[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Histoire de la dernière révolution des États du Grand Mogol](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier) › [Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable) › 6.6 # Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 6.6 Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 6.6 - **Language:** English ### [6.6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6.1) Perhaps the first legislators in the Indies hoped that the interdiction of animal food would produce a beneficial effect upon the character of the people, and that they might be brought to exercise less cruelty toward one another when required by a positive precept to treat the brute creation with humanity. The doctrine of the transmigration of souls secured the kind treatment of animals, by leading to the belief that no animal can be killed or eaten without incurring the danger of killing or eating some ancestor, than which a more heinous crime cannot be committed. It may be also that the Brahmens were influenced by the consideration that in their climate the flesh of cows or oxen is neither savoury nor wholesome except for a short time during winter. The Beths render it obligatory upon every Gentile to say his prayers with his face turned to the East thrice in the twenty-four hours: in the morning, at noon, and at night. The whole of his body must also be washed three times, or at least before every meal; and he is taught that it is more meritorious to perform his ablutions and to repeat his prayers in running than in stagnant water. Here again regard was probably had to what is not only proper but highly important in such a climate as that of Hindoustan. ### [6.6.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6.2) This, however, is found an inconvenient law to those who happen to live in cold countries, and I have met in my travels with some who placed their lives in imminent danger by a strict observance of that law, by plunging into the rivers or tanks within their reach, or if none were sufficiently near, by throwing large pots full of water over their heads. Sometimes I objected to their religion that it contained a law which it would not be possible to observe in cold climates during the winter season, which was, in my mind, a clear proof that it possessed no divine original, but was merely a system of human invention. Their answer was amusing enough. 'We pretend not,' they replied, 'that our law is of universal application. God intended it only for us, and this is the reason why we cannot receive a foreigner into our religion. We do not even say that yours is a false religion : it may be adapted to your wants and circumstances, God having, no doubt, appointed many different ways of going to heaven.' I found it impossible to convince them that the Christian faith was designed for the whole earth, and theirs was mere fable and gross fabrication. ### [6.6.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6.3) The Beihs teach that God having determined to create the world would not execute his purpose immediately, but first created three perfect beings ; one was Brahma, a name which signifies penetrating into all things ; the second, Beschen, that is, existing in all things ; and the third Mehahdeu, or the mighty lord. By means of Brahma he created the world ; by means of Beschen he upholds it ; and by means of Mehahdeu he will destroy it. It was Brahma who, by God's command, published the four Beihs, and for this reason he is represented in some temples with four heads. ### [6.6.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6.4) I have conversed with European missionaries who thought that the Gentiles have some idea of the mystery of the Trinity, and maintained that the Beths state in direct terms that the three beings, though three persons, are one God. This is a subject on which I have frequently heard the Pendets dilate, but they explain themselves so obscurely that I never could clearly comprehend their opinion. I have heard some of them say that the beings in question are in reality three very perfect creatures, whom they call Deütas, without being able, however, properly to explain what they mean by this word Deüta, like our ancient idolaters, who could never, in my opinion, explain what they meant by the names Genii and Numina, which were probably equivalent to the Deüta of the Indians. I have also discoursed with other Pendets distinguished for learning, who said that these three beings are really one and the same God, considered under three different characters, as the creator, upholder, and destroyer of all things; but they said nothing of three distinct persons in one only God. ### [6.6.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6.5) I was acquainted with the Reverend Father Roa, a Jesuit, a German by birth, and missionary at Agra, who had made great proficiency in the study of Sanscrit. He assured me that the books of the Gentiles not only state that there is one God in three persons, but that the second person has been nine times embodied in flesh. He added that when he was at Chiras, on his return to Rome, a Carmelite Father in that city succeeded, with much address, in ascertaining that the following doctrines are held by the Gentiles, The second person in the Trinity has been, according to them, nine times incarnate in consequence of various evils in the world, from which he delivered mankind. The eighth incarnation was the most remarkable; for they say that the world having been enthralled by the power of giants, it was rescued by the second person, incarnated and born of a virgin at midnight, the angels singing in the air, and the skies raining flowers that whole night. ### [6.6.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6.6) This in some degree savours of Christianity, but here comes the fable again; for it is added that this incarnate god began by killing a giant who flew in the air, and was so huge as to obscure the sun: his fall caused the whole earth to tremble, and by his weight he so penetrated it that he tumbled at once into hell. The incarnate deity, wounded in the side in the conflict with this mighty giant, fell also, but by his fall put his enemies to flight. He arose again, and after delivering the world ascended into heaven, and because of his wound, he is generally known by the appellation of 'The wounded in the side.' The tenth incarnation, say the Gentiles, will have for its object the emancipation of mankind from the tyranny of the Mahometan, and it will take place at the time when, according to our calculation, Antichrist is to appear; this is however but a popular tradition, not to be found in their sacred books. ### [6.6.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6.7) They say also that the third person of the Trinity has manifested himself to the world; the following story is related of him. The daughter of a certain king, when she had reached the age of puberty, was desired by her father to mention the person whom she felt disposed to marry, and having answered that she would be united to none but a divine being, the third person of the Trinity appeared in the same instant to the king in the form of fire. He presently apprised his daughter of this happy circumstance, and she without hesitation consented to the marriage. The divine personage, though still assuming a fiery appearance, was invited to the king's council, and finding that the privy counsellors opposed the match, he first set fire to their beards, and then burnt them together with the royal household, after which he married the princess. Ridiculous! In regard to the second person, the Gentiles say that his first incarnation was in the nature of a Lion, the second in that of a Hog, the third in that of a Tortoise, the fourth in that of a Serpent, the fifth in that of a dwarfish female Brahmen \[Pygmee Brahmane\], only a cubit in height, the sixth was in the form of a monstrous Man-lion, the seventh in that of a Dragon, the eighth as already described, the ninth in the nature of an Ape, and the tenth is to be in the person of a mighty Cavalier. ### [6.6.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6.8) I entertain no doubt that the Reverend Father Roa derives from the Beths his knowledge of the doctrines held by the Gentiles, and that the account he gave me forms the basis of their mythology. I had written at considerable length upon this subject, sketched the figures of several of the gods or idols placed in their temples, and caused them to give me the characters of their language, Sanscrit; but finding that the principal matter of my manuscript is contained in the China Illustrata of Father Kircher (who obtained much of his information when at Rome from Father Roa), I deem it sufficient to recommend that book to your perusal. I must observe, however, that the word 'incarnation,' employed by the Reverend Father, was new to me, having never seen it used in the same direct sense. ### [6.6.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6.9) Some Pendets explained their doctrine to me in this manner: formerly God appeared in the forms which are mentioned, and in those forms performed all the wonders which have been related. Other Pendets said that the souls of certain great men, whom we are wont to call heroes, had passed into the different bodies spoken of, and that they had become Deutas; or, to speak in the phraseology of the idolaters of old, they had become powerful Divinities, Numina, Genii, and Daemons; or, if you will, Spirits and Fairies; for I know not how else to render the word Deuta; but this second explanation comes much to the same thing as the first, inasmuch as the Indous believe that their souls are constituent parts of the deity. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.6) · Pramāṇa