CHAPTER XVII.
THE REVENGEFUL NATURE OF THE HINDOO RELIGION.
My dear Children--The sacred books of the Hindoos encourage revenge. In
the Vedas, which are the most sacred books, are laid down forms of
religious service, or acts of worship, which are designed to injure or
destroy their enemies. When a person wishes to have his enemy
destroyed, he goes to a Brahmin or priest, and secures his supposed aid.
The Brahmin, before he proceeds to his work, clothes himself with a
black garment. He also makes four images of the foe, and clothes these
with black garments. He then kindles a sacrificial fire, and after the
performance of various ceremonies, he takes pieces of some animal which
has been consecrated for the purpose, and throws them into this fire. On
every occasion when he makes this burnt-offering, he touches the mouth
of the image of this enemy, uttering one or other of the forms of prayer
which are written in the sacred books. Of these, the following are a
few: "O Agni," god of fire, "thou who art the mouth of all gods, do
thou destroy the wisdom of my enemy." "O Agni, fill with distraction the
mind of this my enemy." "O Agni, destroy the senses of this my enemy.
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