The sacred books of the Hindus are written in the Sanskrit language. They all fall under two grand divisions, S’ruti and S’mriti. S’ruti means “that which is heard or revealed,” and S’mriti means “that which is remembered and handed down by tradition.” In the first division are included the Vedas, in the second the later Sanskrit literature. There are four Vedas (pronounced by the Hindus, Vāds). The Rig-Veda, containing 1,017 hymns of praise of the personified powers of nature. The Atharva-Veda is composed of verses used as magical spells or incantations for calling down or turning off evils. It had its origin in a superstitious belief in the power of evil spirits. The Yajur (or Yazur) Veda contains hymns and texts arranged for sacrificial ceremonies. The Sama-Veda reproduces many of the hymns of the Rig-Veda re-arranged for worship. Each of these Vedas consists of three parts, the Mantras or original hymns; then the Brahmanas or pure commentaries on these hymns, and to these, philosophical treatises called Upanishads were attached. [Illustration: HINDU FESTIVAL OF THE NEW MOON.] All these are believed to have been given by the gods, having no human author. As we should say they are believed to be divinely inspired. Of the second sort of sacred books, the S’mriti, there are four classes. The six Vedangas, first, the rules for sacrifices; second, the book of the science of pronunciation; third, of metre; fourth, of exposition of the Vedas; fifth, of grammar; sixth, of astronomy. Next come the S’marta-sutras or books relating to domestic rites and to conventional usages. Then follow the Dharma-shastras or “Law-books,” the code of Manu and other inspired law-givers. Lastly, we have the Itihasas or legendary poems, the Mahabarata, or cyclopædia of Hindu traditions, legends, morals and philosophy, and the Ramayana. This last contains the story of the wanderings of Rama, told in 24,000 stanzas. THE VEDIC HYMNS. The word Veda means “knowledge.” The hymns of the Rig-Veda were written between 1,500 and 1,000 years before Christ, about the time of Moses. They contain many tedious repetitions, but yet are highly interesting as showing what the ancient Hindus, and more especially what the forefathers of this part of the race, believed. Many of these hymns were sung by our Aryan forefathers before they scattered to settle in India or in the wilds of Western Europe. We have before given a specimen of these early hymns. We give here another that seems to show that in the beginning the ancient Hindus worshiped but one God.