Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/212

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CHAPTER L ANCIENT RELIGION OF THE INDIAN ISLANDERS. Antiquities and ancient religion in a rude state of society synonymous. — Architectural remains, — Groups of Temples ofheivn stone, exemplified in those of Brambanan. — Single Temples ofhevon stone of great size, exemplified in that of Boro Budor,-— 'Temples of brick and mortar. — Rude Tern- pies of hetvn stone exemplified in those of Sulcuh and Kat- to. — Character of the workmanship and architecture. ^-My^ thological character of the sculptures and decorations, — Statues and images. — Ancient inscriptions on stone. — An ancient manuscript. — Conjectures respecting the ancient Hinduistn of the Islanders drawn from all these different monuments, — The Jirst Hinduism of Java, an example of genuine Buddhism, — A barbarous form of Hinduism pre- vailed in latter times — possibly the worship of Siwa of the Linga and Yoni. — From whence Hinduism was introduced among the Indian Islanders.-— Religion and Superstitions of the Indian Islanders before the introduction of Hinduism.-^ Character of Hinduism as modified by the Local Supersti- tions of the country. An account of the antiquities of Java is also an account of its ancient religion, for every ancient monument on the island has been dedicated to the favourite subject of superstition, and hardly a