A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c6.93

c6.93

death, in the middle of the sixth century B. C., and the beginning of the Ceylonese era, 543 B. C., will have to be considered hereafter. For the present it will be sufficient to keep in mind that the Buddhistic era divides the whole history of India into two parts, in the same manner as the Christian era divides the history of the world. It is therefore of the greatest importance, with regard to the history of Vedic literature. The rise of a new religion so hostile to the hierarchical system of the Brahmans is most likely to have produced a visible effect on their sacred and theological writings. If traces of this kind can be discovered in the ancient literature of India, an important point will be gained, and it will be possible perhaps to restore to this vast mass of Brahmanic lore a certain historical connection. After the rise of a new religious doctrine in the first centuries after Buddha, it could not be expected that the Brahmanic literature should cease at once. On the contrary, we should expect at first a powerful reaction and a last effort to counteract the influence of the rising doctrine. And, as in India the religion of Buddha addressed itself more especially to the lower classes of the people, and found its strongest support amongst those who had to suffer from the exclusiveness of the Brahmanic system, a period of transition would most likely be marked by a more popular style of literature,—by an attempt to simplify the old complicated system of the Brahmanic ceremonial, till at last the political ascendency, secured to the new doctrine through its adoption by the reigning princes, like Aśoka, would cause this effort also to slacken.