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Ezourvedam

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The Ezourvedam is a 18th century commentary on Vedas.[1] That was brought to Voltaire by Louis laurent de Federbe, and Chevalier de Maudave. It also regarded as a forgery "consisting of certain 'Vedic' materials translated by Jesuits with the intention of isolating elements most in harmony with Christianity."[2][3]

History and authorship

A manuscript called Ezourvedam was given to Voltaire in 1760 by Louis-Laurent de Federbe, Chevalier de Maudave.[4] The text was in French, and said to be a French translation of a Sanskrit original.[4] Voltaire was enthusiastic about the work, had it copied, and brought it to the attention of others.[4] It was first published in 1778.[5] Its genuineness was first questioned in 1782; these doubts were confirmed in 1822.[5] Rather than an original Sanskrit work, the Ezourvedam turned out to be a French text, written by French Jesuits, and meant to be translated into Sanskrit.[5]

Title

The name Ezourvedam was sometimes taken to be a corruption of Yajurveda,[5] but the Ezourvedam has nothing in common with the Yajurveda.[5] The Ezourvedam itself refers to the Yajurveda as Zozu-vedam.[5] "Ezour" is the sandhi-form of "Ezous-", that is, "Jezus", based on the Latin pronunciation usd by the Jesuits.[6] The name "Ezourvedam" means something like "Gospel of Jesus".[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ludo Rocher. Ezourvedam: A French Veda of the Eighteenth Century. p. 10. According to that of Abraham Roger, one of the four Vedams is only a commentary on these books, or rather an explanation of the doctrine contained in them. This book is therefore, later than the Vedams.
  2. ^ Cowan 2010, p. 40.
  3. ^ App 2011, p. 52. sfn error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFApp2011 (help)
  4. ^ a b c Maurer 1988, p. 326.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Maurer 1988, p. 327.
  6. ^ a b Maurer 1988, p. 328.

Sources

Further Reading