[Sidenote:  The doctrine of incarnation.] The doctrine of the incarnation is of fundamental importance in Christianity.  It seems almost profanation to compare it with the Hindu teaching regarding the Avataras, or descents of Vishnu.  It is difficult to extract any meaning out of the three first manifestations, when the god became in succession a fish, a boar, and a tortoise.  Of the great “descents” in Rama and Krishna we have already spoken.  The ninth Avatara was that of Buddha, in which the deity descended for the purpose of deceiving men, making them deny the gods, and leading them to destruction.  So blasphemous an idea may seem hardly possible, even for the bewildered mind of India; but this is doubtless the Brahmanical explanation of the rise and progress of Buddhism.  It was fatal error, but inculcated by a divine being.  Even the sickening tales of Krishna and his amours are less shocking than this.  When we turn from such representations of divinity to “the Word made flesh” we seem to have escaped from the pestilential air of a charnel-house to the sweet, pure breath of heaven.

V.

HINDUISM IN CONTACT WITH CHRISTIANITY.

[Sidenote:  Attempted reforms.] We have used the word reformer in this Tract.  We formerly noted that, in India, there have arisen from time to time men who saw and sorrowed over the erroneous doctrines and degrading rites of the popular system.

In quite recent times they have had successors.  Some account of their work may form a fitting conclusion to our discussion.

[Sidenote:  Advance of Christianity in India.] With the large influx into India of Christian ideas it was to be expected that some impression would be made on Hinduism.  We do not refer to conversion—­the full acceptance of the Christian faith.  Christianity has advanced and is advancing in India more rapidly than is generally supposed; but far beyond the circle of those who “come out and are separate” its mighty power is telling on Hinduism.  The great fundamental truths of the Gospel, when once uttered and understood, can hardly be forgotten.  Disliked and denied they may be; but forgotten?  No.  Thus they gradually win their way, and multitudes who have no thought of becoming Christians are ready to admit that they are beautiful and true; for belief and practice are often widely separated in Hindu minds.

[Sidenote:  The Brahma Samaj.] But it was to be expected that the new ideas pouring into India—­and among these we include not only distinctively Christian ideas, but Western thought generally—­would manifest their presence and activity in concrete forms, in attempted reconstructions of religion.  The most remarkable example of such a reconstruction is exhibited in the Brahmo Somaj (more correctly Brahma Samaj)—­which may be rendered the “Church of God.”