Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c7.168

c7.168

Further the brahmans arrogated to themselves the monopoly of revelation and religious ceremonies and ritual. The Puranas, while acknowledging their great privileges, yet inculcated much teaching that virtually superseded brahmanic doctrine in extolling the superlative efficacy of tīrthas,¹ religious devotion (*yoga*),² exercises (*vrata*),³ and loving faith (*bhakti*),⁴ whereby a man can obtain every blessing, remission of every sin and final emancipation from existence.⁵ The Padma goes so far as to say, ‘enough of vratas, tīrthas, yogas, sacrifices and discourses about knowledge, faith (*bhakti*) alone indeed bestows final emancipation.’⁶ Some Puranas do not hesitate to introduce the sacred gāyatrī into a spell,⁷ and even to modify and almost parody it.⁸