GRILL, Julius Friedrich Ludwig (1903 von Grill). Gaildorf am Kocher, Württemberg 10.4.1840 — Tübingen 10.9.1930. German Indologist and Lutheran Theologian. Professor of Theology in Tübingen. After Seminary in Urach studies of theology at Heidelberg and Tübingen, also Indology under Roth. From 1862 Vicar in Wildbad, then in Paffenhofer, 1867 Repetent in Heilbronn, from 1869 Stadtvikar in Stuttgart, 1870 Diakonus in Calw. Ph.D. 1873 Tübingen (under Roth), then until 1888 Professor at Maulborn Seminary. Lic.theol. 1880 Jena. Hon. Dr.theol. 1888 Tübingen.From 1888 Professor of O.T. Exegesis at Tübingen, until his retirement in 1913.

The critical edition of the Veṇīsaṁhāra, prepared with the help of Lenz’s posthumous collation, was Grill’s main Indological work. In his later years he used his knowledge of Indology for comparative religion. In 1875 he wanted to show that “das hebräische Urvolk in seinem Ursprung ein sanskrit-arisches Glied der indo­germanischen Kette” was, and concluding that this people had “seine sanskritische Muttersprache mit einem semitischen Idiom, dem sog. Hebräischen, vertauscht”. Accordingly, he etymologizised Ahărôn < Atharvan, Nôah < Nāvaka, Debhôräh < vipalā (sic), etc. Nevertheless, his specimen of Atharvaveda translation was an important achievement. Beside Sanskrit he was interested in Chinese.

Publications: Edited: Veṇīsaṁhara. Die Ehrenrettung der Königin. Ein Drama in 6 Akten von Bhaṭṭa Nārāyaṇa. 7+36+181 p. Lp. 1871.

– Diss.publ. Hundert Lieder des Atharvaveda. Übersetzt und mit Bemerkungen versehen. 72 p. Progr. des ev. theol. Seminars zu Maulbronn. 1879, 2nd ed. as a book. 221 p. St. 1889.

– Die Erzväter der Menschheit. 1. Zur Methode der urgeschichtlichen Forschung. Die ersten Menschen. 1875; “Schi-king 1, 1, 19”, Festgruss Böhtlingk 1888; Die persische Mysterienreligion im römischen Reich und das Christentum. 4+60 p. Tübingen 1903.

– Translated from Chinese: Lao-tszes Buch vom höchsten Wesen und vom höchsten Gut. 208 p. Tübingen 1910.

– Much on theology.

Sources: Windisch 384f.; not in N.D.B.; Wikipedia.