GOD 



pariHi of Godalming is divided into nine tythings, .-tiid the 

 whole is governed by a warden, eight affiftants, and a baihff. 

 The church is dillingiiiihed by its haiidfonie fpirc. In the 

 town are a quakers' meeting-houfe, two chapels for diflui- 

 ters, a cliarity fchool, and in the immediate \icin.ty is an 

 liofpital for the accommodation of ten poor men. A fingn- 

 lar inipofition on public credulity and curiofity was prartifed 

 in this town abeut the year 1726. A female, named Mary 

 Tofts, circulated a report that fhe was pregnant witii rab- 

 bits, and alio excited a very general belitf tliat fte had ac- 

 tually been delivered of lome of tlicfe animals. The impo- 

 fition, like that of " the Cock-lane ghofl,'' was fupported 

 with fo much cunning and addrefs, that many perfons, among 

 whom were fome of the faculty, were deceived, and, for 

 fome time, credited the tale. Godalming has a weekly 

 market on Saturday, and two annual fairs. Manning's 

 Hiilorv and Antiquities of Surrey, folio. 



GOD .A MA, GoDE.M.\, Cautlma, Golma, or Gcutam, 

 in Indian My:hology, different names iij'iilied in various parts 

 of India, and particularly in the Biiinan empire, to their 

 deity Budha, or Boudh. (See BOO0H ) Godama or Ko- 

 dama is the moll common appellation a.ronghis wcrfiiippcrs 

 in India beyond the Ganges ; it feems alfo to be common 

 among tlie Hindoos, who, according ;o the idiom of the 

 Sanfcrlt, write it Gotamas. This name, as fome fay, lite- 

 rally fignities cow-herd, but metaphorically king ; and, ac- 

 cording to othei-s, the meaning of Godama is eminently 

 iWfe, or a fage. Many other appellations are given to this 

 deitv derived from tlie pollures in which his various images 

 reprefent him. Godama was probably an Indian prince, 

 deified by iuperllition ; and in an ancient treatife, giving an 

 account of the religion of Godama, entitled " Zarado,." 

 Godama is faid to have attained divinity at the age of ^j 

 vears, to have preached his law for 45 years, and to have 

 brought falvation to all living beings. Dr. Buchanan, who 

 cites this treatife (Al". Rcf. vol. vi.) places the deatli ot 

 Godama 546 .years B. C. The doctrine and laws, laid in 

 this treatife to be delivered by Godama, confitl chiefly in 

 obferviiig the five coinmimdments, and in abftaining from the 

 ten fins. The five commandments arc as follow : I. From 

 the meanell infecl up to man, thou flialt kill no animal what- 

 ever. 2. Thou (halt not ileal. 3. Thou llialt not violate 

 the wife or concubine of another. 4. Thou (halt tell no- 

 thing falfe-. J. Thou flialt drink neither wine, nor any 

 tiling that will into.x.icate ; thou flialt not eat opium, or any 

 other inebriating drug. The perfon who keeps thefe iive 

 commandments ih;dl attain high rank, and fliall not be liable 

 to poverty, nor to o:her misfortunes and calamities. The 

 ten fins are the killing of animals - theft — adultery — falfliood 

 — dilcord — harfli and indignant language — idle and fuperflu- 

 ous talk — the coveting of your neighbour's goods — envy, 

 and the defire of your neighbour's death, or misfortune — 

 and the following of the doclrine of falfe gods. Every one 

 who ablhiins from tliefe fins, will fucceliively increafe in 

 virtue through all hi'; fucceffive tranfmigrations, till at length 

 he will become worthy of beholding a God, and of hearing 

 his great voice ; and he will be exempted from the four human 

 mifcries, t/'z. weight, old age, difeafe, and death. The 

 good works required are giving alms, and thoughtfully pro- 

 nouncing three words. Whoever dies v.ithout the abili- 

 nence and good work> h tc preicribed, will cerlainly pals 

 into one of the infernal Itates, and be doomed to certain 

 tranfmigrations.. Tiie priells of Godama are called Kalians 

 in the Burma language, and they have alfo bellowed upon 

 them the title of Somona or Sair.ana, which is likewile ap- 

 plied to the images of llie divinitv when he is reprcleiilcd, 

 Vol.. XVI, 



GOD 



as he commonly is, in the prieflly liabit. CSee Raiiavs. r 

 Godama commanded his images and relics to be worthippi-<j. 

 Tlie largeft and moll celebrated temples are generally m ili- 

 form of a pyramid ; and contain fome of thefe reUc», fuc h 

 as a tooth, a bone, a hair, or a garment. To thefe temple^ 

 the prayers of the devout are addreded, and their offerni'/t 

 prelentcd. The images of tlie god are of very various ma- 

 terials ; clay, copper, filver, a:.d alabafler. ^lany cf theiu 

 are richly gilt, and adorned with paintings of ilowers ; tlu y 

 arc of diflerent fi/es, fome being not above fix iuciies high, 

 and others of a coloil'al ilatiire. Oilier objects of great \e. 

 ncration among the worfliippers of Godama are itoncs cl 

 large dimenlions, carved with various hieroglvpjiics, and 

 faid to reprefent, or to be the imprefiions of lii.i feet. The 

 principal difc-ples of Godama are by liis followers confldered 

 a> faints ; and many images of thefe, in a prielUy habit, ac- 

 company that of their mafter. Every true worlliipj>er t>i' 

 Godama prays before he goes to ileep, and before he rife* 

 . in the morning, which is generally at the dawn of day. 



Belides their private devotions, which are numerous and 

 regularly performed, it is cullomary to make offerings at 

 the temple ; the feafons for which are thofc of the four 

 fihafes of the moon, cfjjecially tlie full and change, which 

 may be confidered as the Burma f.ibbalhs. Friday is with 

 tliem reckoned an unfortunate dav, and therefore on this 

 diiy they undertake no bufinefs ; but thev keep holy no par- 

 ticiJar day of the week. TJic fecl of Godama cfteem tii-- 

 opinion of a divine being, who created the univerfe, to be 

 highly impious ; and accordingly the f./l!owers of Godan-.a 

 are, llrittly fpeaking, atheiils, as they fuppofe every tlai.g 

 to arile from fate ; and their gods are merely m.en, who bv 

 their virtue acquire fupreme hai)piuels, and by their wifdoro 

 become entitled to iinpofe a law on a'll living beings. See 

 BiiiM.VN Emfiri, and Boodh. 



GODANA, in Gecgia^hfy a town of Perfia, in tlic pra- 

 vmce of Irak ; 105 miles E. of Upahan. 



GODAVERY, or Gos(;.\ Goixiwnv, a river of Hin. 

 douilan, fometimes called the Gang in Feriflita's Hifiorv, 

 was, till very lately, confidered as the fame \>:th the Cat- 

 tack river, or Mahanuddy ; but it is now afcertained to be 

 a different river, wliich has its fource about 70 miles K.E 

 of Bombay ; on the wellern Gauts, more properly called 

 the Sukhien mountains ; and, in the upper part of it.s courfe, 

 at leall, is elleemed a lacr^-d river by the Hindoos ; that is, 

 ablutions performed in its llrcam have a religious efficacy fu- 

 perior to thofc perforn.ed in ordinary dreams. The Goda- 

 very, after traverfing the Dowlatabad foubah, and the coun- 

 try of Tellingana, from well t« call, turns to the fouth-caA ; 

 and receiving the Bain Gonga, about 90 miles above the 

 fea, befidcs many imaller rivers, feparates into two princi- 

 pal channels at Rajamundry ; and thence fubdividing again, 

 they form altogether feveral tide harbours, for vcflVls of 

 moderate burden. Iiigcram, Coringa, Yanani, Bandarma- 

 lanka, and Narfapour, are among the places fituatcd at the 

 mouth of this river ; which appears to be the moil confidiT- 

 able one between the Ganges and cape Comoriu. Extenfive 

 forefls of teak-trees border on its banks, within the moun- 

 tains, and fupply fliip-timber for the ufe of the ports above- 

 mentioned. The Killnah and Godavcry rivers, however re- 

 mote at their fountains, approadi witiiin 80 miles ot each 

 other in the lower parts of their courfe ; and forni an exten- 

 five tradt of country, compofed <>t rich vegetable mould, 

 fucli as is ufually found at the mouth, of large rivgrs. Ren- 

 nell. See D1.1.TA. 



GOD-BOTE, in owr Anctrnt Saxon CvPoms, an ecdefi- 

 allical or church liuc, for crimes and oHencei committed 



3t 



ag»!ij 



