The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 1 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Religion
The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 1 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Iran -- Religion; Religions
After a more accurate examination, the resemblance between the said
religions will be found to exist certainly in particular principles
and tenets, but not at all in the general character or the spirit of
these religious systems. Nothing can be more dissimilar than the
austerity of Mezdaism and the luxuriancy of Hinduism in the
development of their respective dogmas, and particularly in their
worship, as was already observed.[158] We cannot however deny, that
not a little of the similarity in the account of different religions
belongs to the author of the Dabistán, who most naturally confounded
the ideas of his own with those of more ancient times, and used
expressions proper to his particular creed when speaking of that of
others. Thus he employs very often the term _angels_ for that of
divinities, and carries the mania of allegorising, so peculiar to the
later Muhammedan Súfis, into his description of the Indian mythology.
This sort of substitution, or these anachronisms of expression, are to
be remarked in the narrative of other authors, praised for general
correctness and veracity; I can here so much the more readily call to
mind similar inaccuracies in the accounts which Greek historians, and
in particular the philosophic Xenophon, gave of Persia, as I may add,
that in many points they agree with our Mohsan Fani.
[147] See above, p. 76.
[148] His Works, vol. IV. p. 105.
[149] _Loco cit._, p. 69.
[150] _Ibid._, p. 51. Among the Persians is even found
_Behesht-i-Gang_, and _Gang-diz_, “the Paradise,” and “the
castle of Ganga” (Hyde, p. 170).――Mr. Julius Mohl says
(_Journal asiatique, mars_ 1841, p. 281): “Zohac is the
representative of a Semitical dynasty, which in Persia took
place of the _Indian_ dynasty, and overthrew the entirely
_Brahmanical_ institutions of Jamshid.” We see the opinion
that Hinduism once resided in Iran daily gaining ground.
[151] The History of Hindostan, etc., by Alex. Dow, 1768, t.
I. p. 12 _et seq._ The same, by J. Briggs, 1829. Introd.,
ch. p. xiv. _et seq._
[152] The Mandauces of Ctesias and of Moses of Chorene. He
reigned, according to Ferdusi, B. C., from 1229-1109;
according to our chronogers, from 730-715.
[153] The Arphaxad of the Hebrews; the Dejoces of Herodotus;
the Arsæus of Ctesias; he is placed B. C. 1075 by the
Orientals; 696 years by the Occidentals.
[154] All kings of Turan were called Afrasiáb.
[155] Lib. IV.
[156] See _The Desátir_, Engl. trans., p. 185.
[157] See before, p. 75.
[158] See page 102.
§ VI.――THE RELIGION OF THE TABITIAN (TIBETANS).
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