The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c10.2

c10.2

Statement of the problem—Time when theosophy originated—Metempsychosis and pessimism unknown in the earlier Vedic records—Place where the higher religion originated—Priest philosophy at the sacrifice—The theosophic charade—Specimens of the theosophic charade—The riddle hymn of Dīrghatamas—Interrelation between the sacrifice and theosophy—On the supposed origin of theosophy with the royal caste—Criticism of this view—Transition from ritualistic polytheism to theosophy—Early scepticism—“Götterdämmerung”—Failure of God Varuna—Monism, or the idea of unity—The creation hymn—Translation and analysis of the creation hymn—Attempts at monotheism—Prajāpati, the Lord of Creatures—Viçvakarman, creator of the universe, and kindred conceptions—Purusha, the world man—Brihaspati, the Lord of Devotion—Transcendental monotheistic conceptions: “Time,” “Love,” etc.—Defects of the earlier monotheistic and monistic attempts.