THE JAINS. 281 



power and happiness ; according to the merit of the 

 ^ood works, which tliey performed, when living as 

 men. Swar^a is situated hisfher in the rearions of the 

 air than the summit of Mount Meru, and its inhabi- 

 tants ought to be worshipped by men, as they possess 

 the power of bestowing temporal blessings. Con- 

 cerning the great gods of the Vedas, the A'rhatas say, 

 that Vishnu was a Riija, who having performed cer- 

 tain good works, was again born a Raja, of the name 

 of Rama. At first he was a great hero and conqueror; 

 but afterwards he retired from the pleasures of the 

 world, became a Satinyas'i, and lived a life of such pu- 

 rity, that he obtained SidcVhi (beatitude,) under the 

 name of Jina, which he had assumed, when he gave 

 up his earthly kingdom *. Mahe'swara or Siva, and 

 Brahma', are at present Devatas ; but are inferior in 

 rank and power to Indra, who is the chief of all 

 the happy beings, that reside in Swarga. In this 

 heaven are sixteen stages, containing so many differ- 

 ent kinds of Devatas, who live in a degree of bliss in 

 proportion to their elevation. An inferior kind of 

 Devatas, called Vyantaras, live on mount Mem,' but 

 their power and happiness are greatly inferior to those 

 of the Devatas of Swarga. The various Sactis, are 

 Vyantaras, living on Mahd-Meru ; but they are of a 

 malevolent disposition. 



Below Mahd-Meru, and the earth, is situated hliu- 

 vana, or hell ; the residence of the spirits of wicked 

 men. These are called Racshas and Asiiras, and are 

 miserable, although endowed with great power. Bhu- 

 vana is divided into ten places of punishment, which 

 are severe in proportion to the crimes of their respec- 

 tive inhabitants. 



* I am informed, that the Jains have a legendary history of Ra'- 

 MACHANDRA, which is termed Padmapurdna, and is quite distinct 

 from the Purdna received under that title by the orthodox Hindus. 

 H. T. C. 



