Basic HTML Version
RR ang)ft.R.T. T!
;4491 l
UHrf-
pandit about some books and 1( arned treatises I wanted to
get for my instruction ; what books and manuscripts could be
procured at that place. and where. hie mentioned some works
on Sanskrit grammar, elastics, lexicographies, books on astro-
logy, and the Tantras—or ritualistics. Finding that the
latter were the only ones unknown to me. I asked him to
procure the same for me. There upon the learned man brought
to me several works upon this subject. But no sooner had I
opened them, tham my eye fell upon such an amount of
incredible obscenites, mistranslations, misinter-pretations of
text, and absurdity, that I felt perfectly horrified. In this
Ritual, I found that incest was permitted with mothers,
daughters, and sisters (of the shoemaker's caste) ; as well as
among the Pariahs of the outcastes.—and worship was per•
formed in nude state. Spirituous liquors, fish, and all kinds
of animal food, and
n
odra (exhibition of indecent images)
were allowed, from Brahmin down to Mang, And it was
explicitly stated that all those five things of which the name
commences with the nasalm as for instance, Madya(intoxicating
liquor), Meen (fish), Mands (flesh), Momdra, and Maithoon
(coition) were so many means for reaching muktee (Salvation) !
By actually reading the whole contents of the Tantras I fully
assured myself of the craft and viciousness of the authors of
this disgusting literature which is regarded as Religious I I left
the place and went to Shreenagar.
Visit to Religious Places
Taking up my quarters at a temple on Kedar Ghat, I
used these Tantras as weapons against the local pandits,
whenever there was an opportunity for discussion. While there,
I became acquainted with a Sadhoo, named Ganga Giri, who
by day never left his mountain where he resided in a jungle.
Our acquaintance resulted in friendship as I soon learned how
entirely worthy he was of respect. While together, we dis-
cussed Yoga and other sacred subjects, and through close
questioning and answei ing became fully and mutually satisfied
that we were fit for each other. So attractive was his society
for me. that I stayed over two months with him, It was only
at the expiration of this time, and when autumn was setting in
that I, with my companions, the Brahmachari and the two
'ascetics, left Kellar Chat for other places. We visited Rudra