The Ezourvedam is a forgery "consisting of certain 'Vedic' materials translated by Jesuits with the intention of isolating elements most in harmony with Christianity".[1][2][3] Rather than being an original Sanskrit work, the Ezourvedam turned out to be a French text that was written by French Jesuits and meant to be translated into Sanskrit.[4]
History and authorship
A manuscript called Ezourvedam was given to Voltaire in 1760 by Louis-Laurent de Féderbe, Chevalier de Maudave.[5] The text was in French, and said to be a French translation of a Sanskrit original.[5] Voltaire was enthusiastic about the work, had it copied and brought it to the attention of others.[5] It was first published in 1778[4] (Voltaire died that same year). The genuineness of the Ezourvedam was first questioned in 1782; the doubts were confirmed in 1822.[4] Rather than an original Sanskrit work, the Ezourvedam turned out to be a French text that was written by French Jesuits and meant to be translated into Sanskrit.[4]
Title
The name Ezourvedam was sometimes taken to be a corruption of Yajurveda,[4] but the Ezourvedam has nothing in common with the Yajurveda.[4] The Ezourvedam itself refers to the Yajurveda as Zozu-vedam.[4] "Ezour" is the sandhi form of "Ezous-", that is, "Jezus", based on the Latin pronunciation that used by the Jesuits.[6] The name "Ezourvedam" means something like "Gospel of Jesus".[6]
Content
Ezourvedam is a French text in the form of a dialogue between two Vedic sages, one monotheist and one polytheist, they conclude the monotheism of 'pristine Hinduism' points to Christian truth and Hinduism is monotheism masquerading as polytheism concealing monotheism.[3]
See also
References
Sources
- App, Urs (2011), The Birth of Orientalism. Chapter 1: Voltaire's Veda, University of Pennsylvania Press, ISBN 978-0812200058
- Carrillo, Carlos Alonzo (2009), La bestia: controversias del cristianismo, Edamex, ISBN 9786074390018
- Cowan, Robert (2010), The Indo-German Identification: Reconciling South Asian Origins and European Destinies, 1765-1885, Camden House Publishing, ISBN 9781571134639
- Maurer, Walter Harding (1988), "Review of "Ezourvedam: A French Veda of the Eighteenth Century"", Journal of the American Oriental Society, 108 (2), doi:10.2307/603676, JSTOR 603676
- Rocher, Ludo (1984), Ezourvedam: A French Veda of the Eighteenth Century, John Benjamins Publishing, ISBN 0915027062
Further reading
- App, Urs (2011), The Birth of Orientalism. Chapter 1: Voltaire's Veda, University of Pennsylvania Press, ISBN 978-0812200058
- Rocher, Ludo (1984), Ezourvedam: A French Veda of the Eighteenth Century, John Benjamins Publishing, ISBN 0915027062