0j0 $&s® EG'YPT A-tfD THE NlLE * 



-bis fubjects happy In eafe and abundance, while he refided at Aurva-ft^han^ 

 fo called from his name; but he returned afterwards to Vahnifihdn, the 

 prefent Azarbaijdn, or the Seat of Fire, in the interiqur CufJoa-dwipa, where 



;he was performing his devotions on Trisringa, or the mountain with -three 

 feaks 9 at the time when his father fummoned him to the government of 



/Barbara. Juft before that time he had given a dreadful proof of his power** 

 for Ara'ma, the fon of a Jon of Satyavrata, (and consequently the 

 Aram of Scripture), was hunting in that country with his whole army, 



-near a fpot, where Durva's as, a cholerick iaint 2nd a fuppofed avdntar 

 of Maha'de'va, was fitting rapt in deep meditation: Aram inadver- 

 tently fhot an arrow, which wounded the foot of Dcjrva'sas, who no 

 fooner opened his eyes, than Aurva fpr.ang from them, in the fhape of a 



; flame, which confumed Aram and his party, together with all the ani- 

 mals and vegetables in Cujha-dw'ip. It feems to me, that Aurva is VuL- 



i can, or the God of Fire, who reigned, according to the Egyptian priefts, 

 after the Sun, though fomehave pretended, fays Diodorus, that he had ex- 

 ited before that luminary; as the Hindus alledge, that Agni, or Fire, had 

 evidence in an elementary ftate before the formation of the Sun, but could 

 not be faid to have dominion., till its force was concentrated: in another 

 character he is Orus the Elder, or Apollo, a name derived, I imagine, 

 from a Sanfcrit word, implying a power of difpelling humidity. No doubt, 

 the whole fyftem of Egyptian and Indian Mythology muft at firft view 

 feem ftrangely inconfiitent; but, fince all the Gods refolve themfelves into 



-One, of whom they .were no more than forms or appearances, it is not won- 

 derful, that they mould be confounded; efpecially as every emanation from 

 the Supreme Spirit was believed to fend forth collateral emanations, which 

 were blended wi'i-h one another, fometimes recalled, fometimes continued 



,or renewed, and variouily reflected or refracted in all directions: another 



