Life of Ahmad — Page 81
as AFTER HIS FATHER’S DEATH 81 addressed to Swami Day a nand, the acceptance was published in the Brother Hind of Lahore, dated. July, 1878. This journal was edited by Pandit Shiv N a r a ’in Agn i Hotr i , who commented on the letter as follows: 'So far the A rya Sam a j have staunchly believed, according to the teachings of Day a nand based upon the authority of the Vedas, that the number of souls is infinite, but it now appears from Ahmad’s as letter that when he refuted this doctrine, Day a nand was at last compelled to declare that the number of souls is not infinite, even though the transmigration of souls is true. Anyhow, what we wish to observe here is (1) Day a nand had convinced his followers, on the authority of the Vedas, that the number of souls was infinite and that they were self-existing; and now when this belief has been refuted, his confession that souls are really not infinite in number clearly shows that Day a nand is going against the Vedas. (2) If the Vedas really teach what Day a nand has now declared, it is certainly a serious reflection upon his position as a leader, in so far as he can draw two contradictory teachings from the Vedas. (3) If the Vedas are silent on the point, it is a reflection upon the Vedas. . . . . ' The Editor also asked B a w a N a r a’ in Singh, secretary of the Sam a j, Amritsar, whether he would now support Swami Day a nand in contradiction of his own