134 THEOLOGY. 



The three principal gods of the Hindoos, are Brahma the creator, 

 Vishnu the preserver, and Siva the destroyer ; though the two latter 

 may be regarded as incarnations of the former. Of Brahma, we may 

 add to what is said above, that he is the parent of the Rishis or Menus, 

 seven or ten in number, including Adimi or Swayambhuva, and 

 others ; probably corresponding to Adam and the patriarchs : and 

 the Brahmins (or Bramins) claim to have proceeded from Brahma's 

 mouth. Vishnu, (or Veeshnoo), the preserver, is represented with 

 several heads, and regarded as omnipotent and omniscient. He is 

 said to have passed through nine avatars, or incarnations, to save or 

 benefit the world ; and the tenth is yet to come. As the Matsyava- 

 tara, or fish avatar, half man and half fish, he preserved the ark, and 

 rescued the Vedas from a demon ; and as the Kurmavatara, or tor- 

 toise avatar, he sustained the world when shaken by demons, and 

 churned the sea, to enrich mankind. In the boar, and lion avatars, he 

 rescued the earth from daityas or wicked demigods ; and as the 

 dwarf avatar he humbled the impious Mahabeli. His last four 

 avatars were in human shape ; as Rama Parasu ; as Rama Chandra 

 (or Ramatshandra); as Krishna, (Creeshna) or Juggernaut; and as 

 Boodhu, (or Budha), the founder of a new religion. Laksmi, 

 Lakshmi, Sita, or Sree, the goddess of fortune and plenty, was the 

 wife of Vishnu. 



Siva, (Shiva, or Shivu), the destroyer, called also Mahadeo, 

 Mahadeva, Iswara, and Rudra, is a personification of time, or of fire; 

 and Parvati, (or Parvadi), called also Durga, Doorga, Devi Kali, or 

 Bhavani, the goddess of marriage, and punisher of evil doers, was his 

 wife. Their sons, were Ganesa, (or Guneshu), the god of policy 

 and cunning; and Kartikya, (or Kartikeya), the god of war. Indra 

 was regarded as lord of the elements, and Mndri as his wife ; Pa- 

 vana or Vayu, as god of the winds; Jlgni, (or Aghni), as the god 

 of fire ; Prithivi, as goddess of the earth ; Varuna, as ruler of the 

 ocean ; Surya or Sooryu, of the sun ; Chandra, of the moon ; and 

 Yama or Beli, as ruler of all the dead. Nareda was the god of 

 music ; Cuvera or Cubera, of riches ; and Nirit, of purification. 

 The Suras or Soors are good angels ; the Jlsuras, or Asoors, evil 

 ones ; of whom Mahasoor is chief. The jZpsaras are beautiful maids 

 of heaven ; the Dewtas or Devitas, are genii ; some good, as the 

 Ginarers, Ganduwers, or Gandharvas ; some evil, as the Danava 

 or devils. 



The Swerga or Swega-Surgs, is the paradise of Indra, on the top 

 of Mount Meru ; and Padalon, or Patala, is the infernal region ; of 

 which Nirurdi is king, and Padurbati, judge. The Hindoos 

 believe Hhat three great periods called Calpas have elapsed; and the 

 present one they call Kali-Yug ; at the end of which, Vishnu, as the 

 tenth or horse avatar, will destroy the world ; and all spirits will be 

 reabsorbed into Brahm, the Eternal. The principal Hindoo sects, are 

 the Vaishnavas, or Voisnuvus, who worship Vishnu, chiefly on the 

 eastern coast ; the Saivas, or Soivus, who worship Siva, chiefly on the 

 western coast ; the Sactas, or Shaktus, who worship the Sacti or 

 goddesses, particularly Doorga ; the Sourus who worship Surya or 

 the sun, and the Ganuputyus who worship Ganesa. Their wor- 



