16] 



between the Aryan, Semitic, and Egyptian mythological systems. This 

 is precisely what we do find on carefully comparing these three oldest 

 of all known mythologies, though, as will be seen further on, each 

 accumulates such a vast quantity of fresh mythological matter that the 

 original conception is considerably obscured, and in each the original 

 deities become in course of time so mixed up with one another that it 

 is almost impossible to separate their individual characteristics. 



Although Agni was said to have been begotten by the conjunction 

 in the air of Varuna and Prihovi (Prithivi), all the principal gods, or 

 Devas, originally conceived as the phenomena and power of heaven, 

 were called the children of Dyaus and Prihovi, Agni and Indra being 

 considered the two chief of the twelve Devas. Dyaus, Prihovi, and 

 their progeny afterwards became endowed with moral qualities, and 

 were looked upon as creators and governors of the world ; and as time 

 wore on the original Vedic deities gradually gave place to purely solar 

 deities : the sun was called Surya, and differed from Agni, who was god 

 of terrestrial and celestial fire sun, lightning, and altar fire in one, the 

 soul of universe, and mediator between the gods and men ; Surya was 

 also Savitri, the quickener, who in the early morn rouses the sleepers, 

 and in the evening twilight buries them again in sleep; he is also 

 Vishnu, the companion of Indra, who traverses the celestial space in 

 three long strides he is Pushan, the nourisher and faithful guide of 

 men and animals ; and he is Yama, who traverses the steep road to 

 death and the shades. Thus the gods multiplied the original supreme 

 deity, Varuna, who was one with Indra, though different from him, 

 giving place to a multitude of solar deities, children of Dyaus, the great 

 dawn-god or day-father. 



As the old Vedic language became lost to the people there arose a 

 custom of setting apart certain individuals to faithfully preserve the old 

 and sacred records, and thus arose the priestly caste of Brahmans, whose 

 duties consisted in transcribing the sacred hymns of the Rig- Veda and 

 preserving the knowledge of the sacred language in which they were 

 first written. The great day-father, Dyaus, now received the name of 

 Brahma, the magic power, and Prajapeti, the lord of creatures, and was 

 endowed with three divine energies Agni (fire), Vayu (air), and Surya 

 (the sun), which together formed a subordinate triad. Soma became 

 associated with the moon ; Asura became the demon of hell, which was 

 peopled with tormenting monsters ; Indra and Vishnu became blended 

 with Surya ; and Rudra was converted into Siva and identified with 

 Agni. As Brahmanism progressed the principal worship on the shores 

 of the Ganges gradually centred round Vishnu, who was supposed to 

 undergo periodically a number of Avataras, or incarnations, by means 

 of which he rescued fallen man from the fate awaiting him. These 



