from the Ancient Books of the Hindus. 359 



that the divine fpirit penetrates or pervades all nature, and though the Sacli 

 be confidered as an emanation from that fpirit, yet the emanation is never 

 wholly detached from its fource, and the penetration is never fo perfect as to 

 become a total union or identity. In another point of view Brahma' cor- 

 refponds with the Cbronos, or Time, of the Greek mythologies ; for through 

 him generations pafs on fuccefhvely, ages and periods are by him put in mo- 

 tion, terminated, and renewed, while he dies and fprings to birth alternately ; 

 bis exiftence or energy continuing for a hundred of his years, during which he 

 produces and devours all beings of lefs longevity. Vishnu represents water, 

 or the humid principle; and Iswara, fire, which recreates or deftroys, as it 

 is differently applied : Prit'hivi", or earth, and Ravi, or the Sun, are fede- 

 rally trimurtis, ox forms of the three great powers acting jointly and feparately, 

 but with different natures and energies, and by their mutual action, excite 

 and expand the rudiments of material fub fiances. The word murti, or form, 

 is exactly fynonymous with f/^wAoy, and, in a fecondary fenfe, means an 

 image ; but in its-, primary acceptation, it denotes any Jhafie or appearance af- 

 fumed by a celeflial being: our vital fouls are, according to the Veddnta, no 

 more than Jmages, or «*&&«, of the Jupreme fpirit, and Homer places the .idol 

 of Hercules in Elyfium with other deceafed heroes, though the God himfelf 

 was at the fame time enjoying blifs in the heavenly mannons. Such a murti, 

 fay the Hindus, can by no means affect with any fenfation, either pleafing or 

 painful, the being, from which it emaned; though it may give pleafure or 

 pain to collateral emanations from the fame lource : hence they offer no facri- 

 fices to the fupreme Effence, of which our own fouls are images, but adore 

 Jlim with filent meditation ; while they make frequent homas, or oblations; 

 to fire, and perform acts of worfhip to the Sun,, the ftars, the Earth, and the 

 powers of nature, which they confider as murtis, or images, the fame in kind 

 with ourfelves, but tranfcendently higher in degree. The Moon is alfo a great 



