138 BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVES. 



worlds, and all creatures, both animate and inanimate. * The Brah- 

 mins, however, assign a reason for the sanctity of this plant, more 

 suited to the understanding of the vulgar; and affirm, that Vishnu, 

 the preserver, was born under its shade. Under this legend is 

 couched an ingenious allegory, significative of the salutary shade 

 aiForded by its branches, impervious to the rays of the sun. On ac- 

 count of the reputed sanctity of the tree, pagodas or temples are com- 

 monly erected beneath, or contiguous to its shade ; in some instances, 

 one of these trees is planted within the area of the principle court of 

 the pagoda, f The yogis, or religious ascetics, practise their auste- 

 rities near it for the same reason, and any injury done to a twig or 

 leaf is considered as a crime scarcely less atrocious than murder. 

 Both the other species of the ficus, though less remarkable in their 

 growth than the ficus Indica, resemble it in the rooting of their ex- 

 treme branches, and are held sacred probably for that very reason ; 

 though some ascribe the sanctity of the ficus religiosa to the brown 

 colour of the female flowerets, which bears some allusion to the pre- 

 server Vishnu. 



But the most sacred of plants in the Indian mythology is the 

 lotos, equally revered by Hindoos, Egyptians, Chinese, and Javanese, 

 and associated with the most remarkable events in their cosmogonies, 

 traditions, and creeds. In the religious services, and in the Sanscrit 

 hymns and legends the lotos is a frequent subject of simile and com- 

 parison. Lacshmi, the goddess of plenty, the sacti or wife of the pro- 

 tector Vishnu, is sometimes known by the names of Pedma and 

 Camala, in allusion to the holy and increasing lotos. The author 

 of the Metamorphoses of Sona frequently uses it to help out 

 his classical allegories, describing the charms of Nerbudda he 

 says, 



" See graceful wave the lotos stalk her arms ; 

 Strive not vain bracelet to improve her charms ; 

 Fair lotos flowers, her taper fingers glow, 

 Tinged bright by lacsha, J like each slender toe." 



This, like many others in the above poem, is borrowed from the 



* Menu, chap. i. t As. Res. Vol. v No. 20. 



X Another wood-nymph pressed the juice of lacsha, to dye her feet exqui- 

 sitely red. — Sacontola, Act. iv, scene 1. 



