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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