502 ON MOUNT CAUCASUS. 



Cyrrhan in the oblique cafe: this was facred to the Sun. 

 The words Cyrrha and Kirros. feenn to be derived from 

 the Sanjcrit Ciraria^ which implies irradiation and re- 

 fplendence. The moft ancient oracle, and place of 

 ^vorfhip at Delphos, was that of the earth, in a cave, 

 which was called Delphi; an obfoleteG/Tif^^ word, fyno- 

 i>ymous with yoni in Sanfcrit : for it is the opinion of 

 devout Hindits, that caves are the fymbol of the facred 

 ycni: this opinion prevailed alfo in the weft; for per- 

 forations and clefts in flones and rocks were called 

 Cunni-Diaholi by the firft Chri/iians, who always beftow- 

 ed the appellation of devils on the deities of the hea- 

 thens. Perforated flones are not uncommon in India; 

 and devout people pafs through them, when the open- 

 ing will admit of it, in order to be regenerated. If the 

 hale be too fmall, they put either the hand or foot 

 through it, and with a fufficient degree of faith, it an- 

 fwers nearly the fame purpofe. One of the feven won- 

 ders of the peak in Derbyjhire, is called by a coarfer 

 name ftill, but very improperly; for this wonderful 

 rave, or at leaft one very much like it, in the Sacred- 

 Ifles^ and particularly noticed in the Purdiias, is declar- 

 ed to be the facred yoni. The cleft called Giihya-Jihdn 

 in Ncpdly anfwers fully and literally to the coarfe ap- 

 pellation beftowed upon the other in Derbyjhire by the 

 vulgar, and is moft devoutly worftiipped by numerous 

 pilgrims from all parts o^ India. 



According to the opinion of my learned friends here, 

 it is probable, that whenever ^wy^ was performed in ho- 

 nour of Prithivi, or the Earth, the navel of Vishnu, 

 or lacred umbilicus of white marbles kept at Delpbos, in 

 the fancftuary of the temple, and carefully wrapt up in 

 cloth, was placed in the cave of Delphi. By the navel 

 of Vishnu the Hindus underftand the Os Tinm"^. 



From the fimilarity between the Par'ndfa ol India y 



Afiatick Refearcha*, vol. III. p. i^i. 



and 



