HINDUISM

the name used for the religion of more than two hundred ‘MIillions of the peoples of India. Hindus do not form one ecclesiastical organiza- ‘tion, nor do they all hold one creed. Yet this congeries of peoples is more or Je loosely united by certain principles which are common to them all: (1) a Rigid and elaborate caste system—so different from anything in Western religion; (2) a pe imistic view of life “which makes it something on the whole evil, and is involved with the specially Oriental doctrine of reincarnation. The origin of H. dates back to before 1000 -B.C., when the Aryan tribes invading from the N. were conquering the Dravidjans of India. There was some intermingling. of conquerors and conquered, but ‘not enough to prevent a rigid caste system; the conquered people were secluded ‘not only from social but from religious ‘privileges. The primitive Vedic religion of the Aryan conquerors had many gods, but no elaborate worship. By about 800 B.C. the cla of priests was developing into the Brahman caste. Four castes (warriors), Vaisyas (traders), and Sudras (serfs). Not only does caste involve ‘something of what we mean by ‘cla ‘distinctions,’ but a Brahman might not eat food prepared by any one but a Brahman. Certain trades became hereditary in certain castes, and those born ‘into them had to remain at them. At ‘the same time ritual became much more élaborate, and Brahmanism as a religion tended to be crushed under a weight of ‘Titual. i i: if 76° 40’ E.), state, Punjab, India. Area, 2505 sq. miles. Pop. 52,551. means the ‘country of the Hindus.’ The Persians Per used to call the R. Sindhu Hindhu,’ and that part of the district was therefore called H. The region denoted was gradually extended, until the whole tract of country between the W. of Bengal, was so designated. In many instances even H. was used as a synonym for India, but in this sense it is not now used, and in a more restricted sense is le often employed.