SACRED ISLES IN THE WEST. 99 



and was incarnated in the womb of his wife Anusuya'. Soma or Lunus 

 was the son of Brahma', Da'tta'treya of Vishnu, and Durva'sas of 

 Maha'-de'va. 



I^ the centre of the While Island resides Vishnu; at a place called 

 J^drdyanpura, o,r the city of Kdrdyan'a, called also Vairdvati or F*a/- 

 rdinati, for both may be used corredly. In the Padma-ptirdna, se6lion 

 of the Uttara-c'kanda, is the following description of this place : " In 

 " the northern parts of the Tdyambud'hi, or sea of fresh-water, in 

 " 'Sweta-dwfpa, the Sanacddicas went to see Bhagava'n' or Vishnu. 

 " Their names are Sanaca, Sananda, Sana'tana, Sanata-cuma'rAj 

 " Ja'ta, Vodu, Pancha-sic'ha, all children of Brahma', and these, 

 " with many others, reside there, near Hari. The White Island is like 

 « the su-bhransu, or mild beams of a thousand moons ; like shining jewels. 

 " Many Mahd-Tdgis, or great penitents, reside there, without fear or 

 " molestation. There is a beautiful garden of PdrijatayW and Chaiidafi/z 

 " trees. There is the city Vairdvati or Vairdmati beautiful and full of 

 •' jewels: the consorts of the gods reside there in houses shining like the 

 ** morning sun. Its greatest ornament is a divine mandapa or house, 

 ** made of precious stones and amber (Cajpura,) and adorned with 

 ** flowers. The Apsarasas reside there, and there is a throne supported 

 " by lions and resplendent like fire, brilhant like the sun &c. It consists 

 " of eight portions, like so many moons, placed like the petals of a flower. 

 ♦' In the centre, within the calix, Jandrdana, or the devourer of souls, 

 ■" is seated witli his insignia m human shapes. His clothes are like the 

 " foam of the White Sea, when it is churned ; and De'vi, with a divine 

 '' countenance, is on his left. Devout prayers and religious rites are the 



