:2 The Religion of tho Veda

I in this instance to go to the school of the into great French interpreter of the Rig-Yoda, Abol Burgnifinc, who, in a fashion quite: his own, transports too many of the: events in the earthly lift: of tho Voclic llintlu to ilcnvcn. Ho secs clearly enough that Malawian moans“snc1*ifico foe,” and nothing; also, hut opincs that Dawn is called {firth/Mat" hoonnso she: is tho gift of heaven bestowod Upon pious man as a rocomponst: for thcir nicty,1 'l‘llis is all too roundabout, and unnecessary, and n11~Vodic. Still loss can wo assent to the statement of another very sane and onligho cnod critic of the: Vedas, Professor Oldenburg, who declares that “tho hymns to Dawn wait to as tho poetry of the: early mom; that they stocr cloar of the mystic sophistrics of sacrifice technique; and that they have a. charm that is wanting in the 3:10 rificial hymns proper.” “ Professor Oldenburg takes the usual View of this interesting goddess. I would advocate precisely the opposite View, namely, that the hymns to Dawn, their many intrinsic beauties to the contrary notwithstanding, represent tho first, the kecncst, so to Speak, the least tircd sacrificial mood of those poet-priests as they enter upon the absorbing business of the day; and that never has the battlcdoor and shuttlecock of really fine poetic

1 Lo Religion Védz'gzm, vol. L, p. I27fll 5’ Die Religion day Veda, p. 237.