270 THE TEMPLE. 



upper compartment. This curious perversion of the usual order of 

 the heavens is notable, as the Lamas have placed the embodiment of 

 passion— their war-god — above Brahma. These gods are surrounded 

 by other gods, all with shining bodies and the special attributes of a 

 god of this heaven, namely, (1) goddess-companions; (2) a lake of 

 perfumed nectar (amnta), which is their elivir vike and source of their 

 bodily lustre; (3) the pag sajn shing or wish-granting tree, which 

 bestows at once any fruit or food wished for ; (4) the wish-granting 

 cow which yields instantly any drink wished lor; (5) the horse of 

 knowledo-e, which Pegasus-M^Q carries his rider to the worlds of 

 the present, past, and future ; (6) his splendid dress and ornaments ; 

 (7) a fine palace; (8) a charming garden with flowers, which form his 

 wreath, and pretty animals and singing birds. Along the border 

 separating this world from that of the/A«;««^m(Asuras)are some of the 

 gods armed with spears and other weapons under the direction of the 

 war-o-od Da-lha resisting the encroachments of the Uiamayin of the 

 lower world. 



The hiunan being who has been sufficiently charitable, virtuous, 

 and pious during his earthly life may be re-born as a god and enjoy 

 bliss for an almost incalculable time — one god's day being one hundred 

 human years. And he is born into heaven in a full-grown state. 

 But when his merit is exhausted, then his lake of nectar dries up, 

 his wish-granting tree and cow and horse die, his splendid dress and 

 ornaments disappear, his garden and flowers wither, his body, no 

 lono-er bathed by nectar, loses its lustre, and his person becomes loath- 

 some to his goddess companions and the other gods, who shun him, 

 and he dies miserably. If he has led a virtuous life during his exist- 

 ence as a god, then he may be re-born in heaven, otherwise he goes to 

 a lower region and may be even sent to hell. 



II. The Titans (Lhamayin) or ungodly spirits. — These are the Titans 

 or Asuras of Hindu mythology, and occupy the base of Mt. Meru, 

 and are therefore intermediate between heaven and the earth. They 

 have numerous joys and comforts; but are discontented, and envy the 

 greater bliss of the gods, with whom they are continually fighting for 

 some of the fruits of the heavenly wish-granting tree, which has its 

 roots and trunk within their region. 



This region is represented with a light yellow atmosphere, and 

 contains a fortified house, with a lake and flowers and numerous 

 animals. The people are all clad in fidl armour, and are engaged 

 mostly in fighting with the gods across their frontier. Many of them 

 are dead, or dpng, or horribly mangled by the weajDons of the gods, 

 the most deadly of which is a wheel with teeth like a circular saw, 

 which ia thrown like the Sikh quoit. They always die in battle from 

 their wounds, as they have no access to the nectar by which the 

 gods obtain instant recovery when wounded. 



