Identifier: indianmythlegend00inmack Title: Indian myth and legend Year: 1913 (1910s) Authors: Mackenzie, Donald Alexander, 1873-1936 Subjects: Hindu mythology Publisher: London, Gresham Contributing Library: Indiana University Digitizing Sponsor: Indiana University

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Text Appearing Before Image: fancient India. The profession of the priesthood had certainly itsmercenary aspect; sacrificial fees were fixed as well assacrificial rites, and a not unimportant part of a ceremonywas the offering of generous gifts to the Brahmans, whopresided at the altar. But on the whole the riches thusexpended were not given in vain. As in Egypt, the riseand endowment of the priestly cult was due to the accumu-lation of wealth which enabled a section of society to findleisure for study and the promotion of culture. Aryancivilization in India owed much to the Brahmans. Theyintroduced and elaborated alphabetic signs; the devotedscholars among them compiled the first Sanskrit grammarand studied the art of composition. Among the hermitsthere were great and original thinkers who laid the basisof Indian metaphysical thought, and rose from thematerialism of the early Vedic hymns to the idealism ofthe speculative prose works, which included the ForestBookSy a name redolent of leafy solitude and of simple

Text Appearing After Image: C/5 W < 2 Mcq h < hZ u QZ w DO OW c/5 < VEDIC AGE DEVELOPMENTS 83 and contemplative lives on the banks of sweetly-flowingwaters. Even their devotion to the mysteries of sacri-ficial ritual, which became more and more complicated,was not unproductive of permanent benefits to mankind.The necessity for the exact construction of altars, and theobservance of ceremonies in due season, promoted thestudy of mathematical science. These Brahmans inventedthe numerical figures which have attained universal usage,and in time they gave the world Algebra. The influenceof their culture may be traced in other directions. At thepresent day it has indirectly brought into existence thescience of Comparative Religion. At the close of the Rigvedic period the Aryans hadextended their sway to the district known as Madhyadesa,the middle country , between the Five Rivers ofthe Punjab and the upper reaches of the Jumna andGanges. Pioneers were meantime pressing southwardand eastward towards the sea. Mi

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