2&2 ON THE GODS OF GREECE, 



in Vaicont'ha, having left the inftruciions comprifed in 

 the Git a. with his difconfolate friend Arjun, whofe 

 grandfon became fovereign of India, 



In this picture it is impoflible not to difcover, at the 

 fir it glance, the features of Apollo, furnamed Nomios, 

 or the Pajloral, in Greece, and Op if er in Italy; who 

 fed the herds of Admetus, and flew the ferpent Python ; 

 a God amorous, beautiful, and warlike. The word 

 Govinda may be literally tranflated Nomois, as Cefava 

 is Crinitus, or with fine hair ; but whether Go'pala, or 

 the herd [man, has any relation to Apollo, let our Ety- 

 molocrilts determine. 



Colonel Vallcncey, whofe learned inquiries into the 

 ancient literature of Ireland are highly interefting, af- 

 fures me, that Criflina in IriJJi means the Sun ; and we 

 find Apollo andS'o/confideredby the Roman poets as the 

 fame deity. I am inclined, indeed, to believe, that not 

 only Crijlina, or Vijhnu, but even Brahma and Siva, 

 when united, and expreffed by the myftical word O'M, 

 were defigned by the firft idolaters to reprefent the Solar 

 Fire; but Phoebus, or the orb of the Sun perfonified, is 

 adored by the Indians as the God Su rya, whence the feci 

 who pay him particular adoration, are called Sauras. 

 Their poets and painters defcribe his car as drawn by 

 feven green horfes, preceded by A run, or the Dawn, 

 who acls as his charioteer, and followed by thoufands 

 of Genii, worfhipping him, and modulating his praifes. 

 He has a multitude of names, and among them twelve 

 epithets or titles, which denote his diftincl powers in 

 each of the twelve months ; thofe powers are called 

 Adityas, or fons of Adit i by Cafyapa, the Indian Ura- 

 nus ; and one of them has, according to fome authori- 

 ties, the name of Vijhnu^ or Pervade?', 



Surya 



