vérités astronomiques de l'école Ionienne furent enseignés avec plus de développement dans celle de Pythagore; mais ce qui la distingue principalement, est la connoissance des deux mouvemens de la terre, sur elle-même et autour du soleil. Pythagore l'enveloppa d'un voile obscur, pour la cacher au vulgaire; mais elle fut exposée dans un grand jour par son disciple Philolaus.”* The four Yugs, or ages of the Hindūs, bear so marked an affinity to those of the Greeks and Romans, as we conceive leaves but little doubt of their origin. Among the latter nations, they were distinguished by the epithets of golden, silver, brazen, and iron ages. Those of the Hindus are named Satya, Tirtah, Dwapar, and Kaly: names, which, like those of the Greeks and Romans, express a progressive decline from purity to baseness. Though the Satya, like the Saturnian age, abounds in precious things, Satya strictly means truth * Exposition du Système du Monde, par M. La Place, p. 333. and probity. "The duration of the In dian Yugs is disposed so regularly and artificially, that it cannot be admitted as natural or probable. Men do not become reprobate in a geometrical progression, or at the termination of regular periods; yet so well proportioned are the Yugs, that even the length of human life is diminished as they advance, from an hundred thousand years in a subdecuple ratio; and, as the number of principal Avatars in each decreases arithmetically from four, so the number of years in each decreases geometrically, and all together constitute the extravagant sum of four million three hundred and twenty thousand years; which aggregate, multiplied by seventy-one, is the period in which every Menu is believed to preside over the world. The comprehensive mind of an Indian chronologist has no limits; and the reigns of fourteen Menus are only a single day of Brahma, fifty of which days have elapsed, according to the Hindūs, from the time of the creation. That all this puerility, as it seems at first view, may be only an astronomical riddle, and allude to the apparent revolution of the fixed stars, of which the Brahmins made a mystery, I readily admit, and am even inclined to believe; but so technical an arrangement excludes all idea of serious history."* They tell us, that in the first ages, men were greatly superior to the present race, not only in the length of their lives, but in the powers of their bodily and mental faculties; and that in consequence of vice, they gradually declined, and at last in this, the earthen age, or Kaly-Yug, degenerated to what we now see them. In addition, however, to what has been *Jones, Asiat. Res. vol. i. 8vo. edit. p. 236 and seq. It seems now to be generally understood by those who have studied and examined the writings of the Hindūs in their original language, that those periods absolutely refer to astronomical revolutions, particularly the procession of the equinoxes; and that the Brahmins gave that immense space of time to their Yugs, and employed the mystic jargon in which they express themselves, to confound and excite the wonder of the ignorant. said on the affinity that exists between the mythology and ages of the Greeks and Hindūs, instances of resemblance are to be discovered in many of the practices, notions, and opinions of both nations. We find the same belief in the faculty, supposed to be enjoyed by certain persons, of looking into futurity, and discovering the most hidden secrets;* in magic and incantation; and * The Astrologers of India hold at least as conspicuous a place in that country, as those of the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, held with them. The mind seems to be naturally disposed to superstition. From impressions made by pretended examples of divination, not only Hindus, but Mohammedans frequently, in moments of anxiety, consult the Indian astrologers. A remarkable instance of this occurs in the life of Tippoo Sultan, a man of a bold, intrepid character, and, of all Musalmans, one of the most zealous and intolerant in respect to his religion. The circumstance we allude to, happened on the day that his capital was taken by storm. "On the Sultan's return to his apartment," (from visiting the ramparts) " an incident occurred which tended much to depress his spirits, and to diminish the courage of his attendants. A procession of Brahmin astrologers now waited on him, and announced, that the catalogue of omens, of things and days considered as lucky, or unfortunate, will be found on examination, to be equally numerous with those of the Greeks, and in many instances precisely the same.* some dreadful misfortune would befall him on that day, unless averted by the prayers of the righteous, and by pious offerings. "Whether the Sultan's mind was now depressed by fear, or tainted by superstition, he repaired to his palace, and issued orders for all the ceremonies prescribed by the Brahmins to be duly performed, and, having given them several presents, requested their prayers for the prosperity of his government. "His father, Hyder Ally, was very superstitious, and never commenced any undertaking without consulting the Brahmins, whom he liberally paid. This is the first time we have heard of Tippoo's consulting them."+ Many examples might be adduced, of this affinity; but we shall mention one only in regard to omens, and which, ridiculous as it may seem, did not by any means appear so to the Hindus. A Rajah of an illustrious family in the province of Rajahmundry, demanded an interview with the chief, or European governor. The day + See "A Descriptive Catalogue of the Oriental Library of the late Tippoo Sultan, and Memoirs of his life, &c." by Charles Stewart, Esq. p. 87. |