224 Analysis of the Purdnas. [June, 



they worshipped Krishna. Accounts of Goloka, a description of hell, 

 and an explanation of the chronological system of the Purdnas, are 

 interwoven ; besides other subjects of a peculiar and legendary nature, 

 conveying little information or amusement. 



The third section of the Brahma Vaivertta Purdna is the Ganes'a 

 K'handa, giving an account of the birth and actions of that deity, 

 in a series of legends, which are not of frequent occurrence, and are 

 in a great degree, if not altogether, peculiar to the work. 



Parvati after her marriage with Siva, being without a child, and 

 being desirous to obtain one, is desired by her husband to perform 

 the Punyaka Vrata. This is the worship of Vishnu, to be begun 

 on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of Mdgha, and continued 

 for a year, on every day of which, flowers, fruits, cates, vessels, 

 gems, gold, &c. are to be presented, and a thousand Brdhmans fed, 

 and the performer of the rite is to observe most carefully a life 

 of outward and inward purity, and to fix his mind on Hart or 

 Vishnu. Parvati having with the aid of Sanatkumara, as directing 

 priest, accomplished the ceremony on the banks of the Ganges, returns 

 after some interval, in which she sees Krishna, first as a body of 

 light, and afterwards as an old Brdhmana, come to her dwelling. 

 The reward of her religious zeal being delayed, she is plunged in 

 grief, when a viewless voice tells her to go to her apartment where she 

 will find a son, who is the lord of Golok a, or Krishna, that deity 

 having assumed the semblance of her son, in recompence of her 

 devotions. 



In compliment to this occasion, all the gods came to congratulate 

 Siva and Parvati, and were severally admitted to see the infant : 

 amidst the splendid cohort was Sani, the planet Saturn ; who although 

 anxious to pay his homage to the child, kept his eyes stedfastly fixed 

 on the ground. Parvati asking him the cause of this, he told her, 

 that being immersed in meditation upon Vishnu, he had disregarded 

 the caresses of his wife, and in resentment of his neglect, she had 

 denounced upon him the curse that whomever he gazed upon he 

 should destroy : to obviate the evil consequences of this imprecation 

 he avoided looking any one in the face. Parvati having heard his 

 story paid no regard to it, but considering, that what must be, must be, 

 gave him permission to look at her son. Sani calling Dherma to wit- 

 ness his having leave, took a peep at G anb'sa, on which the child's head 

 was severed from the body, and flew away to the heaven of Krishna, 

 where it reunited with the substance of him, of whom it was part. 

 Durga' taking the headless trunk in her arms, cast herself, weeping 



