OF THE HINDI'S. 35<J 



and pronouncing the fubjoined prayers : " Earth, 

 u iuppcrtcr of all things, trampled by hones, tra- 

 *f veiled by cars, trodden by Vishnu ! whatever tin 

 " has been committed by me, do thou, who art 

 upheld by the hundred armed Ckishna, incar- 

 nate in the ihape of a boar, afcend my limbs, and 

 remove every filch fin." 



The text extracted from the pddma purdna follows : 

 thou didil fpring from the foot of Vishnu daughter 

 of Vishnu, honoured by him; therefore pre- 

 ferve us from fin, protecting us from the day of 

 our birth, even unto death. The regent of air has 

 named thirty-five millions of holy places in the fky, 

 on earth, and in the fpace between ; they are ail 

 comprifed in the daughter JAhnu. ' Thou art called 

 fhe, who promotes growth, among the gods : thou 

 art named the lotos ; able, wife of Pnimu, bird, 

 body of the univerfe, wife of Siva, nectar, female 

 cheriiher of fcience, cheerful, favouring worlds; mer- 

 ciful, daughter of Jahxu, confoler, giver of 

 confolation. Ganga 9 who flows through the three 

 worlds, will be near unto him, who pronounces thefe 

 pure titles during his ablution." 



When the ceremony is preferred in its full detail, 

 the regular prayer is a text of the veda. " Thrice did 

 " Vishnu flep, and at three ftrides traverfed the uni- 

 vk yerfe : happily was his foot placed on this dully 

 4i earth. Be this oblation efficacious !" By this 

 prayer is meant, " May the earth, thus taken up, pu~ 

 " rify me." Cow dung is next employed with a prayer 

 importing, " Since I take up cow dung, invoking there - 

 tw ' on the goddefs of abundance, may I obtain prof- 

 <£ perity !" the literal fenie is this : < c I here invoke that 

 " goddefs of abundance, who is the vehicle offmell, 

 " who is irrefiitible, ever white, prefent in this cow 

 i( dung, miftrefs of all beings, greateft of ele- 

 <: ments, ruling all the fenfes." Water is a 

 " wards hdd up in the hollow Qi both hands 



ioined 



