As we liave been speakinf of the 

 notions of llie early Brabmans on their 

 cosmogony, the annexed extract will, 

 notwithsliindint; its length, prove accept- 

 able. It relates to one of the most 

 awful subjects that can occupy the mind 

 of man, viz. — the Creation of the World. 

 It is an extract from the Shastalis; and 

 my only motive in giving it, is to rescue 

 the Hindoos from a generally-received, 

 though unfounded, opinion, that they 

 worship im;igcs alone as the Supreme 

 Being, whereas the Trimurti are only 

 the representatives of the Almighty, in 

 liis three characters of Creator, Pre- 

 server, and Destroyer. Brahma's reply 

 <o his son Nantd proves that he con- 

 siders himself only as a created being, 

 and not the Creator. 



Narud, or Nareda, who is represented 

 as the son of Brahma, and who wishes to 

 be informed about the creation of the 

 world, thus addresses his father : " O 

 father, thou first of gods! thou art said 

 to have created the world ; and tiiy son 

 Narud, astonished at what he beholds, 

 is desirous to be instructed how all 

 these things vrere made." — Brahma re- 

 plies, " Be not deceived, my son. Do 



Seely*s Wonders of Elora. 583 



actions of the creative and Hie destruc- 

 tive qualities on matter, self-motioa 

 arose. Self-motion was of three kinds : 

 the first inclining to plasticity, the second 

 to discord, and the third to rest. The 

 discordant actions then produced the 

 Ahass ; which invisible element pos- 

 sessed the quality of conveying sound : 

 it also produced air, a palpable element ; 

 fire, a visible element ; water, a fluid 

 element ; and earth, a solid one. The 

 Ahass dis|)ersed itself abroad: air formed 

 the atmosphere ; fire, collecting itself, 

 blazed forth intliehosts(stars)ofheaven; 

 water rose to the surface of the earth, 

 being forced from beneath by the gravity 

 of the latter element. Thus broke forth 

 the world from the veil of darkness, in 

 which it was formerly enveloped by 

 God ; order rose over the universe ; the 

 seven heavens were formed ; and the 

 seven worlds were fixed in their places, 

 there to remain till the great dissolution, 

 when all things shall be absorbed by 

 God. 



" God seeing the earth in full bloom 

 and that vegetation was strong from its 

 seeds, called forth, for the first time 

 intellect, whiclj be endued with various 



not imagine that I was the creator of organs and siiapes, to form a diversity 



the world, independent of the Divine of animals, with five senses — feeling, 



Mover.who is the great original Essence, sight, smell, taste, and hearing: but to 



anti Creator of all tilings. Look, there- man he gave reflection, to raise him 



fore, upon me only as tiie instrument of above the beasts of the field." 

 the great Will, and a part of his being. It remains now to say something of 



whom he called forth to execute his the type of Maha Deva (Siva), the bull 



eternal designs." Narud tiien asks, 

 ♦• What shall we think of God ?" To 

 which Brahma replies, " Being imma- 

 terial, he is above all conception ; being 

 invisible, he can have no form ; but, 

 from what we behold in his works, we 

 may conclude that he is eternal, omni- 

 potent, knowing all things, and present 

 €very where." 



Narud again asks, " How did God 

 create the world ? Brahma, in answer, 

 says, " Affection dwelt with God from 

 all eternity. It was of three difierent 

 kinds: the creative, the preservative, 

 and the destructive. The first is repre- 

 sented by Brahma ; the seconil by 

 Vishnu ; and the third by Siva. You, 



Nundi, the emblem of divine justice. 

 The bull Nundi, like the Apis of Osiris, 

 has worship paid to him. A white bull 

 is preferred. The vehicle of Vishnu is 

 an eagle; that of Brahma, a swan, 

 These coincidences remind us of the 

 white bull of Europa, the eagle of 

 Jupiter, and the swan of Leda. Not 

 only in India, but in Persia and Egypt, 

 was the bull worshipped as the principle 

 of light ; and I believe opinions have 

 been entertained that the pyramids of 

 Egypt were erected to his honour. 



Figures of monkeys and peacocks are 

 found carved in many of the temples. 

 Both these animals arc held in high vc* 

 neration ,- and where Britisli soldiers arc 



O Narud! are taught to worship the stationed, the most positive orders aro 



three in various shapes and likenesses; 

 ns the Creator, the Preserver, and the 

 Destroyer. Tiie affection of God then 

 )>roduced power; and power, at a 

 proper conjunction of time and fate, em- 

 braced goodness, and produced matter. 

 'J'lie three qualities, then, acting upon 

 matter, produced the universe, in the 



issued, by the local authorities, that no 

 molestation be oflcrcd to them. On thi» 

 subject a curious coincidence occurs in 

 the first book of Kings, 10th chapter, 

 22d verse : 



" For the king had at sea a navy of 

 Tharshish (Tarsus), with the navy of 

 Hiram (T^re). Once in three years 



following manner. From the opposite cnnie tlic navy of Tharnhish, brin^;)!)}? 

 Monthly AIaq. No. »'J8. 4F tolii 



