A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c6.176

c6.176

“A Brahman versed in the four Vedas, who does not find Vâsudeva, is a donkey of a Brahman, trembling for the heavy burden of the Veda. Therefore, unless a man be a Vaishnava, his Brahmanhood will be lost; by being a Vaishnava one obtains perfection, there is no doubt. For Nârâyana (Vishnu) the highest Brahma, is the deity of the Brahmans; Soma, Sûrya, and the rest, are the gods of Kshatriyas and Vaiśyas; while Rudra and similar gods ought to be sedulously worshipped by the Śûdras. Where the worship of Rudra is enjoined in the Purânas and law-books, it has no reference to Brahmans, as Prajâpati declared. The worship of Rudra and the Tripundra (the three horizontal marks across the forehead) are celebrated in the Purânas, but only are known as those of heroes and poets (Purûravas, Kutsa) are afterwards considered as names of infidels and heretics, we have a right to infer that we have here the traces of a widely extended practice.