupied six days in the work of creation.

      9. There is a primitive paradise and state of moral purity in each story.

      10. A tree whose fruit produced immortality is noticed in each cosmogony.

      11. A serpent figures in each, and outwits Brahma and Jehovah.

      12. Man in each partakes of the fruit of the tree of knowledge.

      13. The doctrine of the fall is found in each account. The means for man's restoration is provided in each case.

      14. Each sacred legend has a story of a war in heaven.

      15. The soul is the breath of life, or breath of God, in each cosmogony.

      16. Labor is imposed as a curse in each case.

      17. A moral code of ten commandments is found in each system. Not to kill is a command in each decalogue. Stealing is interdicted in each decalogue. Adultery is condemned in each. Bearing false witness is forbidden by each.

      18. Both Brahmins and Jews lost their "Holy Law," or "Laws of God." One had a Hilkiah, and the other a Bisheu, to find the law.

      19. Each had an established order of priesthood. The priesthood was hereditary in each case: a tribe or family furnished the priests in each case.

      20. Both claimed to be God's pet and holy, or peculiar, people; and both styled other nations barbarians or aliens.

      21. Both holy nations were forbidden to marry with others; and both were too holy to eat with barbarians.

      22. Each had a ceremonial law prescribing numerous rites. The church ceremonies were performed by priests in each.

      23. The priests were forbidden to eat meat in both cases.

      24. Both Jews and Brahmins worshiped by bloody sacrifices. Both had their favorite sacred animals. Animal sacrifices were by each to arrest public calamities.

      25. One interdicted beef, and the other pork, as food.

      26. Both prescribed purification after touching dead bodies; and each religion had a law of purification. Bathing was a mode of purification in each religion.

      27. Each has its "holy" places, times, days, cities, mountains, rivers, &c. India, as well as Judea, was considered a holy land.

      28. Each had its СКАЧАТЬ