[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Literature, language and dating](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature) › [The History of Indian Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.weber-1878) › c8.46.1 # The History of Indian Literature c8.46.1 The History of Indian Literature c8.46.1 - **Language:** English ### [c8.46.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.weber-1878.c8.46.1) It was inevitable that at an early stage, and as soon as speculation had acquired some vigour, different opinions and starting-points should assert themselves, more especially regarding the origin of creation; for this, the most mysterious and difficult problem of all, was at the same time the favourite one. Accordingly, in each of the Bráhmaṇas, one at least, or it may be more, accounts on the subject may be met with; while in the more extensive works of this class we find a great number of different conjectures with regard to cosmogony. One of the principal points of difference naturally was whether indiscrete matter or spirit was to be assumed as the First Cause. The latter theory became gradually the orthodox one, and is therefore the one most frequently, and indeed almost exclusively, represented in the Bráhmaṇas. From among the adherents of the former view, which came by degrees to be regarded as heterodox, there arose, as thought developed, enemies still more dangerous to orthodoxy, who, although they confined themselves in the first place solely to the province of theory, before long threw themselves into practical questions also, and eventually became the founders of the form of belief known to us as Buddhism. The word \*buddha\*, "awakened, enlightened," was originally a name of honour given to all sages, including the orthodox. - [Previous: c8.45](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.weber-1878.c8.45) - [Next: c8.46.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.weber-1878.c8.46.2) - [Up: c8.46](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.weber-1878.c8.46) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.weber-1878.c8.46.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.weber-1878.c8.46.1) · Pramāṇa