ITALY, AND INDIA. 2^9 



the taking of Troy, with a third eye in his forehead, as 

 we fee him reprefented by the Hindus, we mud con- 

 cl ude, that the identity of the two Gods falls little fhort 

 of being demonftrated. 



In the cb.ara8.er of Dejlroyer alfo, we may look upon 

 this Indian Deity as correfponding with the Stygian 

 Jove, or Plato ; efpecially fince Call, or Time, in the fe- 

 minine gender, is a name of his confort, who will appear 

 hereafter to be Proferpine. Indeed, if we can rely on a 

 Perfian tranflation of the Bhdgavat, (for the original is 

 not yet in my poffeffion,) the Sovereign of Pdtdla, or the 

 Infernal Regions, is the King of Serpents, named Sefha- 

 ndga ; for Criflina is there faid to have defcended with 

 his favourite .4 r/M>2 to the feat of that formidable divinity, 

 from whom he inftantly obtained the favour which he 

 requefted, that the fouls of a Brahman s fix fons, who 

 had been (lain in-battle, might reanimate their refpe£tive 

 bodies ; and SeJJiandga is thus defcribed. " He had a 

 « gorgeous appearance, with a thoufand heads, and on 

 " each of them a crown fet with refplendent gems, one 

 u of which was larger and brighter than the reft ; his 

 64 eyes gleamed like flaming torches ; but his neck, his 

 " tongues, and his body, were black ; the fkirts of his 

 " habiliment were yellow, and a fparkling jewel hung 

 " in every one of his ears ; his arms were extended, and 

 6t adorned with rich bracelets; and his hands bore the 

 " holy fhell, the radiated weapon, the mace for war, 

 " and the lotos." Thus Pluto was often exhibited in 

 painting and fculpture, with a diadem and fceptre; but 

 fiimfelf and his equipage were of the blacked (hade. 



There is yet another attribute of Mahddeva, by which 



he is too vifibly diftinguifhed in the drawings and 



Vol. I, T temples 



