OF THE HINDU'S. 24gJ 



is conjointly and individually, Brahma, Vijlinu, and 

 JJa or Maha-deva. To Swayambhuva were born three 

 daughters, Acuii, Deva-fruii, and Vijriiti or Prajiiii. 

 Brahma created three great Ra'japalis, to be their huf- 

 bands ; Cardama, Dacjha, (the lame who was alfo a 

 Brdhmadica,) and Ruchi. Cardama is acknowledged 

 to be a form of ftS/u/z; or &tj# himlelf : and Dacjha to 

 be Brahma ; hence he is often called Dacjlia Brahma ; 

 and we may reafonably conclude that the benevolent 

 Ruch'i was equally a form of Fljhnu. It is faid in the 

 vedas, as I am allured by learned pundits, that thefe 

 three gods fprang in a mortal thape from the body of 

 Jtdhna ; that Dacflia Brahma ifTued myfticaliy from his 

 navel, Vijlinu from his left, and Siva from his right: 

 iide. It is declared in the puranas, that JJwara cut 

 off one of the heads of Brahma, who being immortal 

 was only maimed. The fame myfdcal rancour was 

 manifeft when they affumed a mortal inape^ as appears 

 from the following relation : The pious Dacjlia de • 

 firing to perform faeniice, invited gods and men to 

 afilft at it, but did not aik Siva on account of his bad 

 conducl and licentious life. The wife of Shd, who 

 was the daughter of Dacjha, could not brook this neg- 

 lect, and determined to go : her hufband expoftulated 

 with her, but to no purpofe. When the arrived, her 

 lather took no notice of her, which enraged her fo 

 much, that alter having (polled the facrirlce, the 

 jumped into the iacred lire, and expired in the flames. 

 Siva hearing of her misfortune, went to Dacjha ; and, 

 reproaching him for his unnatural conducl towards his 

 own daughter, cut off his head. Dacjha had no male 

 offspring, but many daughters, whole alliance was ea- 

 gerly fought for by the moil diitinguiihed characters. 

 It is afferted in the par anas that from Cardama, Dacjha, 

 and Ruchi, the earth was filled with inhabitants : 

 yet in the fame fnranas we are told, that Brahma, 

 being difappointed, found it necefiary to give twofons 

 to Adima, from whom, at hit, the earth was filled 

 Vol. V. & with 



