m ESSAY ON THE 



near the ocean, and Homer at the furthest extremities of the ocean, 



near the PFhiteClifsS') 



As it is the universal opinion of the Pauranics and Baudd*hists, that 

 the abode of Vishnu, and of the Supreme Being is in the White Island^ 

 I shall not crowd passages here, from their sacred books, to illustrate 

 this assertion. Hence it is that Vishnu is called repeatedly 'Swe'ta- 

 dwipa-vasinau-Nara-Na'ra'yan'au, or Nara-Na'ra'yan'a, who resides 

 in the White Island, (which is sometimes called emphatically Jzyz^a or 

 the island, by way of pre-eminence,) and Vishnu Dwipasthah-Nara, 

 or the man who resides in the Island. Vishnu is introduced in the 

 Brahma-vaivartta, se<5lion of the Cnshna-Janma-c'hand'a saying, " In 

 ** the White Island, the abode of justice, I shall return with portions of 

 " the gods and goddesses, to live among the Go'ldcas, or shepherds, 

 *' near Matliurd. This shall most certainly happen, and no body 

 " shall ever be able to prevent its taking place." All the Avatdras, or 

 principal emanations of Vishnu, ten in number, came originally from 

 the White Island, This is also acknowledged by divines, according to 

 this text from the same book and se61ion. " There are many manifes- 

 «* tations and forms of Bhagava'n, O Muni : but the form which re- 

 «« sides in the White Island h the primitive one. Vishnu, says the author, 

 «« recalling all his emanations into the White Islaiid, went into the womb, 

 " in the house of Vasu-de'va ; and on this grand occasion, he recalled all 

 ** his emanations. Ra'ma and Nrisinha are complete forms, O Mu- 

 «* N! ; but Crishna, the most powerful king of the White Island, is the 

 " most perfe6l and complete of all Vishnu's forms. For this purpose 

 ** Vishnu from Pdtdla rejoins the body of Ra'd'hiceVwara, the lord 



CO Odjss. 21. V. 11. Hesiod Tlieog. v. 1014 Erga. v. IQ9. . 



I 



