428 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 1798. 



have reigned in India j and lastly a history of the lives of particular families." There are many copies 

 of this work in England. L y J. 



3. b. Ditto. Another copy, in the Bengal character, without notes. L y J. 



3. c. Ditto. Another copy, on palm leaves, in the Bengal character. S. W. J. 



4. Agni Purana. This work, feigned to have been delivered by Agni, the god of fire, contains a 

 variety of subjects, and seems to have been intended as an epitome of Hindu learning. The poem opens 

 with a short account of several incarnations of Vishnu j particularly in the persons of Rama, whose ex- 

 ploits are the theme of the Ramayana, and of Crishna, the material offspring of Vasudeva. Then 

 follows a history of the creacion ; a tedious dissertation on the worship of the gods, with a description of 

 their images, and directions for constructing and setting them up j a concise description of the earth, 

 and of those places which are esteemed holy, with the forms of worship to be observed at them} a 

 treatise on astronomy, or rather astrology j a variety of incantations, charms, and spells, for every oc- 

 casion} computation of the periods called Manwantarasj a description of the several religious modes of 

 life, called A'srama, and the duties to be performed in each of them respectively } rules for doing 

 penance} feasts and fasts to be observed throughout the yearj rules for bestowing charity} a dissertation 

 on the great advantages to be derived from the mystic character OM ! with a hymn to Vasishta. The 

 next subject relates to the office and duties of princes } under which head are given rules for knowing 

 the qualities of men and women} for choosing arms and ensigns of royalty} for the choice of precious 

 stones } which are followed by a treatise on the art of war, the greatest part of which is wanting in this 

 copy. The next head treats of worldly transactions between man and man, in buying and selling, bor- 

 rowing and lending, giving and receiving, &c. &c. and the laws respecting them. Then follow certain 

 ordinances, according to the Veda, respecting means of security from misfortunes, &c. and for the 

 worship of the gods. Lists of the 2 races of kings, called the Suryavansa, and the Chandravansaj of 

 the family of Yadu, and of Crishna} with a short history of the 12 years war, described in the 

 Maha-bharata. A treatise on the art of healing, as applicable to man and beast, with rules for the ma- 

 nagement of elephants, horses, and cows} charms and spells for curing various disorders} and the mode 

 of worshipping certain divinities. On the letters of the Sanscrita alphabet } on the ornaments of speech, 

 as applicable to prose, verse, and the drama} on the mystic signification of the single letters of the 

 Sanscrita alphabet; a grammar of the Sanscrita language, and a short vocabulary. The work is divided 

 into 353 short chapters, and is written in the Bengal character. L y . J. 



5. Calica Purana. A mythological history of the goddess Cali, in verse, and her adventures under 

 various names and characters ; a very curious and entertaining work, including by way of episode, several 

 beautiful allegories, particularly one founded on the motions of the moon. There seems to be something 

 wanting at the end. Bengal character, without notes. L y . J. 



6. a. Vayu Purana. This work, attributed to Vayu the god of wind, contains, among a variety of 

 other curious subjects, a very circumstantial detail of the creation of all things celestial and terrestrial, 

 with the genealogy of the first inhabitants } a chronological account of the grand periods called Man- 

 wantaras, Calpas, &c.} a description of the earth, as divided into Dwipas, Varshas, &c, with its di- 

 mensions in Yojanas ; and also of the other planets, and fixed stars, and their relative distances, circum- 

 ferences of orbits, &c. &c. Written in the Devanagari character. I/. J. 



6. b. Ditto. A duplicate in the Dc vanagari character. U. J. 



7. Vrihan Naradiya Purana. This poem, feigned to have been delivered to Sanatcumara, by the in- 

 spired Narada, like others of the Puranas, opens with chaos and creation j but it treats principally of 

 the unity of God, under the title of Main Vishnu } arguing, that all other gods are but emblems of his 

 works, and the goddesses, of his powers} and that the worshipping of either of the triad, creator, 

 preserver, or destroyer, is, in effect, the worshipping of him. The book concludes with rules for the 

 several tribes, in their spiritual and temporal conduct through life. It is a new copy, in the Bengal 

 character, and, for a new copy, remarkably correct. V. J. 



8. Naradiya Purana. This poem treats principally on the worship of Vishnu, as practised by Ruk- 

 mingada, one of their ancient kings. Devanagari character. S. W. J. 



Q. a. Bhavishyottara Purana. The 2d and only remaining part. The subject is confined to religious 

 ceremonies. Devanagari character. S. W. J. 



