1842.] An abstract Translation from the Pudma Pooran. 1115 



having transformed himself into a beautiful damsel of sixteen years of age, 

 called Mahany, appeared before them, and offered to divide the amrootum 

 among them. On their consenting to this proposition, he commanded the 

 deotas to be on one side, and the asoors on the other. She commenced by 

 distributing to the deotas their share first. Rahoo, one of the asoors, had 

 purposely neglected to obey the order to stand on one side, and had kept his 

 place among the gods between the sun and moon ; and thus received the 

 share of a deota. The sun and moon, however, immediately informed 

 Mahany, that he was an asoor. Upon which Vishnoo enraged at his 

 deceit, assumed his proper form, hurled his chulcrum* or quoit, at the throat 

 of Rahoo, and severed his head from his body. But having drunk the 

 amrootum, or water of immortality, he could not die, and by way of 

 revenge, he has since that time occasioned periodically the eclipse of the 

 sun and moon. 



3rd Incarnation, or Var Avatar. 

 There are four gates to the palace of Vishnoo in Vicoontum; at the west 

 gate are stationed two heralds, named Jayau and Vijaya. It came to pass, 

 that four penitents, called Sanaca, Janandanah, Sanotcoomara and Sanot- 

 soojatah, arrived at the gate with the intention of offering up praises 

 and thanksgiving at the feet of Vishnoo. The two heralds, however, re- 

 fused to give them admittance, upon which the penitents cursed them, 

 saying, "You shall be born again, and become asoors." The heralds 

 enquired how long they were to continue in thai form. " If you will be 

 friends to Vishnoo, seven generations ; if foes, three — choose!" The heralds 

 preferring the latter, were born to the wife of Kascapah, named Diti, and 

 were named Herunea-kasepoo and Herunea-aksha. The former became 

 a mighty giant ; he rolled the earth up as a mat, and went to dwell with 

 the 1000-mouthed serpent in Patal-locum. Then Brahma, Indra, and all the 

 deotas being terrified at his doings, came to the milky sea, and invoked 

 Vishnoo, who appeared before them, and on learning what had happened, 

 assumed the form of a wild boar, and penetrating into Patal-locum, 

 killed Heranea-kasepoo with his tusks, raised the earth on the face of 

 the waters, and restored it to its former condition. 



4th Incarnation, or Nursingh Avatar. 



Heranea-aksha enraged at the death of his brother, in order to revenge 

 himself on Vishnoo, proceeded to the mountain Meroo, where he fasted 



* Like that used by the Seiks. 



7f 



