Excerpt from The Riks, or Primeval Gleams of Light and Life

I osend out this book in its crude and semi digested form for reasons which will be obvious on reading any one of its chapters. If I succeed in modifying human thought in regard to ancient religion and mythology, the credit will be entirely due to the western learning I have imbibed, and I ever cherish the day when my good and strong-willed Professor Dr. Wilson practically carried me away to his Phys ical Science class and facilitated my realising nearly a quarter of a century later the iden tity of V�dic and Puranic stories with geo logical and chemical phenomena. A full and accurate exposition of the Vedas and the Brahmanical literature based on the Vedas will demand the aid of aplastic intellect, scien tific imagination, expert knowledge, practical and theoretical, of Geology, Mining, Organic Chemistry, Agriculture, and Astronomy as well as close familiarity with high mountains and petroliferous regions. Above all, the studentof the Veda should possess supreme capacity for putting himself in the place of our old world forefathers. I have but exposed the main lodes and reefs by superficial trench ing, and though a few more readings of the Samhitas would have given me a firmer grasp of the details of Vedic technology, the prospect of returning to my bread-winning duty forced me five months ago to commence putting my ideas into shape for publication to ensure against the great mine of ancient knowledge re maining for ever at the bottom of the sea of obli vion. When I made my first discovery twenty two years ago, I resolved to avoid confusing my head with commentaries and translations of all kinds. I made no notes lest my first crude ideas might blind me to the perception of the truth, and it was only after two dozen continu ous readings of the Riks and a dozen of the white and black Yajus spread over eight years of active and varied service, that I ventured to look into Griffith's translation of the Rig Veda and Professor Macdonnell's Vedic Anthology for purposes of reference and verification. My grateful acknowledgments are due to these great scholars, the former of whom, alas! Isnow no more. I have dedicated this work to the great English gentleman who recently passed into the bosom of the Lord full of years and honours, and who as Viceroy of India from 1880 to 1885 so truly represented the Spirit of our revered empress-mother Victoria of blessed memory. The late Marquis of Ripon gave effect to the Rendition of Mysore to my late good and wise Maharaja Sri Chamaraja Wadiar, who more than justified it with the help of the great and good Brahman, on whom shortly before his lamented demise he conferred the appropriate title of Rajyadhurandhara. With the Marquis of Ripon, therefore, 'i have associ ated my late gracious Maharaja of blessed memory and his great minister Sir K. Shesha dri Iyer, the splendid works of whose powerful, comprehensive and far-seeing intellect, inspired by a heart which ever beat in active sympathy with all classes of people, are indelibly stamped on the Mysore plateau, the beautiful Aditi of Southern India. My gratitude is due to Mr. Yates, Superintendent of the Mysore Govern ment Press, for the fatherly care with which he piloted this rough-hewn and uncouth work through the Press.

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