HINDU RELIGION. 87 



the Triad or sub-deities, Brahma, Vishnu, and Seva ; — 

 a similar system existed in ancient Egypt, where, how- 

 ever, every large town had its local Triad of Gods, 

 at Memphis, for instance, it consisted of Phthah, 

 Sakhet, and Tum ; at Thebes of Ammon-Ra, Maut, 

 and Chonsu, &c. Once upon the high road of poly- 

 theism, other deities and so-called incarnations were 

 soon added by the Hindu priests, and certain signs 

 invented to brand the followers of each of the gods 

 of their Trinity. Those of Brahma have a black line 

 drawn vertically on the forehead with a spot in the 

 middle | ; Vishnuites three lines, the outer ones white, 

 and the central red or yellow \ | / ; and Sevaites three 

 white horizontal lines and a black spot in the centre z±E- 

 Fear and Hope being the devotional element of the 

 Hindu religion, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Seva, the 

 Destroyer, are now favourite deities, the principal 

 temple of pilgrimage of the former being at Jugger- 

 nauth, on the Orissa coast, and that of the latter at 

 Byjoonath, in Behar. To Juggernauth the pilgrims 

 bring offerings of food and money, to Byjoonath water 

 from the Gansfes. Brahma has few followers now. 

 Mahadeva, as Seva is usually called, has of late years 

 increased his influence, and is plentifully bathed, es- 

 pecially by the weaker sex, who bring water for the 

 purpose from holy springs in pretty little brass chatties. 



