Essays And Lectures On The Religions Of The Hindus - PB , 2 VOLS.

About the book:-H. H. Wilson is a highly respected name in Indian scholarship, and was president of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, in the early 1810’s. In this two volumes work he describes the various aspects of the religion of the Hindus. In volume 1 he gives authoritative notices on Vaishnavas (listing 19 sub-sects, which include Ramavats, Dadu Panthis, Vallabhcharis, Sanyasis, Nagas, etc); Saivas are noticed next (with 11 sub-sects, which include Jogis, Paramhansas, Aghoris, Kara Lingas, etc); Saktas, Jains, and other sects such as Ganapatyas, Nanak shahis, Ramravis, Nirmalas, Satnamis, etc, conclude the 1st volume. The 2nd volume notices on the civil and religious institutions of the Sikhs, festivals of the Hindus, Sati, Akbar’s Din-e Ilahi, etc. This set is a reprint of the 1861 and 1862 editions. About the Author:- Horace Hayman Wilson was an English orientalist. He studied medicine at St Thomas's Hospital, and went out to India in 1808 as assistant-surgeon on the Bengal establishment of the British East India Company. His knowledge of metallurgy caused him to be attached to the mint at Calcutta, where he was for a time associated with John Leyden. He acted for many years as secretary to the committee of public instruction, and superintended the studies of the Sanskrit College in Calcutta. He was one of the staunchest opponents of the proposal that English should be made the sole medium of instruction in native schools, and became for a time the object of bitter attacks. In 1836 he was appointed librarian to the East India Company. He also taught at the East India Company College.Wilson became deeply interested in the ancient language and literature of India, and was the first person to translate the Rigveda into English. In 1813 he published the Sanskrit text with a free translation in English rhymed verse of Kalidasa's lyrical poem,