THE HINDU RELIGION. 57 



gheri is mentioned, in the Sastra, as one of the 

 modes of measuring time, and of ascertaining the 

 length of a gheri. 



In the hieroglyphic of the Mahu Pralaya, (or 

 grand consummation of all things, when time itself 

 shall he no more,) he is represented as trodden under 

 foot by ■\Iaha' Ca'li, or Eternity. 



He is there deprived of his crescent, trident, and 

 necklaces, to shew that his dominion and powers are 

 no more. He is hlowing the tremendous horn, which 

 announces the annihilation of all created things. 



^Iaha' Ca'li', black and dreadful, is encompass- 

 ed by symbols of destruction: two of her hands 

 seem employed in the work of death : of the other 

 two, one appears pointing downwards, alluding to 

 the universal havoc which surrounds her: while 

 the other, pointing upwards, seems to promise the 

 regeneration of nature, by a new creation. 



When the Sun begins his southern declination, 

 thenio'ht of the Gods beoins: that is, when their 

 supposed abode, JMeru, (the north pole) begins to 

 be involved in a night of six months: and, as this 

 period may be considered as a type of Mahd Pra- 

 laya, the worship of Maha' Ca'li' is celebrated at 

 the commencement thereof. 



ALvha' Ca'li' is represented without a crescent, 

 (the artihcial measure of time,) because it is unne- 

 cessary to her character as the hieroglyphic of eter- 

 nity. But the belief of the Hindus in successive 

 destructions and renovations of the Universe, ac- 

 counts for her wearing a Mund Mcila^ or necklace 

 of skulls, as emblematical of those revolutions. 



J>Iaiia' Ca'l, as represented iu the caverns of 



