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Ex Libris THE CANADIAN Courtesy of The Estate of G.J.L. Bates FROM-THE-LIBRARYOF TRINITYCOLLEGETORDNTO THE AMERICAN LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF RELIGIONS. I. The History and Literature By T. W. RHYS-DAVIDS, LL.D., Ph.D. Buddhism. dhism. II. of Bud Primitive Religions. The Religions of Primitive By D. G. BRINTON, A.M., M.D., LL.D., Sc.D. Peoples. III. Israel. Jewish Religions. Life after the Exile. By Rev. T. K. CHEYNE, M.A., D.D. IV. Israel. Religion of Israel to the Exile. By KARL BUDDF,, D.I). V. Ancient Egyptians. The Religion of the Ancient By G. STEINDORFF, Ph.D. Egyptians. The Development of Re By GEORGE W. KNOX, D.D. VII. The Veda. The Religion of the Veda. By MAURICE BLOOMFIELD, Ph.D., LL.D. VI. Religion in Japan. ligion in Japan. In active preparation VIII. Islam. The : Religion of Islam. GOLDZIHER, Ph.D., Litt.D. G. P. PUTNAM S SONS NEW YORK AND LONDON By IGUAZ AMERICAN LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF RELIGIONS SEVENTH SERIES 1906-1907 THE RELIGION OFTHE VEDA THE ANCIENT RELIGION OF INDIA (FROM RIG- VEDA TO UPANISHADS) BY MAURICE BLOOMFIELD, Professor of Sanskrit and Ph.D., LL.D. Comparative Philology in Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore PUTNAM S SONS NEW YORK AND LONDON G. P. Cbe Ifcnicfcerbocfcer 1908 press COPYRIGHT, igo8 BY G. P. PUTNAM S SONS TTbe ftnfcfcerbocfcer 123139 JAN 2 1987 TDrs, flew JPort PREFACE. volume reproduces with some little ampli six lectures on the Religion of the THISfication Veda given before various learned institutions of America during the fall and winter of 1906-07. The period of time and the embraced amount the term Vedic are large in ; of literature moreover any name discussion of this religion that deserves the must also include a glance at the prehistoric periods which preceded the religion of the Veda. sequently my treatment must be selective. not difficult it to make the selection. of priestly me was have not necessary to include a complete account thought of Vedic mythology and legend to I Con It ritual and ; nor did the details religious folk-practices seem to call for elaborate exposition at this time and under the circumstances of a popular treatment Vedic religion. On the other hand, it seemed of both interesting and markedly ligious bring out as development of the re important to as possible the thought of the Veda in distinction from Preface iv myth and ceremony. will, I reader of these pages how the religion